On 26 June 2007 at midday the Nizhny Novgorod Regional NGO Committee Against Torture holds a rally in commemoration of the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. The rally will be held on Minin and Pozharsky Square near the monument to Kozma Minin.
We invite everyone who is not indifferent to the problem of torture and cruel treatment and also representatives of mass media to take part in the rally.
In its resolution of 12 December 1997, the General Assembly proclaimed 26 June as the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture.
This day is celebrated in order to eradicate torture and ensure effective observance of the UN Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment which entered into force on 26 June 1987.
The UN Convention Against Torture reads: “Torture means any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him or a third person information or a confession, punishing him for an act he or a third person has committed or is suspected of having committed, or intimidating or coercing him or a third person, or for any reason based on discrimination of any kind, when such pain or suffering is inflicted by or at the instigation of or with the consent or acquiescence of a public official or other person acting in an official capacity.
Each State Party shall take effective legislative, administrative, judicial or other measures to prevent acts of torture in any territory under its jurisdiction.
No exceptional circumstances whatsoever, whether a state of war or a threat or war, internal political instability or any other public emergency, may be invoked as a justification of torture.
An order from a superior officer or a public authority may not be invoked as a justification of torture”.
During the rally representatives of mass media and everyone who is interested in the problem of torture will be able to get free publications which cover different aspects of the problem.
“Torture in Russia”. The book contains the official and unofficial (drafted by human rights defenders) Reports, presented in November 2006 during the 37th session of the UN Committee Against Torture. The book was prepared by the Public Verdict Foundation(Moscow).
“Sociology of Violence. Abuses in Law Enforcement Agencies Though the Eyes of People”. This publication acquaints with the results of the sociological survey of the problem of torture in Russia, carried out by the Institute of Sociology of the RussianAcademy of Sciences by request of the Nizhny Novgorod Regional NGO Committee Against Torture.