Showing posts with label London. Show all posts
Showing posts with label London. Show all posts

Friday, June 26, 2015

THE TORTURE TRAP: 26 June vigil for International Day in Support of Victims of Torture


The London Guantánamo Campaign invites you to join us at

THE TORTURE TRAP

a solidarity vigil in support of victims of torture on

UN International Day in Support of Victims of Torture

At 5.30-7pm, on Friday 26 June 2015

outside the National Gallery, Trafalgar Square

Torture is a life sentence without a judge or a jury. It is not used to obtain a reliable confession but to break the tortured individual and serve as an example to others. The physical and mental trauma of torture continues to haunt the lives of victims, and often their families and communities, long after the physical pain has ended. Where torture is used in a systematic and widespread manner, whole societies can be traumatised.
Torture survivors have a right to rehabilitation, yet for many, there is often little official recognition of what they have suffered.
The London Guantánamo Campaign invites you to join us and stand in recognition of the suffering and rights of victims and survivors of torture: a humane gesture alien to many in positions of power able to put an end to the use of torture.

ALL ARE WELCOME
For more details, e-mail london.gtmo@gmail.com or call 07809 757 176

 
The London Guantánamo has been campaigning since 2006 for the return of all British residents from the Guantánamo Bay prison camp, the release of all prisoners, the closure of this prison and other similar prisons and an end to the practice of extraordinary rendition. Human rights for all.


Sunday, January 11, 2015

Is This Who We Are? Action to mark 13 years of Guantánamo, Sunday 11 January 2015

Join us on 11 January - we will need volunteers for this action. To volunteer, please get in touch. If you'd like to film or photograph the event, please let us know!
This action will be followed later in the evening by a global Twitter storm - look out for more details

Friday, June 27, 2014

26 June: International Day in Support of Victims of Torture Solidarity Vigil


On International Day in Support of Victims of Torture

The London Guantánamo Campaign invites you to a solidarity vigil with victims of torture


See No Evil, Speak No Evil: No Impunity for Torturers

At 6.30-8pm, on Thursday 26 June 2014, Outside the National Gallery, Trafalgar Square

Everywhere and every day, crimes of torture are committed against men, women and children and, in most cases, no one is prosecuted or punished for them. These crimes are committed with impunity.”

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the UN Convention Against Torture, which became international law on 26 June 1987. Nonetheless, the use of torture continues to grow, with impunity. Impunity is the failure of the state to fully investigate violations; to bring to justice and punish perpetrators; to provide victims with effective remedies; and to take all necessary steps to prevent a recurrence of the violation.

The United Kingdom is no exception to this situation.

The failure to investigate and prosecute allegations of prisoner abuse by the British military in Iraq, has led to the intervention of the International Criminal Court in The Hague. Allegations have also been made of prisoner abuse in Afghanistan and have been proven of British intelligence involvement in the “rendition” and torture of British and foreign nationals abroad. Rather than investigate and prosecute, the government has chosen the route of secret courts, partial and non-impartial investigations. NO prosecutions have been brought in spite of the seriousness of the allegations.

Please join us as we stand in solidarity with all victims worldwide, raise awareness of the crimes against humanity being funded by British taxpayers without their knowledge, and demand accountability and justice.



Some resources on the UK government and torture impunity:
Globalizing Torture: CIA Secret Detention and Extraordinary Rendition (2013), a comprehensive report on extraordinary rendition: see page 115 onwards for United Kingdom
NGO Liberty on UK Complicity in Torture
Resources by NGO Reprieve on UK torture complicity involving its clients
Archives of Baha Mousa Inquiry into the torture and death of an Iraqi civilian by the British army in 2003 http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http://www.bahamousainquiry.org/
On-going Iraq torture inquiry (Al Sweady Inquiry)
All-Party Parliamentary Group on Extraordinary Rendition http://www.extraordinaryrendition.org/
World Without Torture: The UK has still not learned its lesson that torture is wrong
On Britain's Use of Torture: http://opendemocracy.net/ourkingdom/aisha-maniar/on-britains-use-of-torture  
The International Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague on why it is carrying out a preliminary examination of the UK for war crimes in Iraq
http://www.icc-cpi.int/en_menus/icc/press%20and%20media/press%20releases/pages/otp-statement-iraq-13-05-2014.aspx
And the UK government's response