The Center for Victims of Torture (CVT) Marks Observance of United Nations Day in Support of Victims of Torture with Reception to Honor Key Supporters of 1998 Torture Victims Relief Act

Center for the Victims of Torture
Wednesday, 21 June 2000

"Let this day be a reminder for each of us that we owe it to the victims of torture to stand up for them against the evil of torture," says United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights,the Honorable Ms. Mary Robinson

Washington, DC ... The Center for Victims of Torture today hosted an observance of the Third Annual United Nations Day in Support of Victims of Torture (June 26) in the Caucus Room (325) of the Russell Senate Office Building. Co-hosting the event with CVT were Senators Rod Grams (R-MN) and Paul Wellstone (D-MN) and the United Nations Association of the National Capital Area. The Senators presented awards on behalf of the Center to US Representatives John Edward Porter (R-IL) and Martin Olav Sabo (D-MN) for their instrumental assistance in the passage of the Torture Victims Relief Act and their critical work during the appropriations process to support the Act.

In his remarks, CVT executive Director Douglas A. Johnson said, "The bipartisan support and leadership shown by these members of Congress was crucial to the passage and funding for the 1998 Torture Victims Relief Act. Simply put, it has guaranteed that international victims of torture - both in the United States and abroad - will now start to receive the services they so desperately need." Johnson concluded by observing that since 1992, CVT has had a public policy program that has vigilantly advocated US leadership in the assistance of international victims of torture. The public policy program sought the adoption of the Torture Victims Relief Act which authorizes funding of treatment programs for torture survivors in the United States and abroad. In Fiscal Year 2000, funding was first appropriated by the Congress for the Act.

In her keynote remarks, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Honorable Ms. Mary Robinson commented that, " It is not only Governments that should take action: also individuals, groups of citizens and non-governmental organizations may contribute to the elimination of torture." Also in attendance was Dr. Inge Genefke, Secretary General of the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT) who said, "This UN Day highlights the terrible tolerance of torture. Torture is carried out in over a third of the 188 Member States, including some which have ratified the UN Convention against Torture. Half of the world's population lives in countries where torture is practiced." The IRCT, based in Copenhagen, Denmark, promotes and supports the rehabilitation of torture victims and the prevention of torture in collaboration with nearly 200 rehabilitation centres and programmes worldwide.

This year's UN Day in Support of Victims of Torture (June 26) campaign theme is "Reparations." It is recognized that the right to reparation is a fundamental pre-requisite both for the rehabilitation of the individual torture victims and for the promotion of peace, reconciliation and stability in broken societies. Mental health and torture rehabilitation programs are inherent parts of these conflict resolution and peace making initiatives.

For more information, or to contact Center for the Victims of Torture, see their website at: www.cvt.org