Mail News Service
\nImphal, June 25 : CORE and its Human to Humane Transcultural Centre for Trauma and Torture (H2H), Human Rights Alert (HRA) and the Department of Clinical Psychology of the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) concluded today a four-day training workshop for practitioners \u201cRoad To Psychosocial Support And Rehabilitation In Conflict Situations\u201d.
\nThe Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (United Nations Convention against Torture) is an international human rights instrument, under the review of the United Nations, that aims to prevent torture around the world. On 26 June 1987, the United Nations Convention Against Torture came into effect.
\nIndia, a signatory of this treaty since 1997 is yet to ratify it in Parliament and incorporate into the national legal framework. Fifteen years after expressing its intention to ratify this treaty, it is a shame that this so-called great democracy has yet to absolutely prohibit this inhuman and barbaric practice of torture by its police and armed forces. On 26 June 1945, the United Nations Charter was signed and the Universal Declaration on Human Rights was adopted soon after on 10 December 1948.
\nSince then the decision to annually observe the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture was taken by the UN General Assembly at the proposal of Denmark, which is home to the world-renowned International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT). \u201cThe United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture \u2013 26 June\u201d is thence held annually on 26 June to speak out against the crime of torture and to honour and support victims and survivors throughout the world; dozens of organisations in dozens of countries mark the day each year with events, celebrations and campaigns
\nRehabilitation is the theme for the 26 June 2012 campaign. Rehabilitation empowers torture victims to resume as full a life as possible. However, rebuilding the life of someone whose dignity has been destroyed takes time and is the result of long-term material, medical, psychological and social support.Rehabilitation works\u2026and is a torture survivor\u2019s right.
\n \u201cThis is the first time I ever danced wholeheartedly and it seems to bring me an inner joy I have never experienced and that has been my mainstay ever since\u201d said Bijeta, a 13 year-old girl victim who underwent Dance Movement Psychotherapy while attended a Treatment and Rehabilitation Programme (TRP) organized by Human to Humane Transcultural Centre for Trauma and Torture (H2H) in 2010 during a recent interaction.
\nAnother case in point is CORE and H2H\u2019s role in the rehabilitation support given to the family of one extra-judicial execution victim, a child, who was allegedly severely tortured before being killed. His mother, Ahanthem Tampha said, \u201cAfter the fateful incident when I lost my son, I have been going through a hard time.
\nI get flashbacks of good times I had with my son, and I still do hear his voice calling out my name when I\u2019m alone\u2026I am haunted by my son\u2019s absence and really miss him now. I am preoccupied most of the time by my son\u2019s memories and what happened to him and this has badly affected my daily activities. I started neglecting my other children and do regret about this too. I know I have also been affected mentally by my son\u2019s unnatural death. <\/p>\n\n