Diapositive 1

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World Organisation Against Torture
Mandate OMCT is engaged in the fight against
torture, summary executions, forced
disappearances and all other forms of cruel,
inhuman or degrading treatment. It is committed
to assisting every human being who is a victim
or risks becoming a victim of torture.
Prevention
Denouncing torture
Awareness raising
Providing support to victims
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World Organisation Against Torture
OMCTs Vision A global approach to torture based
upon preventive action, denunciation and
reparation and redress.
OMCTs Strength OMCT Secretariat coordinates and
works with the SOS-Torture Network. With 294
members in over 90 countries, it is the largest
international coalition of NGOs working against
torture in the world.
OMCTs Results In 2008, OMCT issued urgent
appeals for 696 cases in 78 different countries.
These involved 1,335 individuals (including human
rights defenders) and 6 groups or communites
composed of several thousand victims. OMCT also
provided medical, social and legal aid to 97
victims of torture from 22 countries around the
world. Of these, 14 were children.
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Activities
Urgent Assistance to Victims of Torture
Urgent Campaigns
Violence Against Women 
Child Rights 
State Compliance
Human Rights Defenders/ Observatory for the
Protection of Human Rights Defenders
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
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Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
Poverty, Inequality and Violence
Report on the International Conference, October
2005
The Interdisciplinary Study

• available from www.omct.org

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Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

• to help prevent, reduce and eliminate violence,
  including torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading
  treatment or punishment by acting on its
  economic, social and cultural root causes.

• Activities
• Working with national NGOs and expanding the NGO
  network
• Submitting alternative reports to United Nations
  treaty bodies
• Making urgent interventions and complaints to
  United Nations special procedures mandates,
  governments and others
• Supporting advocacy, lobbying and awareness
  raising
• Engaging the European Parliament and the European
  Union.

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The Economic, Social and Cultural Root Causes of
Torture

• Discriminatory exclusion and inequitable
  distribution of wealth rest on the same
  prejudices and stereotypes that glorify or at
  least tolerate the infliction of ill treatment
  and violent attacks of all sorts. They are based
  on deeply rooted beliefs explicit or not that
  some are more deserving than others more
  deserving of respect, rewards and protection.
• Louise Arbour, former UN High Commissioner for
  Human Rights
• A comprehensive strategy to fight torture or
  prevent violence should address the
  socio-economic root causes of conflict and
  promote the respect of economic, social and
  cultural rights in addition to civil and
  political rights.
• Ban Ki Moon, UN Secretary General

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The Economic, Social and Cultural Root Causes of
Torture
Torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading
treatment or punishment and other forms of
violence
Disrespect for economic, social and cultural
rights
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The Economic, Social and Cultural Root Causes of
Torture
How are torture and other forms of violence
related to economic, social and cultural rights?
The poor, excluded and other vulnerable groups
including women and children - are often the
first and most numerous victims of violence,
including torture and cruel, inhuman and
degrading treatment.
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The Economic, Social and Cultural Root Causes of
Torture
How are torture and other forms of violence
related to economic, social and cultural rights?
Levels of violence in a given community or
society can be such that individuals or groups
are unable to enjoy their economic, social and
cultural rights.
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The Economic, Social and Cultural Root Causes of
Torture
How are torture and other forms of violence
related to economic, social and cultural rights?
Violence is inflicted on persons because they
demand respect for economic, social or cultural
rights their own or those of others
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The Economic, Social and Cultural Root Causes of
Torture
How are torture and other forms of violence
related to economic, social and cultural rights?
Denials of economic, social and cultural rights
are carried out so violently as to be considered
ill-treatment under international treaties.
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The Economic, Social and Cultural Root Causes of
Torture
How are torture and other forms of violence
related to economic, social and cultural rights?
Certain violations of economic, social or
cultural rights can be characterized as cruel,
inhuman and degrading treatment, or in some cases
a denial of the right to life.
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The Economic, Social and Cultural Root Causes of
Torture
How are torture and other forms of violence
related to economic, social and cultural rights?
Policies and programmes by governments, private
actors or development and financial institutions
can exacerbate poverty and inequalities and lead
to increased levels of official, criminal and
domestic violence.
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The Economic, Social and Cultural Root Causes of
Torture
Who are most vulnerable to torture and other
forms of violence linked to the denial of
economic, social and cultural rights?

• indigenous peoples (and their leaders)

• the poor or extremely poor

• landless farmers and sharecroppers

• workers (including domestic workers)

• persons in prison and pre-trial detention

• women, especially those belonging to marginalised
  groups

• trade unionists

• internally displaced persons

• migrants and migrant workers

• people living with HIV/AIDS

• persons with dependency on alcohol or drugs

• national minorities

• children, and especially children who have lost
  or been separated from their parents

• persons with physical or mental disabilities

• peasants and smallholders

• refugees

• forced labourers/slaves

• elderly persons

• homosexuals and same sex couples

• persons living in institutions

• persons belonging to disadvantaged sectors of
  society (discriminated castes, etc)

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The Economic, Social and Cultural Root Causes of
Torture
Some measures for addressing the root causes of
torture

• Highlight the economic, social and cultural root
  causes of torture in alternative reports to the
  treaty bodies
• Inform and support UN special procedures
  mechanisms
• Monitor, document and disseminate specific cases
  (appeals and complaints)
• Draw attention to iniquities in trade agreements,
  development projects etc.
• Engage in advocacy, lobbying and awareness
  raising for specific target audiences (police,
  judiciary etc)
• Advocate for effective implementation of
  legislation against torture, ill-treatment and
  corruption
• Advocate with national governments to review
  legislation for vulnerable groups, ensure their
  adequate protection and minimise discrimination
• Forge links between human rights NGOS and
  development NGOs

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The World Organisation Against Torture
Thank you