The message of the Human Rights Defender Ms. Anahit Manasyan on the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture
“On June 26, the international community marks the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. It was proclaimed by the UN as a reaffirmation of the universal commitment to the prohibition of torture and support for victims of these criminal acts.
As the National Preventive Mechanism, the Human Rights Defender consistently keeps the prevention of all forms of ill-treatment at the center of attention. The annual and ad hoc reports published by the Defender have repeatedly raised the need for systemic reforms in the field of prevention, as well as the lack of mechanisms for compensation for non-material damage caused by torture and support mechanisms for survivors.
Today, the need for comprehensive support for torture survivors and their families, including psychological, medical and social rehabilitation services, is more than obvious. Such support should be continuous, comprehensive and guaranteed by the state.
The Human Rights Defender’s Office regularly receives alerts and applications regarding possible cases of ill-treatment of persons deprived of their liberty in penitentiary institutions, the police, and pre-trial detention bodies. Clear steps must be taken in this direction to prevent such cases to conduct a proper investigation into the cases.
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The state is obliged to take immediate and decisive steps to prevent torture, ensure a prompt and adequate response to such cases, and conduct an effective, independent, and transparent investigation in order to punish the guilty. The existing problems in this direction require urgent resolution.
I am confident that with joint efforts we can create a society where any manifestation of torture and ill-treatment will be excluded. This is not only a legal requirement, but a civilizational choice that should lie at the foundation of a modern legal state.”
Human Rights Defender of Armenia
