Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin today marked United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture with a call to end to such practices.
Expressing his abhorrence of torture, Mr Martin said: “Torture is among the very worst violations of human rights and human dignity. It may inflict terrible physical pain, but can also have devastating emotional and psychological effects.”
Minister Martin said torture is among the worst violations of human rights
In the year of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Minister noted the prohibition in international law on the use of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
“Ireland is totally committed to taking persistent, determined and effective measures to eradicate such practices, including through our work in the EU and in other international fora such as the United Nations, the International Criminal Court, the Council of Europe and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe,” he said.
The Minister also urged all States which have not yet done so to become parties to the International Convention Against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment as a matter of priority.
Ireland ratified the Convention Against Torture in April 2002.
The Minister stated that Ireland's commitment to eradicating torture was further demonstrated through its support for the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture. In the past five years, Ireland has given €1 million to the fund.
The United Nations International Day in Support of June 26th was first designated by the UN General Assembly in 1998.