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VIII conference “World without Torture”
June 23, 2012
Urgent Appeal
September 20, 2012World without Torture
26 JUNE UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL DAY IN SUPPORT OF VICTIMS OF TORTURE
On June 27 of 2012 in the hotel Courtyard Marriot was held the conference on the issue “World without Torture”.
Organized by Public Defender of Georgia and the Rehabilitation Centre for Victims of Torture (RCT/EMPATHY, Georgia) in partnership and with the support of CVT (USA), the IRCT (Denmark, Copenhagen), Georgian Medical Association, USAID and European Union
The UN has proclaimed June 26 as the international day of assistance to victims of torture. This day is commemorated every year through organizing events in more than 70 countries of the world. Events dedicated to this day have been organized in Georgia for the past decade. The campaign is coordinated by the International Council for Rehabilitation of Victims of Torture (Copenhagen, Denmark), which is an umbrella organization uniting more than 70 centers for the rehabilitation of victims of torture.
The slogan of the campaign for this year is “Rehabilitation works and it is the right of the victim of torture”.
It is noteworthy that in Georgia, as in other countries of the world, fighting against torture and inhuman and degrading treatment is extremely important. Taking into consideration the fact that 20% of the territory of Georgia is occupied, that about 1/9 of the population of Georgia are victims of ethnic cleansing and that ill-treatment within the penitentiary system is a current issue, it is crucially important to focus our attention on better coordination of efforts among experts from the medical and legal fields on both the international and national levels.
The following presentations were presented at the Conference: The state policy on fighting against torture; the Public Defender’s report, the international project “Partners in Trauma for Healing” of the Center for Victims of Torture (USA) (This project is funded by USAID (Washington). In Georgia the project is implemented with the center for rehabilitation of victims of torture “Empathy”. The center “Empathy” presented a 3-year report as well as an overview of current challenges and recommendations.
The program included an exhibition and sale of art work by victims of ethnic cleansing and former prisoners – women and juveniles.
About 70 persons from 34 Non – State and State Agencies, as well as representatives of international and inter – governmental organizations and Embassies participated in this Conference. The Conference was widely broadcasted on TV and Radio Channels and presented in newspapers. The importance of fight against impunity and needs of rehabilitation were highlighted during interviews made by the President of the RCT/EMPATHY and Public Defender of Georgia.
