United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture
Invitation to the Press
Dear Madam, Dear Sir,
We are pleased to invite you to a special press briefing on two
major EU-supported anti-torture projects, on the occasion of 26
June 2003, UN International Day for Victims of Torture, and organised
by the European Commission and the International Rehabilitation
Council for Torture Victims (IRCT).
The IRCT is this year coordinating its sixth consecutive global
campaign, 'Together against Torture', to commemorate this important
UN Day. The 2003 campaign comprises an unprecedented number of
302 participating organisations in 96 countries worldwide. The
aim of the campaign is to raise awareness on the situation, needs
and rights of victims or torture worldwide. The 'Together against
Torture' campaign is supported by the European Commission, as
well as the OSCE-ODIHR, the Oak Foundation, and the Royal Danish
Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The global launch of an important torture prevention project
will also take place at the press briefing. The 'Implementation
of the Istanbul Protocol' project, supported by the European Commission,
aims to establish a framework for the universal implementation
of the Istanbul Protocol, making an important and sustainable
contribution to the prevention of torture and to bringing perpetrators
to justice. This year, the project is being implemented in Georgia,
Morocco, Sri Lanka, Mexico, and Uganda.
The Istanbul Protocol is a 'Manual on the Effective Investigation
and Documentation of Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading
Treatment or Punishment', representing leading international standards
in the medical documentation and prevention of torture. The IRCT's
project partners include the World Medical Association, the Human
Rights Foundation of Turkey, and Physicians for Human Rights-USA.
The IRCT actively promotes the inherent link between rehabilitation
of torture victims and prevention of torture, recognising that
any effective policy to the fight against torture requires an
integrated approach, addressing both aspects of the work. The
current EU policy shift from rehabilitation to prevention has
resulted in about 30 rehabilitation centres facing imminent closure
or having to considerably reduce their activities and the IRCT
strongly encourages the EU to review its current funding policy
to ensure a cohesive impact on the work against torture.
| Interview opportunities: |
Ms Danièle Smadja, Director Multilateral
relations and human rights
Dr Jens Modvig, IRCT Secretary General |
| Time and Date: |
11.30pm, Thursday 26 June 2003 |
| Venue: |
Press Room Breydel, European Commission, Avenue
d'Auderghem, 1040 Brussels |
For more information, please contact Caroline Pincemin, Head
of IRCT Office in Brussels,
Tel: +32 2 286 90 25 or Email: caroline.pincemin@easynet.be
 Pressbrief
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