The Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, in charge of relations with institutions, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) celebrated on Wednesday, in the city of Sya, the international day in support of victims of torture.

The Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, in charge of Relations with Institutions, celebrated the International Day of Support for Victims of Torture on July 5, 2023 in Bobo-Dioulasso.

The meeting was placed under the theme, “Commemorating the day of support for victims of torture in a security context, a means of rehabilitation for victims and a strategy for the consolidation of the social fabric”.

To solve the problem, the United Nations has set up several mechanisms, including an International Day of Struggle, in order to combat and prevent the phenomenon.

The day was supported by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) through the Social Cohesion, Security and Rule of Law (COSED) project and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

It was marked by several activities which took place from July 3 to 5, 2023. These are conferences on torture for the benefit of the Defense and Security Forces (FDS), health workers, radio broadcasts, panels and the actual commemoration of the day in support of victims of torture on July 5, 2023.

On the occasion, the representative of the OHCHR, Zeinab Diaby, read the declaration of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, issued at each commemoration of the event.

The representative of the acting resident representative of the UNDP, Emilienne Sanon, affirmed that despite the efforts of the United Nations, torture persists in the world.

Ms. Sanon explained that the institution has adopted many instruments that make the protection of physical integrity and the fight against torture,

“Fundamental principles which must not be derogated from whatever the circumstances,” she argued.

According to him, among these safeguards is the celebration each June 26 of the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture.

“Thus, June 26 is an opportunity to call on all stakeholders, including UN Member States, civil society and individuals across the world to unite and support the hundreds of thousands of people who have been or are still victims of torture,” she said.

She specified to this effect that the United Nations had set up since 1981 a voluntary contribution fund for victims of torture.

Ms. Sanon praised the efforts made by the Burkinabè government for the respect of human rights and expressed the availability of the UNDP to support it, in order to make the national mechanism for the prevention of torture a reality.

She also called on Burkina Faso to set up a compensation and reparation system for the benefit of victims of torture.

The representative of the governor of the Hauts-Bassins region, representing the minister in charge of justice, N’golo Barro made the case of the legal and institutional measures that Burkina Faso has taken to fight and prevent torture and other similar practices.

Mr. Barro hoped that the resolutions that will be taken during this day can contribute to the strengthening of cohesion within the population for the consolidation of the sacred union of sons and daughters, guarantee of a success in the fight against terrorism.

Source: Burkina Information Agency