GYLA’s Statement on the Occasion of the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture
June 26 is the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. GYLA expresses its solidarity to the victims of torture and calls on the State to implement effective measures with a view to restore rights of victims, prevent torture and bring offenders to justice.
Torture, degrading and inhuman treatment is the gravest offence against individuals and brings destroying effects to victims, their family members and the society in general. Therefore, the state bears special obligation to carry out all necessary measures for prevention of torture and inhuman treatment through systematic and effective monitoring of closed and semi-closed institutions, to bring offenders to justice and to apply adequate punishment, as well as to ensure victims with psychological and other necessary aid for rehabilitation.
For the past years, GYLA used to focus on the facts of torture and inhuman treatment in Georgia and on systemic problem of impunity of the offence. We appreciate that for the last two years, after the implemented reform in penitentiary system, information about torture facts declined considerably and turned to be rare exceptions.
However, even a single fact of torture and inhuman treatment should be responded immediately and strictly from the state and public. Accordingly, none of such facts should be left without swift, effective and comprehensive investigation and adequate punishment envisaged by law. Moreover, the state should ensure establishment of necessary relevant programs for rehabilitation of victims and their effective operation.
On the other hand, we regret that improved conditions in penitentiary system are not sufficient guarantee to believe that torture and degrading treatment, especially their supporting conditions, have been permanently eliminated.
We opine that NGOs should be conferred with the authority to carry out prison monitoring which in parallel to National Prevention Mechanism will conduct systemic monitoring in penitentiary system for prevention of torture and inhuman treatment and identification and elimination of its causes. Furthermore, analysis of certain cases illustrates that effective and impartial investigation of alleged facts of torture committed by law enforcement representatives remain a problem. Impunity is a syndrome that should be combated by the state for avoiding further facts.
We remain hopeful, that relevant state agencies would undertake further steps for reinforcement of the attained outcomes and resolution of the problems and would be open for cooperation with civil society representatives in combating torture, inhuman and degrading treatment.
ჯ. კახიძის #15, თბილისი, საქართველო, 0102 ; ტელ: (995 32) 95 23 53; ფაქსი: (995 32) 92 32 11; ელ-ფოსტა: gyla@gyla.ge; www.gyla.ge
15, J. Kakhidze str. 0102, Tbilisi, Georgia. Tel: (995 32) 95 23 53; Fax: (995 32) 92 32 11; E-mail: gyla@gyla.ge; www.gyla.ge
