“On
June 26, the international community marks the International Day in Support of
Victims of Torture. It was proclaimed by the UN as a reaffirmation of the
universal commitment to the prohibition of torture and support for victims of
these criminal acts.
As
the National Preventive Mechanism, the Human Rights Defender consistently keeps
the prevention of all forms of ill-treatment at the center of attention. The
annual and ad hoc reports published by the Defender have repeatedly raised the
need for systemic reforms in the field of prevention, as well as the lack of
mechanisms for compensation for non-material damage caused by torture and
support mechanisms for survivors.
Today,
the need for comprehensive support for torture survivors and their families,
including psychological, medical and social rehabilitation services, is more
than obvious. Such support should be continuous, comprehensive and guaranteed
by the state.
The
Human Rights Defender's Office regularly receives alerts and applications
regarding possible cases of ill-treatment of persons deprived of their liberty
in penitentiary institutions, the police, and pre-trial detention bodies. Clear
steps must be taken in this direction to prevent such cases to conduct a proper
investigation into the cases.
The
state is obliged to take immediate and decisive steps to prevent torture,
ensure a prompt and adequate response to such cases, and conduct an effective,
independent, and transparent investigation in order to punish the guilty. The
existing problems in this direction require urgent resolution.
I am
confident that with joint efforts we can create a society where any
manifestation of torture and ill-treatment will be excluded. This is not only a
legal requirement, but a civilizational choice that should lie at the
foundation of a modern legal state.”
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