The United Nation's International Day in Support of Victims of Torture serves as a reminder to people that torture is a crime and should under no circumstances be excused or tolerated. The commemoration of this day gives people an opportunity to unite and support survivors and victims of torture on their rehabilitation journey towards regaining their dignity.
While South Africa has made substantial progress concerning reparations, including the provisions contained in the Anti-Torture and the Anti-Trafficking Acts , there is still much to be done in ensuring the prevention of torture and providing access to redress for Torture victims and survivors. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission had done excellent work, but some of its recommendations, especially those relating to the accountability of perpetrators, investigation of enforced disappearance, and restitution for victims, remain unimplemented. This has left the fight against torture incomplete which means that many perpetrators have not been held to account and torture continues to plague our society. This leaves much of the work of rehabilitation on the shoulders of victims.
The Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation will therefore be hosting an engagement space for service providers, survivors and communities who support survivors on the 26th June 2021. The Right to Rehabilitation Imbizo seeks to provide the platform and opportunity for survivors and the general public to gain information regarding torture prevention and interventions, and most importantly, provide survivors and the community, the opportunity to engage with service providers on issues they face regarding torture and access to redress.
Register to attend the Rehabilitation Imbizo event here.
CSVR is a multi-disciplinary institute that seeks to understand and prevent violence, heal its effects and build sustainable peace at the community, national and regional levels.
