Project on Prevention of Torture
The National Human Rights Commission, alongwith project partners Shubhodya Centre for Rehabilitation .of Victims of Torture and Violence (SOSRAC), an NGO, and the British Council has undertaken a project on ‘Prevention of Torture’.
India signed the United Nations Convention on the prevention of torture in 1997, but has not yet ratified it. In practice the use of torture as a means of securing a confession constitutes a major human rights abuse. An International Symposium on Torture was organized in Delhi by the NHRC and the International Rehabilitation Council on Torture (IRCT) in 1999. The present project is a follow-up to the seminar and aims at creating co-operation and links between a range of different agencies committed to reducing torture and increasing awareness of legal rights and remedies available for torture victims.
The project will be structured around the outputs of a situational study to be conducted by a range of Networking Partners and Indian specialists with support from UK’s Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Crime, which has extensive experience of working internationally. In conducting the analysis, the team will meet with a range of involved parties including doctors, lawyers, police, and human rights activists.
The duration of the project is two and half years. It is expected to be completed by March 2005. The activities envisaged in the project are broadly categorized in four stages, and involve, inter-alia, a situational study, a training component, and seminars both at the State and National level.
The project will have the funding support of the British High Commission in India. The Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture will be a resource partner. The other networking partners are a range of organizations, including medical associations, police departments, training institutes, professionals and NGOs.
The Commission is in touch with the Chief Secretaries and Home Secretaries of all the States/Union Territories, Directors General of Police, Inspectors General of Police (Human Rights), and the State Human Rights Commissions of Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Punjab Jammu & Kashmir, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal and Assam in respect of the Project.
India signed the United Nations Convention on the prevention of torture in 1997, but has not yet ratified it. In practice the use of torture as a means of securing a confession constitutes a major human rights abuse. An International Symposium on Torture was organized in Delhi by the NHRC and the International Rehabilitation Council on Torture (IRCT) in 1999. The present project is a follow-up to the seminar and aims at creating co-operation and links between a range of different agencies committed to reducing torture and increasing awareness of legal rights and remedies available for torture victims.
The project will be structured around the outputs of a situational study to be conducted by a range of Networking Partners and Indian specialists with support from UK’s Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Crime, which has extensive experience of working internationally. In conducting the analysis, the team will meet with a range of involved parties including doctors, lawyers, police, and human rights activists.
The duration of the project is two and half years. It is expected to be completed by March 2005. The activities envisaged in the project are broadly categorized in four stages, and involve, inter-alia, a situational study, a training component, and seminars both at the State and National level.
The project will have the funding support of the British High Commission in India. The Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture will be a resource partner. The other networking partners are a range of organizations, including medical associations, police departments, training institutes, professionals and NGOs.
The Commission is in touch with the Chief Secretaries and Home Secretaries of all the States/Union Territories, Directors General of Police, Inspectors General of Police (Human Rights), and the State Human Rights Commissions of Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Punjab Jammu & Kashmir, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal and Assam in respect of the Project.