From horror to healing: Lawyers band together to take up torture cases

ISLAMABAD: Any violation of the international conventions on torture and human rights must be prompt, fully, impartially and thoroughly investigated and the perpetrators prosecuted.

This consensus was developed amongst participants of a workshop on the Convention against Torture (CAT). The workshop was organised by Struggle for Change (SACH) in collaboration with the European Commission and the Islamabad District Bar Association to commemorate the international day in support of victims of torture.

Rehabilitation centres and human rights organizations around the world celebrate the United Nations (UN) recognised day on June 26 each year. The day serves as a reminder to people that torture is a crime.

The event aimed to sensitise lawyers on “United Nations Convention against Torture” in order to give them a better understanding of torture in Pakistan. The training highlighted the significance of CAT and initiated a debate on the implementation of the convention in line with the theme for the year, from horror to healing.

The discussion focused on the significance of CAT and initiated a debate on the implementation of the convention.

Participating lawyers stated that the impunity for torturers prevents victims of torture from seeing justice being done.



The lawyers also highlighted the fact that under international law — which the Pakistani government has ratified — states are obliged to investigate alleged crimes of torture and bring perpetrators to justice.

Hence, they stated that it was the state’s responsibility to ensure that all acts of torture are defined and treated as crimi¬nal offences under the national penal law and that these offences are punishable by appropriate sanctions and legislation.

A task force of interested lawyers was formed to work for torture victims and take up such cases in courts of law apart from raising their voices against the issue of impunity practice by courts.