The General Assembly proclaimed 26 June United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture ; The Day marks the moment in 1987 when the UN Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, one of the key instruments in fighting torture, came into effect. Today, the Convention has been ratified by 162 countries.

United Nations Secretary General's International Day in support of Victims of Torture 2020, June 26.

Torture is an egregious abuse of human rights. International law unequivocally prohibits torture in all instances. Yet, torture continues in many countries, even those where it is criminalized.

On this International Day in Support of the Victims of Torture, human rights defenders and survivors of torture around the world take the opportunity to speak out against this abhorrent denial of human dignity and they act to remember and support its victims.

Torture diminishes everyone and everything that it touches, including torturers and the systems and States where it occurs. Torturers must never be allowed to get away with their crimes, and systems that enable torture should be dismantled or transformed.

Victims and survivors and their families must be empowered and assisted to seek justice for their ordeal. To that end, I commend the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture and call for its replenishment.

On this International Day, let us honor the victims of torture and commit to work to achieve a world where such abuse cannot happen.

António Guterres.

Forum: International Day in Support of Victims of Torture 2020 . Feature stories.

The United Nations has repeatedly acknowledged the important role played by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the fight against torture. In addition to lobbying for the establishment of United Nations instruments and monitoring mechanisms, they have made a valuable contribution to their enforcement. Individual experts, including the Special Rapporteur on torture and the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, and treaty monitoring bodies such as the Committee against Torture rely heavily on information brought to their attention by NGOs and individuals.

Learn about the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture;

The Fund awards hundreds of grants to civil society organizations worldwide to deliver medical, psychological, legal, social and other assistance. The voluntary contributions that the Fund receives, mostly from member States, thus contribute to the rehabilitation, reparation, empowerment and access to remedies of nearly 50,000 torture survivors each year

• • Donate now

  • Brochure about the fund

  • Brochure: 26 June - International Day in Support of Victims of Torture

  • Brochure: From Horror to Healing

Webinars: Participants

• Committee against Torture

• Human Rights Committee

• Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment

• Human Rights Bodies - Complaints Procedures

• International Criminal Court

Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture, Closing of Session, 41st Session SPT