Putrajaya urged to outlaw torture, ratify United Nations convention
Amnesty International Malaysia (AIM) today urged Putrajaya to ratify the Convention Against Torture which was adopted by the United Nations more than 30 years ago.
AIM
executive director Shamini Darshni said there was a need for transparent accountability measures against torture in Malaysia.
"Torture in Malaysia most commonly occurs in police custody, where detainees have been found dead under suspicious and questionable circumstances," Shamini said.
She said a total of 12 people have died in police custody so far this year.
"In 2013, 12 people died in police custody. In 2012, there were 19 police custodial deaths, and 17 in 2011," Shamini added.
"The Convention Against Torture recognises torture as a criminal act and has been ratified by more than 150 countries worldwide."
Despite calls from the international community to ratify the convention, Putrajaya has been steadfast in refusing to sign up.
In March this year, Malaysia was called to ratify the convention during the UN Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review in Geneva.
The review is a peer review process to measure a country's human rights practices, for which Malaysia did not fare very well.
"Malaysia is refusing to be held accountable on how it treats people in detention, so Putrajaya does not want to ratify the convention.
"Safeguards must be put in place, including establishing a police oversight mechanism to prevent senseless deaths from recurring," Shamini said at the launch of AIM’s campaign to highlight the continued prevalence of torture and other ill-treatment faced by detainees in custody worldwide.
The Stop Torture campaign was launched at the Square in Publika Shopping Gallery in Solaria Dutamas.
"Torture can never be justified as it is cruel and targeted violence towards another person," Shamini said.
She said such acts did not belong in a civilised society, echoing public opinion on the subject of torture.
In May this year, Amnesty International released the results of a global survey report, Attitudes Towards Torture.
A total of 21,221 people from 21 countries including Malaysia, Argentina, India, Brazil, Russia, Kenya, Chile, China, Indonesia, Mexico and Pakistan were polled for the survey.
"Less than half of the respondents or 48% agreed that they would be safe from torture should they ever be taken into custody in their country," Shamini revealed.
She said a massive 82% of the respondents polled supported international rules against torture in all the countries involved in the survey.
"Torture is inhumane and barbaric, and also indicates political failure to prevent this crime from persisting," Shamini said.
"The international legal framework is already in place to combat torture," she said.
"We are now campaigning for countries to implement it in their own laws, policy and practices." – August 2, 2014.
