Demonstration under Slogan “Together Against Torture”

On June 26 many countries throughout the world, Georgia among them, celebrates International Day in Support of Torture Victims. “Together against Torture” –it is a slogan under which many countries join to fight against the torture. In Tbilisi Human Rights Information and Documentation Center in collaboration with Psycho-social and Medical Rehabilitation Center for Torture Victims held demonstration under the slogan.

Demonstration was held in Vera Park where torture tools were exhibited. Afterwards the auto cortege moved along the city streets, stopped in front of the buildings of the Internal Ministry and Penitentiary Department. Later on the demonstration finished in front of the Public Defender’s Office where they presented the activities carried out in the field of “Prevention of the torture, ill-treatment, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment”.

Occasion of June 26 is celebrated every year throughout the world as well as in Georgia. According to representatives of the Human Rights Information and Documentation Center, in comparison to previous years situation in several institutions have improved; while there are places where everything has worsened. Ucha Nanuashvili, an executive director of the Human Rights Center, stated that if we compare the period before revolution with the situation after revolution, we will observe the increased number of torture in 2004-2005. “After an active involvement of the society and international organizations, the number of torture facts reduced in the cells of the pretrial detention settings. However, late in 2005 the situation worsened in other fields; for example in prison. Remember the situation during the prison rebel. All in all if we compare present situation with the situation during the previous ministers were in office (for example when Irakli Okruashvili was Internal Minister) the number of torture facts definitely reduced in the Internal Ministry. On the other hand there are occasions when patrol policemen use excessive force; that means facts of torture now occur during detention instead of pre-trail detention.”

Last year, non-governmental organizations named those institutions that topped the list of torturers. This year, cells of the pretrial detention setting, penitentiary system, Defense Ministry’s subordinate institutions and Ministry of Healthcare (Psychiatric Hospitals) shelters for old and disabled people, children’s houses) top the list.

In comparison to the last year, the situation has improved. Erekle Natadze, representative of the “Rehabilitation Center for Torture Victims” confirms the situation. He said that “the number of torture facts has been increased. However, the situation is still argent. We carried out surveys in 2003 and 2007. The survey showed that the number of torture facts has considerably reduced. If in the past the police occupied the first place on the list, now they are not mentioned there and the penitentiary detention settings occupy the first place.”

Georgia receives recommendations from international organizations against the torture. However, non-governmental organizations state that most part of these recommendations is not followed at all. “Unfortunately, those recommendations are not followed at all. For example, most part of the recommendation from the UN Committee against Torture was not satisfied. Principal demands in those recommendations deal with prosecution and punishment of perpetrators. Impunity is one of the main problems. All international organizations draw their attention to that problem. For example, the murder of Sandro Girgvliani is not investigated yet In fact, Gorgvliani was victim of torture,” said Nanuashvili.

Erekle Natadze said that “we cannot claim that somebody protests those recommendations; though they do not tend to follow them.”

Another problem is reparation of the torture victims. There is no state program or compensation for them. The legislation does not envisage the problem either. The law does not define who is considered to be the victim. Last year, Georgia ratified the additional charter of the Convention against Torture. According to it, the government should have taken concrete steps before June 22 and should have established an institute which would monitor activities of various institutions. NGOs state that nothing has been done so far. However, not following the recommendations will have bad influence on the country’s image.

“Not following the recommendations will have similar output as it had after a several-year government of Shevardnadze. Soon or later the authority will have be charged for the situation. Moreover if we want to integrate into various European Structures, those recommendations should be well-considered. As for the definition of the torture, it differs for various countries. According to the UN Convention against Torture, psychological suppression is also torture. But in Georgia, only physical harassment n particular cassis can be considered to be torture” said Ucha Nanuashvili.

Eka Gulua