Against torture

26 June 2006 is International Day in Support of Victims of Torture and events are taking place throughout the day in Ukraine to highlight the problem of torture by law enforcement officers and in penal institutions. 

Press conferences will be held by the Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union in Kyiv and by the Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group in Kharkiv,

They will look at how Ukraine is (or is not) complying with its international commitments with respect to combating the use of torture and ill-treatment and will also provide information about recent cases where people were victims of such treatment.

Throughout the country protest pickets will be held outside prosecutor’s offices demanding that they carry out swift and effective investigations into reports or complaints alleging torture and ill-treatment.  The protesters will hand over information which human rights groups have received and checked.

UHHRU have invited all civic organizations to run their own events without the framework of this action.