Video statement International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims

Scientific Symposium: “Delivering on the Promise of the Right to Rehabilitation”
Mexico City, 5-8 December 2016

30 November 2016

Thank you for inviting me to address you at this Symposium of practitioners and experts involved in helping torture victims. I honour your commitment, your courage, your compassion for the victims, and the remarkable professional competence so many of you have developed and shown.

The field of torture rehabilitation benefits hugely from discussions such as this one, where medical, legal, psychological and social-work expertise can be further advanced and shared.

Torture is abhorrent. It shames every society that practises it. It is prohibited under all conditions, without exception. And yet every day you face men, women and children who have endured torture. Depending on where you work, you may be increasingly seeing these victims.

You are also hearing, as I do, a rising narrative around the world which condones and even advocates the use of torture. This is intolerable. We need to reach out, strengthen our coalitions, and fight this deeply shocking trend.

We also need to insist that States must provide rehabilitation and redress to the victims of torture, and their families - just as they have agreed to do, under international law. It may be possible for victims to recover from torture. But this requires prompt and specialized assistance.

Many of you are receiving support from the UN Fund for Victims of Torture, which my Office is proud to manage. The Fund finances more than 150 torture rehabilitation centres annually, in over 80 countries – centres that with the Fund’s help potentially provide services to over 50,000 victims and family members every year.

This is important work. Thank you for gathering today to push forward. I strongly support your cause.