FN’s Internationale Menneskerettighedsdag fredag er yderligere en mærkedag i år i dansk sammenhæng.
Den 10. december markeres det nemlig, at det er 25 år siden, Det Internationale Rehabiliteringsråd for Torturofre (IRCT) blev stiftet af den danske læge, Inge Genefke. Rådet har verdenssæde i København.
I den anledning er der internationalt seminar i Domus Medica i København – se mere i u-landsnyts kalender under dato 10.12.10.
Desuden bliver der overrækkelse af Inge Genefke-prisen til den filippinske menneskeretsaktivist, psykiateren June Lopez, ”for hendes fremragende og årelange indsats for Medical Action Group, der især har behandlet traumatiserede børn og kvinder”, – som det hedder i læge Bent Sørensens begrundelse.
I anledning af 62-årsdagen for Verdenserklæringen om Menneskerettighederne har IRCT udsendt en udtalelse, hvori Rådet gør gældende, at rehabilitering af torturofre er en menneskeret. Det hedder:
Today, on the UN’s annual Human Rights Day, the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT) is calling on governments around the world to fulfill their legal responsibilities to provide appropriate rehabilitation services for torture survivors.
This call came as the IRCT hosted a global expert conference on torture rehabilitation held in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the IRCT where speakers and panelists explored the outcomes and lessons learned in torture rehabilitation over the past decade-and-a-half.
– Three decades ago the devastating impact of torture and the need to support torture victims were hardly recognised, said Brita Sydhoff, IRCT Secretary-General, adding:
– Today, we have a world-wide network of 146 centres in 73 countries that provide rehabilitation and fight for the rights of victims. Still, torture is prevalent in many countries in the world, and its victims present in many more, but, sadly, many governments do not take the necessary steps to provide access to holistic rehabilitation and justice for the victims.
Under one of the core international human rights treaties – the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (UNCAT) – states have an obligation not only to prevent torture and hold perpetrators accountable but also to grant victims the right to receive medical and psychological rehabilitation.
– Providing efficient treatment enables torture survivors to re-gain their capacity to contribute actively to the development of society. Moreover, fulfilling torture survivors’ right to rehabilitation and redress acknowledges the wrongs of the past and is therefore an important element in preventing further abuse and in promoting social healing and reconciliation, noted Sydhoff.
– We are thus calling on governments to provide the infrastructure and financial means to enable access to rehabilitation support for all those who suffer this horrendous abuse.
– This should include direct financial support to those initiatives working directly with torture survivors and for international mechanisms such as the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims for Torture (UNVFVT), Sydhoff concluded.
About the IRCT
The International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims is an independent non-profit global organisation with a membership of 146 rehabilitation centres in 73 countries and with over 25 years’ experience.
The work of the IRCT is threefold:
* Rehabilitation of torture victims and their families
* Ensuring victims’ access to justice
* Eradication of torture
Yderligere oplysninger hos:
Scott McAusland, IRCT
tlf. 36 93 87 32 og e-mail: [email protected]
