Campaign Kit
26 June
UN International Day in Support of Victims of Torture
International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims
irct
This campaign kit is the result of many contributions from organisations that, over the years, have commemorated the UN International Day in Support of Victims of Torture – 26 June. Over the years, these organisations have learned from their experiences. Now, you can learn from them too.
Join the global campaign!
www.irct.org/26june
List of Contents Introduction Background information Before you start: Plan your campaign Campaign materials Ideas for campaign activities Informational/Educational activities Cultural Activities Political Activities Activities for children Other activities Raising the profile of your campaign Share your activities and ideas
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Campaign Kit 26 June - UN International Day in Support of Victims of Torture 2011 - International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT) Borgergade 13 P.O. Box 1022 1022 Copenhagen K Denmark
Phone Fax E-mail Website
+45 3376 0600 +45 3376 0500 irct@irct.org www.irct.org
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Introduction Welcome to the 26 June global campaign! Every year on the 26th of June events are held all over the world to commemorate the UN International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. This campaign kit is part of IRCT’s ongoing work to share knowledge and raise awareness about torture. It was developed to help you join a committed global movement for a world without torture and to support torture survivors and their families.
This campaign kit provides background information on 26 June, ideas for organising events and how to attract the interest of the media. All the information in this campaign kit is based on the experiences of IRCT member centres around the world and other organisations who have participated in past 26 June campaigns.
Background information What is 26 June? The United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture is held annually on 26 June providing an opportunity to speak out against the crime of torture and to honour and support victims and survivors throughout the world. The day was selected by the UN for two reasons. First, on 26 June 1945, the United Nations Charter was signed – the first international instrument obliging UN members to respect and promote human rights. Second, 26 June 1987
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mental or physical pain or suffering by or with the consent of the state authorities for a specific purpose. The aim of torture is to break down the victim’s personality and it is often used to punish, obtain information or a confession, take revenge on a person or create terror and fear within a population. Torture encompasses many forms of suffering, both physical and psychological, which are remarkably similar worldwide. Most techniques seek to prolong the victims’ pain and fear for as long as possible without leaving
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This is a day on which we pay our respects to those who have endured the unimaginable. This is an occasion for the world to speak up against the unspeakable. It is long overdue that a day be dedicated to remembering and supporting the many victims and survivors of torture around the world. Former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan
was when the UN Convention against Torture (see below) came into effect. The first 26 June events were launched in 1998; since then, dozens of organisations in dozens of countries have marked the day each year with events, celebrations and campaigns.
What is torture and who are its victims? Torture is the intentional infliction of severe
visible evidence.
Torture can happen to anyone – girls and boys, women and men from all walks of life. Although torture is often used to silence human rights defenders and outspoken dissidents, often those who tortured belong to vulnerable populations: refugees and asylum seekers, internally displaced persons, persons in detention, those living in poverty, street children, as well as ethnic, sexual and religious minorities – people
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who are targeted for the mere fact that they are defenceless and marginalised.
What is the UN Convention against Torture? The UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (UNCAT) is one of the most important international human rights instruments in the work against torture. When a country signs and ratifies the Convention, the government of that country is accountable under international law to take action to prevent torture and to support the victims when torture takes place. To date 146 states have ratified the UNCAT (49 have yet to do so). On 18 December 2002, the UN General Assembly adopted the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture (OPCAT). The Optional Protocol provides for both international and national visiting mechanisms to prevent torture
in places of detention, making it highly important for the global movement against torture. So far, only 57 states have ratified OPCAT. The global ratification and implementation of the UNCAT and its Optional Protocol is critical in working towards a world without torture. All organisations participating in the 26 June campaign are encouraged to take up the ratification theme as part of, or in addition to, the activities they are planning.
Torture and Poverty Poverty is a root cause of torture, and also an effect of torture, on individuals, their families and wider societies. Providing rehabilitation to survivors, as well as working for justice and prevention of torture therefore helps break a cycle of poverty.
RCTV Memoria: Public action in Moldova in commemoration of 26 June
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Before you start: Plan your Campaign Before you launch an event for 26 June, consider the following:
Who do you want to reach and why?
What type of event would work best?
Think about torture and its effects on your community, and consider whose attention you want to draw to help address the problems. For example, you might want to target your event toward:
Now that you know your audience and message, think about the different types of events and timing: • Will your event be of short duration or last a full day or more? (Some 26 June campaigns incorporate several events for different audiences spread out over a week.)
