Government asked to ratify convention on torture

Accra (Greater Accra), 28th June 99 -

The government has been called upon to explain why it is yet to become a signatory to the UN convention against torture.

The government should also start providing modest support to the UN Voluntary Fund for the rehabilitation of torture victims and "to end the impunity of torturers that exists in the country and undermines the rule of law''.

The call was made by Nii Offei Dodoo, Vice President of Civil Liberties Centre, a human rights NGO, at a press conference in Accra to mark the second anniversary of UN Day in Support of Victims of Torture Saturday.

Nii Offei explained that the theme of "End Impunity" was chosen, because there cannot be any real healing or democracy as long as torturers walk about in the streets with impunity.

"Torture can make the tortured (victims) believe that society accepts violence of the worst kind, and this definitely leads to loss of confidence in democracy and in humanity itself".

Nii Offei said 113 countries of the UN membership have signed and ratified the Convention, making them unsafe havens for alleged torturers, but noted that Ghana is among the 73 countries yet to make such a commitment to end torture.

In a message read for him by Mrs Evelyn Sarpong, a UN representative in Ghana, Mr Kofi Annan, UN Secretary-General, said many countries have passed anti-torture legislation and taken administrative measures to prevent torture and remedy the consequences.

However, "torture continues to be used as a weapon of intimidation in war-time and as a tool of governance by those who cannot rule with the confidence of their people".

He said international criminal tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda are sending signals that no one should be able to violate human rights and get away with it.

Mr Annan, therefore, urged all nations to fully support the tribunals and urged those who have not yet ratified the Rome Statute, which set up the tribunals, to do so as soon as possible.

He said even though it is too late to prevent torture from accompanying us into the new century, "it is not too late to redouble our efforts to contain this menace".

Mr Kabral Blay-Amihere, President of the West African Journalists Association, said it is time civil society spoke against torture whether in peaceful or war conditions.

He regretted that even though Ghana's constitution guarantees civil liberties and rights, young girls are held under bondage and youths generally are subjected to forced labour in some parts of the country.