The Conference “Together Against Torture” was held in Tbilisi on 26 June, UN International Day in Support of Victims of Torture

The Conference “Together Against Torture” was held in Tbilisi on 26 June, UN International Day in Support of Victims of Torture.

About 80 persons, representatives of State and Non – State officials and organizations, international and intergovernmental organizations were participated in this Conference.

During the Conference were presented actual materials, real facts, special reports of the Public Defender and the Centre “EMPATHY”. There were presented Governmental agencies’ strategy on rehabilitation of war victims and ethnic cleansing victims in Georgia; the situation on implementation of OP CAT in Georgia was reviewed as well; and the Sixth Declaration “Together Against Torture” – We Have to Implement UN CAT Articles, Istanbul Protocol, and OP CAT, as well as principles of International Humanitarian Law, especially regarding occupied territories of Georgia. The Declaration with recommendations for prevention of torture was submitted to the President of Georgia, to the Parliament and to the Premier Minister of Georgia.

An exhibition-sale of art -works of victims of torture and ethnic cleansing, women and juvenile prisoners, was organized during the Conference.

The Conference was held within the Program of the RCT/EMPATHY “Strengthening the System of Rehabilitation of Torture Victims in Georgia”, and Memorandum of Collaboration (Public Defender of Georgia and RCT/EMPATHY, Georgia)

Financial support of the program is provided by the European Union, United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture and International Rehabilitation Council for Victims of Torture, IRCT (Denmark, Copenhagen) Information support was provided by:

• International Rehabilitation Council for Victims of Torture (Copenhagen, Denmark).
• Georgian Public Broadcasting

Media coverage – The Video Clip (TV – spot by Isabel Coixet) translated on Georgian was circulated during 3 days in Georgian Public Broad Casting. Special TV presentations on torture situation in Georgia and activities of the RCT/EMPATHY with interview with clients were presented in special TV spot “Currier Post Scriptum” by the TV Channel “Rustavi 2″. As well as the interviews during the Conference and information regarding conference were presented on all Georgian Channels News during the whole day and published in newsetters.

RCT/EMPATHY 2009 annual report (PDF format)

Declaration (PDF format)

Conference – UN International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, 26 June 2010, Tbilisi, Tbilisi Marriott Hotel Ballroom.