INTERNATIONAL DAY IN SUPPORT OF VICTIMS OF TORTURE
Quick Facts
The United Nations’ (UN) International Day in Support of Victims of Torture is annually observed on June 26 to remind people that human torture is not only unacceptable – it is also a crime.
Local names
| Name | Language |
|---|---|
| International Day in Support of Victims of Torture | English |
| Día Internacional en Apoyo de las Víctimas de la Tortura | Spanish |
| היום הבינלאומי לתמיכה בקורבנות עינויים | Hebrew |
| يوم الأمم المتحدة الدولي لمساندة ضحايا التعذيب | Arabic |
| 고문 피해자의 지원에 유엔 국제 날 | Korean |
| Internationaler Tag zur Unterstützung der Folteropfer | German |
International Day in Support of Victims of Torture 2014
Thursday, June 26, 2014
International Day in Support of Victims of Torture 2015
Friday, June 26, 2015
The United Nations’ (UN) International Day in Support of Victims of Torture is annually observed on June 26 to remind people that human torture is not only unacceptable – it is also a crime.
The UN’s International Day in Support of Victims of Torture serves as a reminder to people that human torture is a crime.
©iStockphoto.com/ Ryan Klos
What do people do?
Rehabilitation centers and human rights organizations around the world celebrate the UN’s International Day in Support of Victims of Torture on June 26 each year. The day serves as a reminder to people that torture is a crime. This event gives everyone a chance to unite and voice their opinions against human torture.
Organizations, including the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims and Amnesty International, have played an active role in organizing events around the world to promote the day. Activities may include: photo exhibitions; the distribution of posters and other material to boost people’s awareness of issues related to human torture; and television advertisements.
Public life
The International Day in Support of Victims of Torture is not a public holiday and public life is not affected.
Background
On June 26, 1987, the Convention against Torture came into force. It was an important step in the process of globalizing human rights and acknowledging that torture and inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment should be universally illegal. In 1997 the United Nations General Assembly decided to mark this historic date and designated June 26 each year as the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture.
The first International Day in Support of Victims of Torture was held on June 26, 1998. It was a day when the United Nations appealed to all governments and members of civil society to take action to defeat torture and torturers everywhere. That same year marked the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which proclaims that “no one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment”.
Symbols
The United Nations’ logo is often associated with marketing and promotional material for this event. It features a projection of a world map (less Antarctica) centered on the North Pole, enclosed by olive branches. The olive branches are a symbol for peace, and the world map represents all the people of the world. The logo appears in colors such as black on a white or light yellow background.
International Day in Support of Victims of Torture Observances
| Weekday | Date | Year | Name | Holiday type | Where it is observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri | Jun 26 | 1998 | International Day in Support of Victims of Torture | United Nations observance | |
| Sat | Jun 26 | 1999 | International Day in Support of Victims of Torture | United Nations observance | |
| Mon | Jun 26 | 2000 | International Day in Support of Victims of Torture | United Nations observance | |
| Tue | Jun 26 | 2001 | International Day in Support of Victims of Torture | United Nations observance | |
| Wed | Jun 26 | 2002 | International Day in Support of Victims of Torture | United Nations observance | |
| Thu | Jun 26 | 2003 | International Day in Support of Victims of Torture | United Nations observance | |
| Sat | Jun 26 | 2004 | International Day in Support of Victims of Torture | United Nations observance | |
| Sun | Jun 26 | 2005 | International Day in Support of Victims of Torture | United Nations observance | |
| Mon | Jun 26 | 2006 | International Day in Support of Victims of Torture | United Nations observance | |
| Tue | Jun 26 | 2007 | International Day in Support of Victims of Torture | United Nations observance | |
| Thu | Jun 26 | 2008 | International Day in Support of Victims of Torture | United Nations observance | |
| Fri | Jun 26 | 2009 | International Day in Support of Victims of Torture | United Nations observance | |
| Sat | Jun 26 | 2010 | International Day in Support of Victims of Torture | United Nations observance | |
| Sun | Jun 26 | 2011 | International Day in Support of Victims of Torture | United Nations observance | |
| Tue | Jun 26 | 2012 | International Day in Support of Victims of Torture | United Nations observance | |
| Wed | Jun 26 | 2013 | International Day in Support of Victims of Torture | United Nations observance | |
| Thu | Jun 26 | 2014 | International Day in Support of Victims of Torture | United Nations observance | |
| Fri | Jun 26 | 2015 | International Day in Support of Victims of Torture | United Nations observance | |
| Sun | Jun 26 | 2016 | International Day in Support of Victims of Torture | United Nations observance | |
| Mon | Jun 26 | 2017 | International Day in Support of Victims of Torture | United Nations observance | |
| Tue | Jun 26 | 2018 | International Day in Support of Victims of Torture | United Nations observance | |
| Wed | Jun 26 | 2019 | International Day in Support of Victims of Torture | United Nations observance | |
| Fri | Jun 26 | 2020 | International Day in Support of Victims of Torture | United Nations observance |
BEAUTIFUL, ALSO, ARE THE SOULS OF MY BLACK SISTERS 