UNITED NATIONS: UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has called upon all countries to provide concrete support for victims of torture and prove their commitment to fighting a cruel and dehumanising practice that remains pervasive.

In his message on Tuesday to mark the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, Mr Ban noted that every day women, men and children were tortured or ill-treated with the intention of destroying their sense of dignity and human worth.

“In some cases, this is part of a deliberate state policy of instilling fear and intimidating population,” he said. “In too many countries, people’s legitimate demands for freedom and human rights are met with brutal repression. Even when regimes change, torture often persists and a culture of impunity remains.”

He noted the obligation of states not only to prevent torture but to provide all torture victims with effective and prompt redress, compensation and appropriate social, psychological, medical and other forms of rehabilitation.