Maldives against Torture & Other Cruelty

Wednesday 18th of December 2019

Maldives against Torture & Other Cruelty

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has signed the declaration in relation to Article 22 of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. This international treaty was adopted by United Nations in 1984 to stop the struggle against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment throughout the world.

How would you define torture? The meaning of torture as per the Convention: the intentional infliction of severe mental or physical suffering, by a public official, who is directly or indirectly involved and for a specific purpose. In 2004, Maldives ratified the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment and Punishment. In 2013, Maldives ratified first-ever legislation prohibiting torture.

During January 2010, a group of torture survivors formed the Torture Victims Association of Maldives (TVA). They collaborated with UK based NGO Redress with a mandate to end torture and seek justice for survivors, documented torture survivors’ testimonials across the country. The testimonies revealed incidents of torture from 1978 to 2008, which is the duration of Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom’s presidency.