• Opinion leaders within your community, if you want to educate people about torture and how to help survivors in their community
• What time of day will be best to attract your target audience?
• Health professionals who can help to identify and treat survivors • Politicians who can enact laws to help prevent torture and to prosecute perpetrators of torture • Survivors of torture and their families to make them aware of the services available to them and to honour their strength.
• What day of the week is best?
Who else should be involved? You may wish to invite participants to your event who can help to draw media or other attention to your cause. For example, you may choose to invite one or more of the following to participate by making a speech or hosting your event:
Remember:
• High profile health or legal professionals
An event works best when you can attract the most attention to it. This may not be on 26 June itself but on another nearby day.
• Torture survivors and their families to provide testimonies • Prominent figureheads, e.g. ministers • Human rights activists • Musicians, poets, actors and other artists.
What message do you want to convey? Once you have identified your target audience, consider the message that you want to convey. For example:
You may also wish to collaborate with schools, activity clubs or other organisations interested in the cause.
• That torture survivors live in your community and can use your moral, social and emotional support • The need for establishment of and funding for rehabilitation services • Increasing awareness of specific groups at risk of torture (e.g. children; refugees and asylum seekers; the poor; ethnic, religious and sexual minorities) • The need for increased political will to prevent torture • Ratification of the international conventions against torture. Page 5
Participation: Find out on page 16 how SOSRAC in India involved torture survivors and their family members in all the preparations for the 26 June campaign in 2010.
What is a successful event and how do I measure it? The success of the event depends of your goals. On the one hand, if your initial plan was to raise awareness among the general public on the issue of torture, then the number of people who heard your message and/or disseminated it is a good indicator of success. In awareness raising campaigns, it is a good idea to communicate clearly what you want the public to learn or do.
In that case, you can always survey the public and find out roughly how many learned or did what you intended. On the other hand, if you planned a lecture or a workshop for capacity building aimed at students or medical or legal professionals, then it is a good idea to follow up with attendants after your session.
CAPS: In Sierra Leone, school children were part of the 26 June celebrations.
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Campaign Materials You may wish to supplement your activity with materials providing more information about torture, survivors in your community and action that your target audience can take in support of your message. The IRCT has a range of materials that you can download free of charge and use at your event. Check them out at www.irct.org/26june.
Global reading
TV and radio spots
Every year the IRCT releases a statement for a Several 30-second TV-spots are available in many global reading on the occasion of the 26 June. languages. All can be found on the IRCT website Organisations and individuals are encouraged to and on our YouTube account. You can also e-mail read the statement for their events marking the us to find out more about how to get copies in day. The more who read it the stronger the impact other formats to submit to television and radio is. Last year the statement was read in Albania, stations in your area. Armenia, Brazil, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Hungary, Mexico, the Palestinian Continued... Territories, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sri Lanka, the United Kingdom, and the United States, INTERNATIONAL among others, DAY IN SUPPORERN IN SUPPORT OF VICTIMS OF TORTURE INT T OATI F VON ICTALIMDAY reaching thousands S OF TORTURE of people all over the world.
Posters and Logos Several posters and logos are available through the IRCT website both in colour and black & white. The logos are available in several digital formats so that you can use them to make caps, t-shirts, banners and stickers.
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These and other posters and logos can be downloaded from www.irct.org/26June
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Fact sheet collection The IRCT has a comprehensive collection of fact sheets in several languages that you can print and disseminate to participants at your events. Among the fact sheets you can find frequently asked questions about torture, information about the rehabilitation of survivors, impunity, and which states have and have not ratified the UNCAT and the OPCAT.
Renewing Lives: Torture Survivors and the Quest for Rehabilitation. The photos illustrate the effects of torture on the bodies and souls of survivors, and the positive outcomes of rehabilitation. At the IRCT website, you can download a Flash presentation to show at your event or print copies of the photo book.
Game
Generic letters and press releases The IRCT has also developed several generic letters and press releases that you can tailor to publicise the importance of 26 June and your campaign.
Photo exhibition Five IRCT member centres participated in the development of a photo exhibition and book
In 2008, the IRCT produced an interactive game to fight torture. In the style of the 1980s Pac Man arcade game, players navigate through a maze, collecting points and powers to stop torturers, while learning about torture and the IRCT. The game can be played online, or you can write to us 26june@irct.org if you wish to download it and set up your own “game booth� at your event.
