Monday, June 27 2022 12:34

ArmInfo.Armenia's Human Rights Defender has addressed a message on International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. 

The message reads: 

"On June 26, humanity marks the International Day in Support of  Victims of Torture. This crime, which is prohibited by international  law, and which cannot be justified in any circumstance continues to  be a challenge to the collective efforts of states and international  law to prevent and punish crimes against humanity. The provision of  the necessary assistance to the victims and survivors of this inhuman  crime, and members of their families should be a direct obligation of  States who have undertaken international obligations for the absolute  prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading  treatment or punishment.  "Despite the well-developed international  and national legal regulations and institutional systems, modern  conflicts and hostilities pose even greater and currently unaddressed  risks for crimes of torture and ill- treatment; specifically, during  the 44-day war, many of our compatriots were subjected to torture,  extrajudicial killings and other forms of inhuman treatment by the  Azerbaijani armed forces. In violation of international obligations,  the representatives of the Azerbaijani authorities subjected Armenian  prisoner of war and civilian captives kept in Baku to torture and  inhuman treatment.  "In this regard, the delayed assessment by  international standards or its complete absence conveys the grave  risk of normalizing such crimes in the context of other conflicts.  Unfortunately, delayed assessment result in loss of human lives and  destroyed destinies.  "Being a National Prevention Mechanism, the  Human Rights Defender has always raised and presented the issues  related to the domestic policy and practice with its annual and ad  hoc reports and statements.  "The requirement of an absolute ban on  all forms of torture and ill-treatment includes all the needs of  persons in places of deprivation of liberty, such as the insufficient  conditions in penitentiary institutions, the shortcomings in medical  care and services, the absolute inefficiency of rehabilitation and  re- socialization services after serving a sentence, as well as the  use of illegal methods of restraint in psychiatric institutions.   "The Human Rights Defender reiterates the need for the state to take  concrete steps to respond quickly and adequately to cases of torture,  to bring those responsible to justice after an effective  investigation, as well as to take effective steps in the direction of  prevention of torture in the country, including through providing  individual psychological and social-rehabilitation services to the  survivors of torture and their family members.  "In this regard, the  non-pecuniary compensation for the violation of the absolute right  not be subjected to torture and inhuman treatment remains incomplete  in our country.  "Today provided us with another opportunity to  discuss these issues and to find institutional solutions, by  cooperating with civil society organizations that have been active in  the field for many years."