SECRETARY-GENERAL URGES ALL STATES TO ACCEDE TO CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE

SECRETARY-GENERAL URGES ALL STATES TO ACCEDE TO CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE New York, Jun 26 2008 9:00AM Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today urged all United Nations Member States to accede to the Convention against Torture, and to also consider ratifying the Optional Protocol to the Convention which includes international and national visits to places of detention.

Referring to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Mr. Ban said, in a message to mark the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, that the foundation of international human rights law strictly prohibits torture "under any and all circumstances."

"And yet, 60 years since the adoption of the Declaration, torture persists, devastating millions of victims and their families," he said, adding that the Day was "a call to speak out and take action on their behalf and against all those who commit torture and all forms of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment."

The Secretary-General also called on States to do more to ensure that the torture-protection framework was applied in a gender-sensitive manner.

"Certain forms of gender-specific violence amount to torture as it is defined in the Convention against Torture," he said. "I call on the international community to strengthen the international legal framework to ensure better protection for women, including access to international assistance."

Mr. Ban also called on all governments to continue their support of the UN Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture, which he described as one of the largest UN humanitarian trust funds, helping provide victims with medical and psychological care, legal and social aid, and financial support.
2008-06-26 00:00:00.000

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