Fact Sheet Collection
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Erase Torture Game
Ideas for campaign activities Below are examples of activities organisations around the globe have arranged for previous 26 June campaigns. We have selected a mix of activities from organisations that excelled around the world.
Informational/Educational Activities See page 10
Political Activities See page 15
Cultural Activities
Activities for Children
See page 13
See page 17
Other Activities See page 19
Photos: Conference by FAVL (Armenia), Rally by TIHV-HRFT (Turkey), Dancing performance by IAN-CRTV (Serbia), Children activities by Association Vive Žene (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Football match by RCT (Denmark)
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1. Informational/Educational Activities Conferences and seminars, workshops and lectures
Conferences and seminars are among the most popular 26 June campaign activities. Often these informational events aim at raising awareness about the issue of torture, but they can also offer a valuable opportunity to present and discuss local means of prevention of torture as well as to present the activities undertaken by governmental and non-governmental organisations for the rehabilitation of victims of
torture. Workshops and lectures are an effective way to educate and share knowledge about the rehabilitation of victims of torture.
bzfo: One of the workshops organized in Germany on the occasion of 26 June
Examples from the IRCT membership In 2010, RCT Zagreb gathered over 200 people in a series of activities including workshops for psychology students at the University of Zagreb, as well as workshops for schoolchildren. The Berlin Centre for the Treatment of Torture Victims (bzfo) also organized successful workshops on a range of topics including a community therapy
and integration project for female migrants and internet therapy for seniors over 65 years of age who were traumatized during World War II. ASeTTS Australia also chose to organise a public forum to draw awareness to the occasion and to invite as many people as possible from across the spectrum.
RCT Zagreb: Workshop for psychology students at the University of Zagreb, Croatia
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6 Tips for successful conferences and seminars, workshops and lectures: 1. Seek partnerships: In 2010 EATIP, in Argentina, joined forces with the Argentine Association of Psychiatrists (APSA) to organize a conference for a wide range of participants. APSA provided not only coordination capacity but also presented findings at the closing session of the conference. In Australia, ASeTTS partnered with Curtin University of Technology’s Centre for Human Rights Education and Amnesty International to organize a public forum that was attended by more than 200 people. 2. Invite a well known speaker: it will help draw large crowds to your event and media attention. But invite him/her well in advance as he/she will usually have a busy schedule. 3. Broaden the range of attendees: It is a
good idea to target your event to a specific audience, but do not limit your possibilities to attract a more diverse participation. Among the many potential participants are local and international human rights and social organizations, torture victims and their families, human rights activists, journalists, judges, lawyers, forensic doctors, students, artists, political parties, ministries, embassies, the military and the police.
4. Promote the event: ASeTTS, in Australia, promoted their public forum through local community papers, universities, websites, distribution of flyers, and direct mail, as well as through agencies and service providers. Have you considered using social media?
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5. Seek media attention: Besides getting a well known speaker to your conference there is a whole range of things you can do to attract media attention. See next chapter: Raising the profile of your campaign 6. Don’t forget the practical matters: There are a number of practical considerations for the organisation of a conference, seminar, workshop or lecture. • Venue: It can be frustrating to keep people outside because your room is too small, but a room too big will give the impression your event was a failure. Try to make a good estimation of the number of participants you will have at your event and find a suitable venue. In a big room make sure people can be heard. You might need to use microphones. It is also a good idea to have a small stall or information desk placed outside the room with additional information and ways for people to support your work. • Host and timeplan: In a conference or seminar you will need someone to host the event and introduce the speakers. The host should be familiar with the time plan for your event to make sure nothing is left undone. It is important to define how long your speakers will talk, how many and when the breaks will take place, and when and for how long the participants are allowed to ask questions. • Visual materials: Make sure your organisation’s logo and other visual campaign materials are visible across the room.
We feel we need to move the event to a larger venue as more people attended than expected. Pam Clarke, Office Manager ASeTTS Australia
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Social Media Social media include blogs, and sites including Facebook and Twitter. The potential of the internet in general and social media in particular is enormous when it comes to spreading a message. And the best: it is easy to set up, free and usually open to all.
The IRCT experience: World Without Torture The goal was to fight apathy. For this reason the IRCT created the online campaign World Without Torture (WWT) to enable citizens around the world to engage directly in combating torture. The campaign was launched on Facebook and Twitter – two of the world’s most popular online social
platforms. Personal stories from torture victims, global torture fighters and those who have been touched by torture have been regularly featured on the sites as well as factual information on torture, and relevant news items.
