VICTIMS OF TORTURE. Where is torture happening in the world?

Transcription

1 1 / 6 Where is torture happening in the world? What is torture? The United Nations has defined torture as acts deliberately perpetrated by or with the approval of government officials, which are designed to inflict extreme physical and/or psychological suffering. Such acts may be directed against individuals or indirectly against their loved ones. Divide into small groups. Look over the list of 106 countries on page 2. Together with your group, decide on and circle the names of the countries in which you think torture or illtreatment was perpetrated by security forces, police and/or other state authorities in After 20 minutes, check page 3 of this unit for the answers.

2 2 / 6 Where is torture happening in the world? Afghanistan Albania Algeria Angola Argentina Armenia Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Belarus Belgium Belize Bolivia Brazil Bulgaria Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Central African Republic Chad Chile China Colombia Democratic Republic of the Congo Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Ethiopia Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Fiji France Georgia Germany Greece Guatemala Guyana Haiti Hungary India Indonesia Iran Iraq Israel/OT Italy Jamaica Japan Jordan Kazakstan Kenya Korea (North) Korea (South) Kuwait Laos Lebanon Liberia Libya Macedonia Madagascar Malaysia Mauritania Mauritius Mexico Moldova Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Nepal Nigeria Pakistan Palestinian Authority Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Portugal Qatar Romania Russian Federation Rwanda Saudi Arabia South Africa Spain Sri Lanka St Lucia Sudan Switzerland Syria Tajikistan Thailand Togo Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Ukraine United Arab Emirates United States of America Uzbekistan Venezuela Yemen Zimbabwe

3 3 / 6 Where is torture happening in the world? In 2002, there were reports of torture and ill-treatment from each and every one of the 106 countries listed on page 2. This is the worst thing an electric cattle prod. They use this on your body. If they press that button, your whole body will be in shock. If they do it for too long, you lose consciousness but you do not die. If they press this button, you can die. They used it all the time on my body. They tortured me because I was speaking to for independence and I will continue to speak out. These are the words of Palden Gyatso, a Tibetan monk who spent 33 years in Chinese prison and labor camps before fleeing, smuggling with him some of the favorite tools of the Chinese torturers. Note: the majority of the companies that have manufactured, marketed, bought or sold electroshock weapons are based in the U.S. or Europe. Amnesty International has two letter-writing campaigns in operation aimed at controlling this business. Discussion and Reflections Questions and Activities 1)The statement below discusses, in part, how torture can happen: [Torture] is perhaps easier to do if you have been brutalized yourself. It is certainly easier to torture if you understand that none of your comrades will turn you in for it and if the victim is from a segment of the population that is demonized, dehumanized, beyond the pale of our compassion. How do segments of populations become demonized, dehumanized, beyond the pale of compassion? Can you identify specific situations where this has happened? How do we guard against this? 2) On the next two pages are facts about the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatement or Punishment and the Church s support of it. In a small group, role play a discussion among UN representative(s), Vatican representative(s), and representatives from one of the countries where torture has occured (see page 2 again). What position would each of these representatives take? How would they present their positions? Would they be able to reach any resolution or agreement? 3) What is your response to the prayer on page 4? How can you use this prayer to raise awareness of the problem of torture around the world? 4) More information on groups working to stop torture and help victims is on page 6 of this unit. How can your group most effectively do some further research into this topic through the web pages given? How can you discern how to best use the information you gather and share?

4 4 / 6 In 1997, the United Nations proclaimed June 26 as the UN International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. Torture is one of the most profound human rights abuses. Inflicting physical, psychological and emotional damage, torture dehumanizes both the victim and the perpetrator and even has universal implications, weakening the values and solidarity that hold a society together. Torture, as defined by the United Nations, is deliberately perpetrated by or with the approval of government officials. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights declared the first international prohibition of torture. Article 5 states: No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. The Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatement or Punishment was adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on December 10, 1984, and entered into force on June 16, The Convention obliges nation states to make torture a crime and to prosecute and punish those guilty of it. It notes explicitly that no circumstances can justify torture. It has been ratified by 129 nation states, including the United States. Thirty years ago there were no treatment centers or rehabilitation programs for torture survivors. Today there are some 200 centers and programs all over the world for torture victims and an increased knowledge of torture methods, the effects of torture and how to diagnose and rehabilitate torture victims. Torture remains widespread. Despite all the efforts to stop torture, Amnesty International s annual survey of human rights around the world contains reports from 106 countries of torture or ill-treatment by states agents. In some countries it is used as an official method of oppression. Sources: Amnesty International, United Nations,

5 5 / 6 The Vatican Response to Torture On June 26, 2002, the Holy See published its Ratification of the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and a Declaration that explains the motivation for signing the Convention. The Declaration notes the teaching of the Church set forth in the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the Code of Canon Law that clearly identify and mention the conduct that can injure a person s moral or physical integrity; they condemn those who perform them and demand the abolition of such acts. The present Pope has repeatedly urged that torture must be called by its proper name so that governments and societies may avoid the use of torture. The following is an excerpt from the Holy See s Declaration: The Holy See considers the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment to be a valid and acceptable instrument for the struggle against acts that constitute a grave assault on the dignity of the human person. At the present time, the Catholic Church has constantly spoken out in favor of unconditional respect for life and has unequivocally condemned all violations of the integrity of the human person, such as mutilation, physical and mental torture, undue psychological pressures and all offences against human dignity (Gaudium et spes, #27). Prayer for Victims of Torture You were imprisoned, O Christ, and tortured in an effort To humiliate, subjugate and strip you of your dignity and spirit. Your suffering and public death was the response of power To difference, suspicion, and fear. Men in Sierra Leone have their hands hacked off; Teenagers in Ireland have shattered knees; Girls as young as 9 are publicly raped by soldiers in the Congo; Juveniles are beaten in American detention centers; Tibetan monks are shocked with electric prods in Chinese prisons; Indigenous communities in Argentina are victims of brutal mass police raids. We pray for the thousands of victims of torture around the world. Have mercy on them, O Lord: you know their pain. Have mercy on us, O Lord: help us understand their pain; Help us understand the lust for power and the fear of their torturers. Grant us the voice to speak out about this pain and fear. What we do for the least of these victims we do for you, Still crowned with thorns and bleeding.

6 6 / 6 Further Resources In order to act against torture we must be ready to bear witness to it, no matter how insignificant we may consider our contribution to be. When an organization like Amnesty International launches letter-writing campaigns they rely on thousands of people acting as individuals to ensure that the torturers know that they are being watched. And though not every fight they take up ends in success, there are people all around the world today who owe their freedom to this work. Sometimes just knowing that people are voicing their support can help detainees. Amnesty International Campaigns for internationally recognized human rights. Human Rights Watch Monitors human rights and campaigns to establish an international criminal court and improved prison conditions. The Coalition of International NGOs Against Torture Pools resources of member organization on issues such as prevention, direct action, impunity and rehabilitation. The Association for the Prevention of Torture Seeks to ensure the implementation of international laws forbidding torture. The World Organization against Torture Provides information and action suggestions. The United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture Disburses funds through NGOs providing assistance to victims and their families.