Tunisie
09.02.12
Déclarations

L’OMCT ouvre une consultation nationale sur la prévention de la torture et des mauvais traitements

Tunisia: OMCT opens a national consultation on the prevention of torture and ill-treatments

Tunis-Geneva, February 9, 2012.


Yesterday, the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) opened a national consultation on the prevention of torture in Tunisia. The ceremony was formally opened by OMCT Vice President Mr. Dick Marty, who recalled that torture and ill-treatment can never be justified and need to be addressed wherever they occur.

In his address he stated: “One year ago the world witnessed the extraordinary courage of ordinary Tunisians taking their call for liberty and justice to the streets. Today we are here to support our long-standing partners in a new Tunisia trying to overcome one of the darkest legacies of the Ben Ali times, widespread and systematic practices of torture and ill-treatment”.

He raised his hope that the consultation will be a step in strengthening the legal and constitutional framework against torture and ill-treatment, as well as in reforming the judicial sector. In particular, he recalled the right of victims to access remedies, and stressed that reconciliation cannot exist without truth nor justice. Finally, he underlined that the fight against torture is a central issue for all States, including those of long democratic tradition. The objective of the consultation is not to give lessons but to support efforts to build a system respectful of human rights in Tunisia.

Mr. Mohktar Trifi, Honorary President of the Tunisian League of Human Rights, underlined: "It is time now to build a system that provides effective protection against torture and ill-treatments. Otherwise, the current process of democratic transition process will remain incomplete".

He also raised the need to remove the prescription for the crime of torture, the importance to ensure access to a lawyer without prior authorisation of an investigating judge, and this from the moment of the arrest. He also underlined the importance to implement the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture and not to delay any more the creation of a national prevention mechanism. Finally, he repeated the obligation of the State to open inquiries for any allegation of torture.

In his keynote address, the newly appointed Minister for Human Rights and Transitional Justice Mr. Semir Dilou reminded that the practice of torture was a systematic tool of political repression under Ben Ali's regime. He underlined the need to pursue the fight against torture and affirmed the will of the new government to lead reforms to eradicate torture and ill-treatments.

The three day conference brings together government representatives, civil society and national and international experts to discuss future reforms to eradicate torture and ill-treatment in Tunisia. It seeks to develop common ground on legislative and judicial reforms, on ensuring accountability and a culture for the respect of human rights, including within the security apparatus in order to ensure full compliance with the UN Convention Against Torture and its Optional Protocol ratified by Tunisia after the revolution.

The conference will conclude on Friday afternoon and will be followed by a press debriefing at the Hotel Belvedere at 5pm on Friday 10 February, 2012.

For further information please contact:

Pierre-Henri Golly, OMCT Program Officer, Geneva/Tunis, +41 22 809 49 39/+216 28 42 28 87

Anouar Moalla, Tunis, +216 98 363 803