WWT was launched on Facebook on the 26th of May 2010 at 10:00 and this is how it grew: after 1 hour: 27 fans 2 hours: 213 fans 3 hours: 249 fans 6 hours: 350 fans 7 hours: 400 fans 24 hours: 740 fans 2 days: 985 fans and On the 31 May (after 5 days): 1300 supporters! After nearly 10 months, WWT counts over 4500 supporters and keeps growing. Tips for successful social media campaigns: Make it visually appealing: Using an attractive
logo helps. Why not use one of the posters IRCT created for the 26 June campaign as your Facebook campaign logo?
Inform us about your efforts: We can help you disseminate your Facebook campaign via the World Without Torture page.
Use a clear and unique message: Facebook users are exposed to a multitude of messages from people, companies and other organisations trying to get their attention. Make sure your message is simple and unique enough to get their attention.
Post updates regularly and interact with your supporters: Without updates, your page
will stagnate. Be active and encourage activity on your page to keep the momentum going.
World Without Torture: The IRCT Campaign on Facebook has more than 4500 supporters
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2. Cultural Activities Theatre, dance and/or musical performances
Many organisations around the world choose to celebrate 26 June with cultural performances. In general, cultural performances attract great interest from the general public giving more visibility to the message being conveyed. However, you should discuss among your staff whether theatre, dance and/or musical performances are the best way to get your message conveyed and understood.
Example from the IRCT membership The theatre performance organized by the Italian rehabilitation centre CIR-VI.TO. was not a traditional cultural event. It was in fact the result of a 5-month long psychosocial rehabilitation workshop that has taken place every year since 2002 within their rehabilitation project. At a certain point CIR-VI.TO. decided to add a cultural and public meaning to the experience and to the process of rehabilitation, turning the theatre rehabilitation project into a 26 June public event. The results couldn’t have been better. In 2010, the performance was attended by more than 600 people. Many press articles have been published and the performance has been broadcasted by radio and TV programs across Italy. The workshop organised by CIR-VI.TO. gives them the opportunity to speak out about torture
using the voices, the faces and the stories of the refugees involved. The resulting images and the theatre performance are a very conveyable product, easy to sell to TV and press. According to Fiorella Rathaus, Project manager at CIR-VI.TO., “the experience has been particularly strong in terms of empowerment of the refugees participating in the workshop and has enabled them to transform from survivors into active witnesses.”
“The public event is definitely an added value to our communication activity.” Fiorella Rathaus, Project Manager at CIR-VI.TO The theatre performance is a symbolic process giving the opportunity to speak about torture and its consequences without speaking directly of torture. By doing so, CIR-VI.TO. managed to involve the public on the difficult and rather repulsive issue of torture which otherwise naturally activates a defensive reaction, said Fiorella. Moreover the theatre is attractive itself and brings visibility to the issue reaching and sensitising a broad public not directly involved with the issue.
CIR-VI.TO.: Theatre performance organized by the Italian rehabilitation centre
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The performance, together with other events organised around June 26, attracted significant attention of the media and as the result there were 29 media appearances. So we may say that we have succeeded in raising awareness regarding the issue of torture. Gordana Stankov Stojilovi, IAN CRTV Programme Coordinator
IAN CRTV in Serbia held a street dance and music performance (Capoeira: a Brazilian practice that combines elements of martial arts and music) symbolizing the fight against torture and its perpetrators. Besides the symbolism, this type of performance was chosen because of its appeal to passers-by.
Tips for successful cultural events: Choose a popular venue: IAN CRTV in Serbia
chose one of Belgrade’s most visited tourist attractions – the Kalemegdan fortress – for their dancing performance. But make sure you get the permission from local authorities to use the space. The Italian CIR-VI.TO. placed extra efforts in obtaining a public space or a very well known theater to add solemnity, visibility and attractiveness to the event.
Choose an unusual cultural activity: some-
thing that people usually do not have opportunity to see.
Weather conditions: If you are planning an out-
door activity, it is a good idea to have a backup plan due to unpredictable weather conditions
Educate the audience: use the opportunity to
educate the audience about the issue of torture. IAN CRTV distributed 300 educative flyers related to the issue of torture, availability of services for victims and obligation of the state according to the OPCAT. They also placed staff members at the performance location to speak with the interested citizens and answer their questions.
