On resisting torture
15.04.2025 18:44:47 44As you know, torture is one of the most heinous violations of human rights. Inconsistent with the principles of justice, morality and respect for the dignity of the individual, they leave deep scars on victims, destroy families and destroy the foundations of the rule of law. Although international and national laws unilaterally prohibit torture, there are individual facts at present.
Therefore, prevention of torture is not only a legal duty, but also a moral imperative for every member of society.
Why is the prevention of torture so important?
- The suffering of the victims. Torture causes unbearable physical and psychological pain. The consequences can be lifelong, including post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety and other serious health problems.
- Human rights violations. Torture is a gross violation of the fundamental rights of a person, which is enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
- The destruction of the rule of law. The use of torture undermines trust in the law enforcement and special bodies of the state, contributes to the climate of fear and impunity, and creates the conditions for the abuse of power.
- Inaccuracy of information. Information obtained through torture can lead to wrongful convictions and prosecutions of unreliable and innocent people.
How can torture be avoided? Prevention of torture requires a comprehensive approach that includes a number of measures at different levels:
- Strict criminal liability, regardless of the status of the person who committed them.
- Training of law enforcement officers on human rights, detention procedures and the prohibition of torture.
- Increasing the participation of civil society organizations in the prevention of torture (monitoring cases of torture, documenting cases of cruelty and assisting victims show).
- Educating and informing people about the problem of torture, its consequences and ways to prevent it is also a real mechanism to fight them.
Prevention of torture is a general task that requires the efforts of the state, civil society and every individual. Only with joint efforts can we create a world without torture and cruelty.
What can you do as a citizen?
Be careful. Pay attention to cases of cruelty and torture and report them to the competent authorities.
Support organizations against torture. Attend their events and spread the word.
Voice your position.
Remember, silence equals participation. Do not be indifferent to someone's suffering.
Prevention of torture is not only a legal duty, it is a moral imperative for each of us. Only together we can create a world without cruelty and violence, where the dignity of every person is respected and protected.
In this regard, the prosecutor's office is the core of the entire law enforcement system of the country and the body entrusted with the investigation of torture cases by the Head of State (from January 1, 2023, the investigation of torture cases is the exclusive competence of the prosecutor's office). cooperation in the fight against torture allows to ensure the tasks of investigation and documentation of crimes based on international standards on the fight against torture, as well as to ensure the protection of the constitutional rights and freedoms of citizens, the inevitability of punishment and the protection of basic democratic institutions in general.