June 26, 2014
Press Statement
Declare Acts of Torture as Crime
International Day in support of victims of torture is being marked across the world on June 26. The United Nations approved Convention against Torture and Other Cruel Degrading Treatment of Punishment (CAT) on June 26, 1987. Nepal had acceded to the CAT in 1991 while expressing its commitment to take an effective step against torture. Remembering the victims of torture in this occasion, we pledge our continuous commitment to the campaign against torture.
There has been no reduction in the incidents of torture as the existing Torture Compensation Act 1996 has a provision of government compensating the victim which does not discourage the perpetrators. Though the Interim Constitution of Nepal 2007 has clearly stated torture as a crime, those subjected to torture in police custody and forest offices have neither received compensation nor the perpetrators have been brought to justice.
According to INSEC’s Nepal Human Rights Yearbook 2014, there were a total of 171 victims of torture in 2013. In the same year four people lost their lives in police custody. But, no information was made public by the government regarding action taken against the perpetrators.
The Government of Nepal against torture, the Supreme Court in 2006 had issued a directive order to the government to make effective laws against torture according to the treaties ratified by Nepal. The bill on torture and compensation tabled in Legislature Parliament on 2011 is pending approval. We call on the Government of Nepal to bring those involved in acts of torture to justice, criminalize torture and ensure effective implementation of law to compensate the victim.
Subodh Raj Pyakurel
Chairperson