Promote the event in the media: The Capoeira performance organized by IAN CRTV was promoted through a press release sent to the local print and electronic media, as well as on their website and Facebook page. Furthermore, IAN activists were guests on several TV programmes where they had the opportunity to promote the event.
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3. Political Activities Street marches and demonstrations
There seems to be a tradition for the organisation of rallies and marches among IRCT member centres and other human rights organisations in India.
joined the march together, helping victims reintegrate into society with dignity, and bringing them confidence to talk about their torture experience to the community and media.
Both SOSRAC and CCTV shared with us their experience with the organisation of successful street marches. SOSRAC has been organising marches for the past three years. The results have been so positive that they will be doing another one this year, this time bigger. According to CCTV, the sound of drums makes people aware that something is happening and pulls them out to join the march. This is one of the typical ways to reach more people in West Bengal. Increased awareness, interest and support from the local community and media, both print and electronic, as well as a positive response from torture victims are the main positive results highlighted by Dr Agrawal, from SOSRAC.
In Sierra Leone, singing and dancing are also important ways to celebrate an exciting event. CAPS has organised several singing and dancing parades because it promotes the healing
Both organisations managed to deliver the 26 June message broadly, as well as to contribute to the wellbeing of torture victims. Victims, their families and people from the local community
“After the march, the local community visited our centre to enquire about our activities and how they could contribute to our movement� Dr Pradeep Agrawal, SOSRAC of survivors of torture and other organised violence and can motivate isolated members of the communities to participate. Besides, such events have the benefit of attracting the interest of the general populace thereby improving the outcome of the commemorations.
Street demonstrations in India by CCTV (above) and Philippines by MAG (below)
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Tips for successful marches and parades by SOSRAC (India), CCTV (India) and CAPS (Sierra Leone)
1. Start well in advance: the organisation of a march or parade requires a lot of groundwork and preparation. Discuss among your staff whether it is feasible. 2. Seek participants and involve your community: First, SOSRAC met with the torture vic-
tims to discuss the benefits of the march and the importance of their participation. Second, they approached community leaders and the local municipal counsellor and secured their participation. Engaging influential people will increase the impact of your march. Finally, SOSRAC contacted a local secondary school and got a teacher and his class interested in participating in the march. In future, SOSRAC will seek even more
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3. Get the media involved: SOSRAC organised
a meeting with local media, both print and electronic, where they had the opportunity to discuss the 26 June and the goals of the peace march. In the future, SOSRAC will seek media coverage more intensively. See the next chapter for more information on seeking media attention. Involve the victims and their families: First, you should find out how victims feel about a public march, as they might raise safety concerns. At SOSRAC they turned out to be very excited about the idea of a public march and accepted to participate. Staff involved them and their families in the preparation of the leaflets and banners that participants carried while marching, and invited them to press briefings.
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After the parade “people became more aware about their ‘rights’. Now they know that in time of need, they would get our support against this atrocity.” Furthermore, “…authorities also became more aware about the issue of torture. As a result, their actions are more rational, a positive sign for us.” Ms. Minakshi Chaudhuri, CCTV India
participants: national politicians, more schools and other human rights organisations.
4. Make sure everyone knows about key information: It is very important to share with the
For their singing and dancing parade CAPS organised a series of meetings with different stakeholders, NGOs, Community-based organisations, ministries and schools to inform them about the 26 June and to share CAPS’ parade plans, as well as to assign roles and responsibilities. In addition, a number of invitation letters were sent out.
participants the starting time, gathering point, the route and final destination of the parade.
To promote the march, SOSRAC distributed pamphlets and displayed posters in the local community and nearby shopping centers. The local community leaders and the school teacher that had been contacted helped greatly in spreading the message about the march. Two rickshaws helped spread the message further around the community. Finally, a press briefing organised the day before by SOSRAC gave wide publicity to the event.
6. Be loud and visible: CAPS advises the use of
5. Seek permission from local authorities
and engage the police and the military for security clearance and participation during the parade.
brass instruments and singing and dancing from the start to the end of the parade; display visual elements like placards or banners and distribute attractive T-shirts. CAPS arranged meetings with a brass band and together developed simple songs with strong messages on torture. They did training sessions with the band and used local media to help publicise the tune and messages throughout the community. CCTV suggests you to put emphasis in conveying your messages in a clear and understandable way.
