English  |  Français  |  Español
 
OMCT LogoOMCT logo
Make a donationRSSOMCT on FacebookOMCT on TwitterOMCT BlogHomeAbout OMCTActivitiesCATOMCT NetworkOMCT EuropeContactsMake a donation
  • Urgent campaigns
  • Assistance to victims
  • Human rights defenders
  • ESCR
  • Rights of the child
  • Violence against women
  • Monitoring protection mechanisms
 Save as PDF Print version
Events / Libya / 2013 / June

Libya: In tough times, Benghazi commemorates 'International Day Against Torture'

Download full article
4 pages / 1.34 MB



PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

Saturday, June 22, 2013


In tough times, Benghazi commemorates ‘International Day Against Torture’

Benghazi, the birthplace of Libya’s February 17th Revolution, is fraught these days with risk. In the past month, there have been bombings of police and military installations, tense demonstrations, and shootouts between security forces and other armed groups, resulting in dozens of casualties and hundreds of injuries. OMCT is treading into this uncertain terrain this week to call for an end to the violence on the occasion of June 26, the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture.

For the second time since the revolution, OMCT is supporting its Libyan partners in their commemoration of this day. OMCT is accompanying the National Council of Civil Liberties and Human Rights in organizing a public conference on June 26 titled, Drawing from the past to master our future: the fight against torture in Libya. The event will focus on issues of collective trauma and transitional justice.

In the days leading up to this conference, Benghazi artists ‘Hamzawi’ and ‘Nadeer’ will lead a graffiti workshop for Benghazi youth. They will create a street mural against torture with the support of Tunisian artists ‘Willis from Tunis’ and the ‘Zwewla’ group, as well as OMCT and the Cultural Council of the Union for the Mediterranean. Symbolically, the mural will be painted (with permission) on the wall of a militia headquarters. Currun Singh, Regional Advisor of OMCT, said, “It’s important to push this conversation beyond the walls of the conference room. The people of Benghazi were the first to take the streets in the revolution and now you see amazing art everywhere on the street. The revolution was only the beginning and we stand united with Benghazi to say no to torture and no to violence.”

Film screenings, a poetry night, and a musical concert are among the other events this week organized by OMCT and its Libyan partners on the occasion of the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture (see full program above and to the right). OMCT has been active in Libya ever since the Abu Salim prison massacre in 1996, which it brought to the attention of the Human Rights Committee of the United Nations. Since the revolution, it has been accompanying civil society in fighting against torture and supporting legal reforms.


--

The program of OMCT Libya is supported by the European Union. The content of this statement is the sole responsibility of OMCT. 


--

For more information, contact:

Currun Singh                                                           Karim Salem
MENA Advisor                                                       Project Coordinator
Email: cs@omct.org                                                Email: ks@omct.org
Tel: +216 71 322 561 / + 41 22 809 4939               Tel: +216 71 322 561 / + 41 22 809 4939


Created in 1985, the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) is today the main coalition of international NGOs fighting against torture, summary executions, enforced disappearances and all other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. With 311 affiliated organisations in its SOS-Torture Network and tens of thousands of correspondents in every country, OMCT is the strongest network of NGOs working to protect and promote human rights around the world. For more information, visit us at www.omct.org, on Facebook or Twitter.


Properties

Date: June 22, 2013
Type: Events
Country: Libya

Attachments

  • arabic___full_program___press_release_june_26.pdf
    6 pages / 3.98 MB

  • june_26_full_program.pdf
    4 pages / 1.34 MB

Share this

Tweet

Languages

This page is available in:

English


You can also translate it on the fly:

Recently Viewed Articles

OMCT International Secretariat
PO Box 21, 8, rue du Vieux-Billard, CH-1211 Geneva 8, Switzerland
Tel: + 41 22 809 4939
Fax: + 41 22 809 4929
E-mail:
OMCT Europe
Rue Franklin 111
1000 Brussels
Tel. / Fax: +32 2 218 37 19
E-mail:
OMCT TUNIS
3, Rue Hassen Ibn Nooman
Cité Jardins | Tunis 1002
Tel: +216 71 791 114
Fax: +216 71 791 115
E-mail:
  • Blog
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Rss
  • Privacy Policy