UN Day in Support of Victims of Torture commemorated

Islamabad

Health professionals, psychologists, lawyers and service providers discussed the medico-legal and legal aspects of torture and its aftermaths in a dialogue organised to commemorate UN International Day in Support of Victims of Torture.

Organized by SACH which has been engaged in regional collaboration with UN Voluntary Fund for Torture Victims and International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Survivors for last two decades, the event was aimed at sensitising professionals belonging to various fields and service providers in order to have a better understanding of the torture issue in the country. SACH organised the activity as part of its campaign for the implementation of Convention against Torture (CAT), in line with the theme for the year #Supportlifeaftertorture.

The discussion focused on the significance of CAT and initiated a debate on implementation of the Convention. A number of health professionals, psychologists, lawyers and service providers participated in the event. It was also suggested at the forum that the lawyers should work for torture victims and take up such cases in courts of law, as well as raise their voice against issue of impunity practices by courts. Later on, the participants were involved in group work and group presentations.

At the end of the programme a certificate distribution ceremony was held and certificates were distributed among the participants. Following that, SACH Programme Coordinator Shazia Azhar delivered a note of thanks by appreciating participants for attending the discussions.

In her message on the day, SACH Executive Director Khalida Salimi stated that the organization has been providing rehabilitation services to the victims of torture in Pakistan for the several years and is devoted to establishing a torture free society in Pakistan. She said that Convention against Torture is one of the most important human rights instrument to minimise and eradicate torture practices in Pakistan.