Young lawyers from southern T.N. undergo training to combat torture

Empowering young lawyers to build a robust network of advocates in combating torture, the Joint Action Against Custodial Torture (JAACT) launched a two-day training programme here on Saturday.

Speaking at the inaugural session, JAACT advisor and human rights activist Henri Tiphagne said the programme’s objective was to equip the participants with comprehensive tools to combat custodial torture, delving into its legal, medical and psychological dimensions.

Every act of torture by the officials created a mentally ill person in a family, said renowned psychiatrist C. Ramasubramanian, who sent across the message that torture affected not just an individual but the entire community and family around him, and elaborated on the challenges in healing from the trauma.

In his address, Additional Advocate General Ajmal Khan recalled the Supreme Court judgements and referred to the constitutional values of liberty, equality and social justice and the need for lawyers to be much more vigilant in the current times.

He recollected the plight of Fr. Stan Swamy whose death was a blatant blow on the basic rights of a prisoner.

People’s Union for Civil Liberties State president Murali encouraged young lawyers to pick up the mantle and stand up for justice. Drawing largely from philosopher Foucault, he observed how the genesis of torture began with accumulation of power with the authority and advocated decentralisation of power in an effort to combat torture.

Socialist Democratic Party of India leader Nellai Mubbarak urged the members to advocate the role of political parties in combating torture.

JAACT secretary Mi.Tha. Pandian proposed a vote of thanks.

This programme was being conducted in the context of India’s continued absence of a specific anti-torture legislation and its non-ratification of the United Nations Convention Against Torture (UNCAT), despite the constitutional safeguards that prohibited torture and upheld the fundamental rights to life and dignity, said Mr. Henri Tiphagne.

About 75 young lawyers from different parts of southern districts of Tamil Nadu are participating in the programme.