We, the undersigned,
Council Members of the
International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT), representing
health professionals and other relevant professionals who provide
multidisciplinary rehabilitation for victims and survivors of torture
throughout the world, gathered at the Annual Council Meeting in London, United
Kingdom, 9 and 10 November 2011,
are alarmed by the
level of violence, including torture, that currently occurs in all regions of
the world and specially in situations of conflict and social unrest, and that
is often related to poverty, defined as a human condition characterized by
sustained or chronic deprivation of resources, capabilities, choices, security
and power necessary for the enjoyment of an adequate standard of living and
other human rights.
Bearing in mind,
that all dimensions of
poverty perpetuate an enduring state of marginalisation, diminished rights, and
reduced protections that make an individual more vulnerable to torture and ill
treatment;
that torture has
complex and far reaching consequences on physical, psychological, social and
economic well-being of its victims. The debilitating consequences of torture
affect the victim’s ability to earn and thus provide for the victim and the
family and to further contribute to society;
that in general,
official State policies, including development policies and programmes, have
thus far failed to adequately address the link between poverty and torture, to
fulfil the Millennium Development Goals, and to break the vicious cycle that
poverty and torture create; and
that women and men,
groups or communities historically subjected to discrimination face compounded
violations to their rights when they do not have the financial means to defend
their rights or to access the health, justice and employment sectors in
conditions of equality.
Deeply concerned,
that poverty is one of
the major underlying factors that keeps people perpetually vulnerable to
torture, and that torture tends to increase or deepen poverty by stripping
victims of the ability to continue their livelihoods;
that poor persons are
disproportionately more vulnerable to torture and ill treatment, in particular
in situations of detention and lack of legal representation.
Urgently call upon
States
to effectively take
responsibility to include the eradication of torture and the right to
rehabilitation in their poverty reduction policies and strategies, including
all development policies and programmes;
to ensure
participation by torture victims and survivors and their advocates and defenders,
as well as rehabilitation centres and other health professionals, in the
definition of poverty reduction policies and strategies, including all
development policies and programmes;
to ensure that any
arrested person who cannot afford legal counsel should be provided immediately
with free quality legal aid in conformity with international standards for fair
trial and medical examination, thereby further protecting them from torture and
ill treatment;
to ensure that access
to rehabilitation will be offered to all victims and survivors of torture
within their jurisdiction without discrimination;
to ensure that all
torture victims receive holistic rehabilitation, which includes medical,
psychological, social, legal and livelihood support;
to ensure relevant education
and vocational training and to promote access of victims and survivors to
employment in order to enable them to rise above poverty, thereby breaking the
vicious cycle of poverty and torture; and
to include in their
reporting exercises to regional and international relevant bodies and
mechanisms, the steps taken in this connection and the progress achieved.
Executive Committee
Mohamud Nurein Said,
Sub-Saharan-Africa – President
Jorge Aroche, Pacific – Vice-President
Loreine dela Cruz, Executive Committee Member – Asia
Lilla Hardi, Executive Committee Member – Europe
Simona Ruy-Perez, Executive Committee Member – Latin America
Karen Hanscom, Executive Committee Member – North America
Clarisse Delorme, Executive Committee Member – Independent Expert
Asia
Bhava Nath Poudyal – RATA – Indonesia
Shailendra Guragain, CVICT, Nepal
Pradeep Agrawal, SOSRAC, India
Europe
Mimoza Dimitrova, ACET, Bulgaria
Sebnem Korur Fincanci, HRFT, Turkey
Larisa Alaverdyian, FAVL/ ARDCen-TV, Armenia
Lejla Cakovic, CTV MOST , Bosnia
Mechthild Wenk-Ansohn, BZFO, Germany
Boris Drozdek, Psychotrauma Zentrum Zuid, Netherlands
Latin America
Carlos Jibaja, CAPS, Peru
Middle East and North Africa
Nagib Nagm Eldin Hassan, AMEL, Sudan
North America
John Docherty, RIVO, Canada
Sub-Saharan Africa
Didier Kamundu Batundi, SOPROP, Democratic Republic of Congo
Uju Agomoh, PRAWA, Nigeria
Independent Expert
Johan Lansen, Psychiatrist (retired), Amersfoort, The Netherlands
Secretary General
Brita Sydhoff
Independent Chair of
Council
Victor Madrigal Borloz
