17th International Day in Support of Victims of Torture
26 June, 2014
A delegation of Amnesty International Nepal delivered a memorandum addressed to the president of the Republic of the Philippines Benigno Simeon Aquino III to Suraj Vaidya, Honorary Consul of the Philippines in Kathmandu, calling on the Philippines government to stop the use of torture and other practices of ill-treatment and to end the rampant culture of impunity in the country.
The memorandum was delivered by Vice Chairperson of AI Nepal Surya Bahadur Adhikari on the occassion of the 17th International Day in Support of Victims of Torture.
Vaidya told the delegation he would convey the message to the Philippines Government and said Philippines is an emerging democracy, and is committed towards respecting human rights.
Amnesty International has serious concerns about the widespread use of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment in the Philippines. State security forces including law enforcement officers continue to torture suspects and prisoners.
In its memorandum Amnesty International recommends the government of the Philippines to ensure that existing legal safeguards to stop torture are implemented in law, policy and practice. Similarly, AI has urged the Philippines government to investigate all complaints of torture and ill-treatment promptly, thoroughly, impartially and effectively, and prosecute perpetrators in fair trials that meet international standards.
AI also urged to provide full reparations to victims of torture, strengthen the effectiveness of accountability mechanisms that exist to help bring perpetrators of torture to justice – such as the Commission on Human Rights, the Civil Service Commission, the Office of the Ombudsman for the Military and Law Enforcement Officers, the National Police Commission and the National Prosecution Service.
Click here for the English version of memorandum.