Why Torture Victims Don’t Get Justice, Medical Treatment – Experts

Why Torture Victims Don’t Get Justice, Medical Treatment – Experts

The failure to prosecute persons found guilty of violently assaulting their fellow human beings is the chief reason why the crime of torture persists, experts said on Monday.

They however, emphasized the need for relevant authorities to ensure victims of torture get justice and quality medication, during their rehabilitation process.

They spoke at a ‘Capacity Building on Medico-Legal Documentation and Rehabilitation of Torture Victims’, in Abuja.

The event was organized by the Prisoners’ Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA), in conjunction with the Independent Forensic Expert Group, IFEG, and International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims.

PRAWA’s Executive Director, Dr. Uju Agomoh, stated that comprehensive investigations on torture incidents, is critical to ensuring that victims of torture get needed medical support and care.

She said: “Allowing persons who torture those under their care or custody to go scot free is unacceptable. It will embolden others to perpetrate the crime with impunity”.

To ensure that victims of torture are properly documented and rehabilitated, Agomoh, observed that a mutual collaboration between legal experts, psychologists and medical professionals is paramount.

In her welcome remarks, Mrs. B. E. Jedy-Agba, the Solicitor General of the Federation, disclosed that Nigeria is signatory to various international treaties and conventions such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights and the United Nations Convention against Torture, all of which guarantee human rights of both citizens, as well as persons in detention.

She said that both the Government as well as stakeholders have the inherent responsibility to support measures aimed at unequivocally rooting out torture in the Nigerian society.

“The prevention of torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment is one that is particularly prioritized by the Federal Government.

“To this end, the Federal Government has signed and ratified the United Nations Convention against Torture (UNCAT), Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT) and enacted the Anti-Torture Act, to prohibit and punish acts of torture
committed by Public Officers.

“In addition to these legal frameworks, the Federal Government established the National Committee Against Torture (CATNigeria), as well as the National Preventive Mechanism in compliance with the provisions of OPCAT,” said Jedy-Agba, who also is the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Justice.

By PRNigeria