 News
| The UN Committee Against Torture Criticizes Israel The conclusions of the UN Committee Against Torture (CAT) which were published on 15.5.09 strongly criticize Israel. At its core is CAT's extensive and critical attention to the fact that in spite of significant testimonies as to the existence of torture in Israel not a single criminal investigation has been initiated from more than 600 complaints submitted against General Security Service (GSS) agents since 2001. Adv. Bana Shoughry-Badarne, Director of PCATI's legal department, who testified before CAT and presented reports written by PCATI, some of which were published together with additional organizations, clarified that CAT's conclusions reflect the harsh reality and the many complaints of torture we regularly receive. PCATI calls on the State of Israel to adopt the recommendations of CAT and to clearly and specifically enact legislation against torture, to form an independent complaints investigation mechanism, and to fully exhaust all legal avenues against those who violate the absolute prohibition against torture, which is a basic foundation of international law.
| PCATI Testimony Before the Goldstone Commission In early May, Adv. Bana Shoughry-Badarne testified before the UN investigatory committee into possible international law violations by Israel and Hamas in the course of the war in Gaza ("Cast Lead") and other hostilities in southern Israel and Gaza. Her testimony before the Commission in Geneva concentrated on issues that PCATI thoroughly investigated: the detention of civilians in Gaza, conditions of detention by the Israeli security forces and other bodies, and complaints of torture and ill treatment in the course of interrogations. The commission also heard testimony by Adalah and by Physicians for Human Rights-Israel.
| Following Israeli Army Investigations: Calls for Independent Investigations The results of IDF investigations, released on 22.4.09, declared that tens of innocent Palestinian civilians were killed in what the army called "rare mishaps". In response human rights organizations, including PCATI, stated that information collected raises the suspicion that many civilians were killed, not because of "mishaps" but as a direct result of implementation of military objectives. The only way to examine human rights violations committed in Gaza, the NGOs stated, is through an independent, civilian investigations mechanism. If the army claims that there were no fundamental defects in its conduct during the war, the organizations added, it is unclear why Israel objects to cooperating with the UN international commission of inquiry headed by Justice Richard Goldstone. | PCATI and PHR-Israel: Investigation into complaint of physician involvement in torture is not serious PCATI and PHR-Israel wrote to chair of the Israeli Medical Association (IMA) ethics committee, Prof. Avinoam Reches, claiming that the manner in which complaints concerning physician involvement in torture are investigated are flawed. The letter, signed by Hadas Ziv, executive director of PHR-Israel and Dr. Ishai Menuchin, PCATI's executive director, claimed that detailed complaints of physician involvement in torture that the organizations submitted to the IMA were not adequately examined. This conclusion is based on Prof. Reches' reply to a letter in which the organizations detailed the grievances which are stem from cases described in PCATI's 2007 report "Ticking Bombs". The organizations demand that the IMA conduct a comprehensive inquiry of the instances that were detailed before it. If the IMA is incapable of conducting such an investigation, the organization directors conclude, the IMA should refer the matter to the Ministry of Health or Ministry of Justice. Further, the NGOs called on the IMA to raise awareness and to integrate the ethical code (regarding physicians and torture) in hospitals, and, especially, among physicians working in detention facilities. | The Judges Heard Secret Testimony – The Organizations Withdrew the Constitutional Petition Three human rights organizations, The Public Committee Against Torture in Israel, The Association for Civil Rights in Israel and Adalah: The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel withdrew (24.3.09) a principle petition that they submitted to the High Court of Justice (HCJ) against a law that violates the basic rights of security suspects. This was done in protest of the nine judge panel's Court's unprecedented and invalid decision to decide the constitutionality of a law after hearing secret evidence presented by the GSS and heard ex-parte. The court's action seriously challenges the principle of judicial review of laws that violate human rights. Additional Information
| | | HCJ: Following PCATI Petition Recognizable Improvement in Enforcement of the Legal Requirement to Record Confessions in the Language of the Suspect | High Court Judges pointed out (20.5.09) that because of PCATI's petition there have been recognizable improvements in the enforcement of the law to record confessions in the language of the suspect. At the same time the judges added that the situation remains unsatisfactory and that the State must fully comply with the law. In response to the sides already taken and the commitments made by the State to diligently pursue full enforcement of the law PCATI agreed to withdraw the petition. |
| PCATI's Public Campaign to Mark the UN International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, 26 June 2009
| First observed in 1998, June 26 is United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. It marks the date, in 1987, when the UN Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT) came into force. 61 years ago the Universal Declaration of Human Rights proclaimed that "disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind", including torture and thus insisted that "no one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment." CAT codified this. Yet 22 years later and 18 years after CAT entered into force in Israel, torture remains a scourge, infecting the very core of democratic societies, such as Israel, which, like their authoritarian counterparts continue to practice torture and ill treatment while trying to hide, deny or justify its practice. This year PCATI will mark the day with a campaign that will focus on PCATI's release of a comprehensive report on Israel's continued use of painful shackling to torture and abuse detainees by the GSS, the Israeli Army and Israel's Prison Service. he Central Events of the Week Include: • 25 June, 20:00 – 22:00: Central Public Conference – Israel Prize Laureates in Solidarity with Victims of Torture at Beit Sokolov in Tel Aviv. • 26 June (Friday, 10:00 am): Mass Shackling – participatory protest Action at the plaza next to the Supreme Court in Jerusalem (intersection of Rabin & Sussman St.) – to protest painful Shackling. Dressed in common t-shirts the protesters will be shackled and photographed by photo journalist Miki Kratsman. The photos will be provided to the press, incorporated into a display for the internet and for a gallery exhibit. Those wishing to participate in this event can contact PCATI by email, yemina@stoptorture.org.il, and order a t-shirt. Please mention the size of shirt you want: S, M, L, XL, 2XL or 3XL. | Torture: The Fourth Video in the Joint PCATI – Social TV Project The fourth episode (in Hebrew) in the video series of reports on IHL – International Humanitarian Law – produced and initiated by PCATI and Social TV looks at the issue of torture and includes testimonies from two torture victims, an Israeli and a Palestinian. Among those heard in this episode are Adv. Eliahu Abram, Ilan Lonai, Dr. Ishai Menuchin, Adv. Michael Sfard, Adv. Bana Shoughry-Badarne and Adv. Dan Yakir. Adv. Dan Yakir. Previous productions in this series include: Protection of Civilians, Laws of War and Laws of Occupation (the last two with English subtitles). An additional series will criticize the manner in which the institutional and commercial media reports on events in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The videos can be viewed via links on the websites of PCATI and Social TV and on other social change and video sharing websites. The series is also screened on Israel's Community TV "M'Kan" cable and satellite channel 98.
| Join The Friends of PCATI | - Joining Friends of PCATI expresses your public support for PCATI’s activities and allows you to take part in the struggle for the eradication of torture and ill treatment by the authorities responsible for interrogation and law enforcement.
- Friends of PCATI are invited to suggest new issues to be treated by PCATI and to influence its activities.
- Friends of PCATI will be invited to conferences and public events held by PCATI, and will receive periodic updates by e-mail and PCATI’s publications by regular mail.
- We kindly request that members of Friends of PCATI donate an annual sum of 60, 120 or 180 Shekels. The donations will be used solely for the struggle against torture in Israel.
For Additional Details: pcati@stoptorture.org.il, 02-6429825 To the Registration Form |
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