The Khiam Rehabilitation Center has established a special committee for June 26. This committee includes 30 Lebanese NGOs where the KRC, through its Secretary General Mohammed Safa, launched the schedule of the
campaign.
In this press conference, the president of the Lebanese Association for the Human Rights as well as the Coordinator of
AMNESTY- Lebanon participated in the statement.
The Speech of JUNE 26 Committee
The Khiam Rehabilitation Center for Victims of Torture, Launching June 26 Campaign BY the Secretary General of KRC: Mohammed Safa
The
United Nations along with the human rights organizations celebrates the
International Day Against Torture, annually, in order to support the
torture victims and to raise voices against any violation for the human
rights and also to remember all the victims of torture who suffered
physical and mental harassment and who passed away under sever torture.
Torture is a crime against humanity, a crime that is still practiced in
more than hundred countries.
Torture practices humiliate the human’s dignity and are highly used in
wars as a means to dominate and control others.
This year, we celebrate the International Day against Torture while the
photos of torture in Abu Gharib Prison are still in our minds, and its
horribleness still shakes the world’s conscience.
Torture against prisoners in Guantanamo takes us back in history into
black stages.
And in Palestine, all aspects of normal life vanish in the systematic
extermination war lead by Israel against the Palestinian population.
In the Arabic prisons the situation is not better, where jails are more
like stockades, missed is who enters and new born who comes out.
If Televisions were allowed to get into any of the Israeli, Arabian,
African and other Dictatorial systems’ prisons, we will find ourselves
in front of more horrible photos than those of Abu Gharib.
Torture is not limited to prisoners but extends to reach women, children
and poor marginalized sectors of society.
Hence, Poverty is torture;
Starvation is torture;
Thirst is torture;
Children’s labor is torture;
Violence against women is torture;
In short, we are living within conditions that are harder than those
witnessed after the World Wars II and I; the world is witnessing barbarism
in practicing torture and great violations for human rights more than
we’ve ever seen.
However, we move by the name of fighting terrorism and violations against
human rights, and by the name of fighting the phenomenon of taking
terrorism as an excuse to practice torture and violate the International
laws and Geneva Conventions.
Because human’s existence is in danger, the celebrations of June 26 take
a great importance for the voices to raise and be united against any
violation;
Against barbarism;
Against humans degrading;
Against governments that practice torture.
June 26 is a call out to offend and prohibit torture;
June 26 is a call out to support torture victims and their families;
June 26 is a call out for a world free of torture, starvation, repression
and wars.
Together against torture;
Stop torture.
28/06/04
The Schedule of the International
Day Against Torture
1- Wednesday, 23/6/2004: An open discussion about “The Concept
of Torture and Protection Mechanisms”, with Dr. Marwan Fares, President
of the Parliamentary Committee for Human Rights, Mr. Ahmed Karoud, Head of
the Regional Office of Amnesty International, and representative of the
Syndicate of Law, in the Office of the Lebanese Institution for Human
Rights at 5:00 pm.
2- Thursday, 24/6/2004: “Thursday’s Mothers”
demonstration, in solidarity with the torture victims, detainees and
disappearances, in front of the ASCWA at 11:00 am.
3- Friday, 25/6/2004: Solidarity demonstration with the
Lebanese, Palestinian and Arab Detainees in Israeli Prisons, in front of
the Martyrs’ Square-Saida, at 11:00 am.
Also, by an invitation from Khiam Rehabilitation Center for Victims of
Torture, Mr. Mohammed Safa, secretary General of the Follow-up Committee,
opens “The House of Lebanese Detainee” in Deir Serian village, at 5:00
pm.
4- Saturday, 26/6/2004: A free of charge medical day in the
southern Villages, in support of the detainees, their families and the
citizens.
5- Sunday, 27/6/2004: An open art/cultural/informational day in
Al-Sanayeh Garden. It includes a forum of photos of torture from Abu-Gharib
Prison and different places in the world, a play scene titled “
Investigation” by the artist, Munir Keserwani, Dabkeh dancing, painting
and others. The day will be opened for the public from 11:00 am.
The Circular issued
by the Minister of Education Concerning the International Day Against
Torture
Lebanese
Republic
ministry of education
his
excellency, the minister
Circular No. 18/3/2004
To The Managers Of The Private And Official Schools And The Educational
Institutions
Since the 26th of June is “The United Nation International Day Against Torture” celebrated by the United Nations Agency;
And since Khiam Rehabilitation Center for Victims of Torture is going to commemorate this international occasion in collaboration with human rights organizations, under the slogan of “Together against Torture”;
Due to the fact that torture is prohibited in the article four of The International Declaration for Human Rights, and in the international conventions for human rights;
The managers of private and official schools and educational institutions are asked to commemorate this occasion through devoting an hour from the educational program on the 26th of June explaining to the children the Israeli violations and illegal practices against the Lebanese and Palestinian civilians, and to encourage them to fight all forms of torture and all actions that offend human’s respect. In addition, all students and teachers should be invited to participate in the open day that will be organized in Al-Sanaye’e Garden in Beirut on June 26,2004 and encourage them to draw portraits and write letters inspired by this occasion in order to be showed during that day. These portraits should be signed and presented to the organizing committee before the 20th of June
Minister of Education
Samir
Aljeser
05/06/2004
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