“Torture has simply no place in our societies”: CTI Ambassadors’ statement on 26 June
On the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, we reiterate our commitment to a torture-free world. Ensuring that no one is subjected to torture is not only a legal duty, it is also a moral duty incumbent on all States. Almost 75 years ago, the international community proclaimed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment have simply no place in our societies, enshrining the prohibition of torture in international law for the first time. Despite the peremptory nature of the prohibition of torture, this heinous crime remains active in the arsenal of States worldwide. Armed conflict, internal disturbances, and adverse impacts of climate change also increase the risk of torture and ill-treatment.
The full ratification of the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (UNCAT), which came into effect on this day 36 years ago, would represent a historic milestone in the eradication of this abhorrent practice. On the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the UN Convention against Torture in 2014, 154 States were parties to the Convention. In 2023, almost 10 years later, 173 States are parties to UNCAT, and eight additional countries have expressed their will to join the Convention. Encouraged by this trend, we are confident that the universal ratification of the Convention against Torture is within reach.
The ratification of UNCAT by all States is, however, only a step in our global struggle against torture. All countries must increase their efforts in effectively prohibiting, preventing, investigating and punishing acts of torture, as well as providing effective redress to victims of torture. Amongst other tools, the Méndez Principles on Effective Interviewing and the updated Istanbul Protocol on Effective Investigation and Documentation can assist States in such endeavors.
More than ever, we are convinced that international cooperation, including through States’ engagement with CTI, is an essential aspect of the quest for the eradication of torture, in line with the spirit and letter of the UN Convention against Torture and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Joint Statement of the Governments of Chile, Denmark, Fiji, Ghana, Indonesia and Morocco as part of the Convention against Torture Initiative