Public Meeting on the International Anti-Torture Day

Invitation to Public Meeting on the International Anti-Torture Day


Event: Public Meeting on the International Anti-Torture Day.

Place: Office of the Barak Human Rights Protection Committee
Rongpur Part-IV (Near Uco Bank), Silchar-9, Assam

Date: June 22, 2009, Time: 11am onwards


Dear Madam/Sir,

To commemorate the INTERNATIONAL ANTI-TORTURE DAY, Barak Human Rights Protection Committee (BHRPC) organizes a public meeting on TORTURE to raise awareness among the general people about the destructive impact of torture on the victim, torturer and the society in which torture occurs.

It is well recognized that torture destroys and dehumanizes men, women and children, families and communities. It prevents societies from nurturing the human and economic development that is a right for all people. It is prohibited absolutely by the peremptory norms of International and customary law.

Torture is prohibited in India by Article 21 of the Constitution, section 330 and 331 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and other laws and also strongly condemned by the Supreme Court of India and High Courts in a number of landmark cases like D. K. Basu Vs. State of West Bengal.

But till date these noble provisions mostly remain ineffective. The number of torture cases and barbarity of torture methods are increasing in India, especially in remote areas like North East India. Torture in the custody of police and security forces in the name of interrogation is thought here as a normal thing. India is the country where the largest number of custodial deaths in the world occurs.

India has not yet ratified the United Nations Convention Against Torture, Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT), though it is signatory to the Convention. There is no clear and comprehensive legislation providing effective mechanism to prevent torture, to provide remedies and rehabilitations to the victim and to punish the torturers.

The senior members of the BHRPC and intellectuals will talk on:

1. Relation between Socio-Economic Situation and Torture,

2. Need for Ratification of the CAT and its Optional Protocol by India,

3. Need for a Comprehensive Legislation against Torture and the Prevention of Torture Bill, 2008 and other related topics

There will also be an interactive session between the audience and the speakers.

You are cordially requested to participate in the event to make it a grand success.

Yours truly,

Neharul Ahmed Mazumder,
Secretary General, BHRPC
Silchar
20/06/2009