On June 26 Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) held a rally Say No to Torture!

 

Staff of the organization assembled at the police headquarters in Dighomi at 11:00 am and afterward relocated to Ortachala, outside another building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at 12:00 pm.

Organizers of the rally were handing out T-shirts with anti-torture logo, as well as special leaflets and were decorating buildings with white ribbons that said “say no to torture!”

Although incidents of torture have relatively decreased in Georgia recently, concerns still remain.

On June 26 – International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, we would like to remind the state its obligation to prevent torture and inhumane treatment and to investigate all such incidents.

On December 12, 1997 proposed by the United Nations Economic and Social Council, the UN General Assembly designated June 26 each year as the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. This date is marked to prevent torture and to ensure effective practice of the Convention against Torture, which came in force on June 26, 1987.

The UN Convention against Torture requires all states to investigate all incidents of torture, prosecute offenders and guarantee victims of torture an enforceable right to compensation; i.e. take all effective measures to prevent torture within their borders. Protection from all acts of torture, inhumane and degradable treatment or punishment is one of the basic human rights and its restriction may not be justified under any circumstances.