UN Information Centre and SACH- Struggle for Change hold a seminar to commemorate the International Day in Support for Victims of Torture

"Ratification of UN Convention against Torture"
Islamabad, 26 June 2007

(UN Information Centre, Islamabad): 26 June, 2007 - To commemorate the International Day in Support for Victims of Torture, the UN Information Centre in collaboration with an NGO, SACH - Struggle for Change held a national level seminar, in Islamabad. SACH is associated with the UN Department of public Information. Together with the Government, SACH has been working against human rights abuses with a special focus on support to the victims of torture, since 1994. The focus of the seminar was to promote awareness for the ratification and implementation of the United Nations Convention against Torture - CAT.

Ms. Ishrat Rizvi, National Information officer of the UN Information Centre, highlighted the significance of the Day and read out the message of the UN Secretary-General. In her remarks she mentioned that since its creation, the United Nations has condemned torture and worked towards its eradication. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, in its Article 5, proclaims that "no one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment". Today, the fight against torture is proceeding on many fronts. Adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1984, the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment obliges States to make torture a crime and to prosecute and punish those guilty of it. It notes explicitly that neither higher orders nor exceptional circumstances can justify torture.

Dr. Seema Perviaz Professor National Institute of Psychology Quaid-e-Azam University, Mr. Shahid Salim Baig Superintendent Adiala prison Rawalpindi, Mr. Ahmar Bilal Soofi, President Research Society for International Law, Mr. Riaz Fatyana, Chairman of the Parliamentarian Human Rights Commission, Mr. Shoeb Sadal, Director General, National Police Bureau, Ministry of Interior took part in the seminar.

The speakers in their presentations mentioned that the causes of the torture are deep rooted in the society. Survivors of torture often have to face some long term physical and mental problems including depression, anxiety, guilt, intense nightmares, self hatred and frequent thoughts of suicide. Torture even destroys a victim's capability to trust others.

Speakers shared their views about situation of Human Rights abuses in Pakistan. They stressed that torture is condemned strongly in the UN Convention Against Torture (CAT) but inspite of all these international treaties the prevalence rate of torture is alarmingly high in the societies all over the world. They urged that the government should ratify the (Convention Against Torture), to better protect and support the victims of torture in the country.

Mr. Shoeb Sadal, Director General, National Police Bureau, in his concluding remarks stated that that the fight against torture is an uphill struggle and the Government of Pakistan is fully aware regarding the severances of the issue and have taken effective steps to eliminate them. He said that as a member of a responsible society, it is our collective responsibility to fight against torture and provide maximum support and protection to the victims of torture.

At the end of the Seminar Ms. Khalida Salimi, Executive Director, SACH thanked all the guests, parliamentarian, lawyers, media and member of the civic society for their active participation in the seminar.

==========================