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Monitoring protection mechanisms / Statements / 2018 / December

New initiative to multiply litigation victories against torture and impunity


Call for participation in the SOS-Torture Regional Litigators’ Groups

 
Geneva, Manila, Lomé, San Cristobal de las Casas, 19 December 2018

“As long as there is impunity, there will be torture.” The World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) Secretary General Gerald Staberock, speaking on the occasion of the launch of three SOS-Torture Regional Litigators’ Groups in Africa, Asia and Latin America, expressed the frustration of anti-torture organisations around the world. “Despite Conventions and ratifications and even new national laws, all too often violators are simply not brought to justice in their own countries, victims of torture and other abuses are left without a remedy, and as a result the rest of society remains as vulnerable as ever – this cannot, must not be allowed to continue.” 

Over the coming three years the initiative will gather together, connect, empower and seek to multiply anti-torture litigation to challenge impunity through an innovative, holistic and collective methodology. Jointly with the Collectif des Associations Contre l’Impunité au Togo (CACIT), the Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA) and Centro de Derechos Humanos Fray Bartolomé de las Casas (Frayba), the OMCT is today issuing the call for participation in the SOS-Torture Regional Litigators’ Groups. This call forms part of the OMCT’s global ‘Civil Society United Against Torture’ initiative to step up the collective fight against torture and impunity.

Anti-torture litigation is never an easy task and never business as usual. As litigators and activists we face multiple challenges: torture and other ill-treatment is clouded in secrecy; law and order forces systematically deny wrong doing; victims and witnesses as well as lawyers and defenders are often threatened with reprisals and intimidation; victims who most commonly have to withstand a hostile legal system suffer trauma requiring special support; and not the least – the general public is repeatedly told to tolerate state abuse for a higher good, security. Anti-torture litigation in the SOS-Torture Network have brought important victories in the past, but its use has been too sparse.

To counter this, the OMCT and its CSO partners around the world will build on their experience in litigation and training, both in domestic and international fora, in order to bring this work to new levels. The initiative supports litigation not in isolation but along with victim assistance such as medical, social or legal support; experience sharing on effective documentation and investigation of torture; the development of best practices to protect against reprisals and intimidation; and broader advocacy, visibility and communication strategies to accompany and boost public awareness of legal action that fundamentally affects the public good.

Litigation is fundamental to generate greater accountability and to obtain reparation for victims of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, including comprehensive rehabilitation. However, without platforms that enable continued engagement and knowledge sharing among litigators committed to the fights against torture, strategic litigation will remain an underused tool, and civil society organisations active in the fight against torture and impunity will continue facing serious obstacles to defend victims of torture and ill-treatment.

“This anti-impunity initiative will provide a platform for experienced litigators in the SOS-Torture Network to identify and use innovative strategies in defence of victims of torture and ill-treatment in their quest for justice”, stated Gerald Staberock, Secretary General of OMCT. “Torture is a persistent challenge worldwide which needs collective work – linking civil society, litigators, victim assistance and advocacy –to bring about real, felt change on the ground”, he added.

How it works and how you can apply:

Each regional SOS-Torture Litigators’ Group will initially be made up of fifteen litigators, who will be expected to actively pursue their cases and engage with the respective groups during a two-year period through both in-person and remote (webinar) workshops and exchanges. The litigators need to be connected to members of the SOS-Torture Network or other CSO partners. The supporting CSOs will be expected to accompany and provide support to the litigator with regards to the legal and advocacy strategy surrounding the cases.

A first in-person seminar is expected to take place during the first quarter of 2019. The Latin American Litigators’ Group will meet in Mexico, the African Group will meet in Togo, and the Asian Group will meet in the Philippines. The working languages of these three groups will be conducted in French, English and Spanish, respectively. Direct assistance to victims of torture, including legal, medical, psychological or social assistance in 150 cases will be available to litigators and CSOs through the OMCT’s Urgent Assistance Fund for Victims of Torture.

If you want to join the fight against impunity in torture cases worldwide – apply today!

See the call for participants for each region for more information and application requirements:

- Africa SOS-Torture Litigators' Group

- Asia SOS-Torture Litigators' Group

- Latin America SOS-Torture Litigators' Group


                                                         


      
                                                            

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Date: December 18, 2018
Activity: Monitoring Protection Mechanisms
Type: Statements

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