International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, 26 June

On 12 December 1997, by resolution 52/149, the UN General Assembly proclaimed 26 June the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. 26 June is an opportunity to call on all stakeholders including UN Member States, civil society and individuals everywhere to unite in support of the hundreds of thousands of people around the world who have been victims of torture and those who are still tortured today.

Read more in the UN Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture Virtual Brochure.

UN Anti-Torture mechanisms joint events

2024 : (Accountability) 

• "Torture Must End Now” – Guided Exhibition Tour

2021: (shrinking civic space)

• Webinar – Fostering civic space to obtain redress and accountability for victims of torture

2020: (COVID-19)

• Webinar – Testimonies form the Ground: Combatting torture and ill-treatment in times of COVID-19

Sketch of Public Webinar, 26 June 2020 © credit: Shazeera Zawawi APT – www.apt.ch

Watch the recording of the Webinar below, or on the OHCHR Facebook page:

Joint statements

• 2024: (Accountability) Accountability and justice for torture victims central to commemorations for Convention against Torture
• 2023: (Absolute prohibition of torture in armed conflict) UN experts call for States to uphold absolute prohibition of torture in armed conflict
• 2022: (Healthcare professionals in torture prevention) UN experts: Healthcare professionals are essential for torture prevention, accountability and redress
• 2021: (Shrinking civic space) Protecting civic space critical to ensuring redress and accountability for victims of torture
• 2020: (COVID-19) COVID-19 exacerbates the risk of ill-treatment and torture worldwide – UN experts
• 2019: (Justice and rehabilitation) International Day in Support of Victims of Torture: UN human rights experts call for justice and rehabilitation
• 2018: (More action needed to achieve a torture-free world for all) العربية  | English | Français | Español
• 2017: (UN Member State commitment) Joint statement on the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture 2017
• 2016: (LGBTI people in detention) Joint statement on the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture 2016
• 2015: (Trauma of torture victims should not be overlooked amid migration challenges) Joint statement on the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture 2015
• 2014: (Torture-free world) Joint statement on the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture 2014
• 2013: (Governments commitment toward torture victims and their families) Joint statement on the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture 2013
• 2012: (Victims of torture must not face reprisals for seeking redress through the UN) Joint statement on the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture 2012

UN Secretary-General statements

• 2020: António Guterres - Secretary-General's message on the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture
• 2019:  António Guterres - Secretary-General's message on International Day in support of  Victims of Torture
• 2018:  António Guterres - Secretary-General's message on the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture
• 2016: Ban Ki-moon - Secretary-General's message on the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture
• 2015: Ban Ki-moon - Secretary-General's message on the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture
• 2014: Ban Ki-moon - Secretary-General's message on the UN International Day in Support of Victims of Torture
• 2013: Ban Ki-moon- Secretary-General's message on International Day in Support of Victims of Torture
• 2012: Ban Ki-moon -Secretary-General's message on the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture
• 2011:  Ban Ki-moon- Secretary-General's message on the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights statements

• 2016 - HC Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein
• 2014 - HC Navi Pillay
• 2011 – HC Navi Pillay (Fund’s 30th anniversary)

UN Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture (Board of Trustees)

Press releases

• 2017 - Argentina: UN experts and bodies welcome sentences for dictatorship-era crimes against humanity
• 2011 - "30 years of rebuilding lives in danger," warns UN Fund for Victims of Torture
• 2011 - UN human rights chief appeals for worldwide support for victims of torture

Other statements

Convention against Torture Initiative

• 2021: OHCHR Convention Against Torture Initiative (CTI) Annual Forum

Group of Friends

• 2021:  Statement by President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. on International Day in Support of Victims of Torture  | The White House

Other 26 June events and materials

• 2017 - “Anti-torture day: State of the world today – are we going into reverse?” (OHCHR and International Bar Association)
• Fund Infographic
• Fund Poster