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7. During the parade: Provide refreshments, caps and general assistance to the participants on hotter days. CCTV usually delivers speeches
throughout the rally and at the road junctions, helping them to spread their messages further.
4. Activities for Children Essay, poetry and art competitions Many schools, youth clubs or children’s camps hold essay or art exhibitions of works done by their students to encourage them to understand the problem of torture and its impact. Pictures, sculptures and texts are very good tools for encouraging children to express their own thoughts and feelings about a difficult issue such as torture. In post-conflict countries, writing essays and creating art have helped children who have been exposed to torture and trauma to confront their feelings in a positive way. In many western
countries, essay writing and art have helped children of all ages to better understand the need for tolerance and understanding of refugees and asylum-seekers.
Suggested topics for essay/poetry competitions You may wish to adapt the questions and essay length to best suit your country’s situation and the age group you are involving.
1. How would you help a new student who has experienced torture? Imagine that one day a new student starts in your class. He or she is a refugee who has been allowed to stay in your country. Your teacher has told you that the new student’s family has been exposed to torture and violence in their home country. That is why they had to flee to another country. Describe how you and your classmates can help the new student to feel welcome in their new school and country.
2. How can we create a world without torture? Describe what the United Nations and the government of your country should do to make sure that torture no longer takes place. And what you and your friends can do. Do you think it is
possible that, one day, torture will no longer take place anywhere in the world, including in your own country?
3. What would you say to someone who tortures? If you were able to speak with someone who has tortured, what would you say?
4. Why is it important to punish people who torture? In many countries, people who torture are not always punished for their crimes. Imagine that one of your friends has been tortured and the person who did it was not punished. How do you think your friend would feel? How would you feel? Why is it important that people who commit torture are punished for what they have done?
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Suggested topics for art competitions The following topics are suggestions for painting, drawing or sculpture competitions. You may wish to adapt the themes to best suit your country’s situation and the age group that you are involving. One popular theme is to get children to colour in the WWT logo with positive images of a torture-free world.
1. The feelings of torture survivors when they remember their suffering Try to imagine the feelings that a survivor of torture has when thinking about the torture he or she has suffered. Does he/she feel anger, guilt, sorrow, pain, or all of these? Or is he/she just happy to be alive? Can you illustrate, through a drawing, a painting, a sculpture or similar, what a girl, a boy, a woman or a man who has been tortured feels? And perhaps what their family and friends feel?
2. Let’s erase torture On 26 June, people join together against torture, organising special events to show their support for victims of torture and their common wish for a world without torture. Can you design an image that illustrates the idea that we can all play a part in erasing torture from our world?
3. A world without torture In many countries around the world torture is widespread, harming countless ordinary people, both the direct victims and their lovedones. Those in power often say that torture is necessary to maintain peace and security. But in reality torture undermines peace and security, creating fear and hatred among ordinary people. Can you illustrate through painting, drawing or other visual media what a world without torture would look like?
Among many other 26 June activities organised by SOSRAM-CASRA in Turkey, children participated by producing drawings and releasing balloons to protest against torture.
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5. Other Activities Sporting events, matches or races Street soccer tournament in Copenhagen by the RCT (Denmark) In order to take advantage of the public interest around the World Cup in 2010, RCT decided to hold a mini football tournament to celebrate 26 June. Anders Bernhoft, who was in charge of the campaign, recommends you:
Get relevant individuals to participate: Seek participants who have public appeal or are directly related to the issue of torture. RCT got both groups involved in their tournament. The teams participating of the event were composed of politicians, comedians, professional soccer and handball players, the police and RCT personnel. Anders Bernhoft strongly recommends that all the interested organisations place most of their efforts in this particular aspect of the
event organisation. Getting the right people to participate is definitely the hardest part (do not expect answers to all the requests you will send out) but also one of the most critical aspects. It can mean the difference between great public and media interest and a regular, unnoticed football match among friends. Teaming up with larger organisations might help you persuade famous people to join your campaign.
Choose a popular public venue: It will help you draw attention to the football tournament and consequently to the message of your campaign. RCT chose one of the central squares in Copenhagen. After deciding upon the location or a set of locations, seek permission from the local authorities, such as the city council or local police. Get in touch with national football federation and local football clubs: One of the ob-
vious practical requirements is to get all the necessary equipment (goals, clothing, footballs, scoreboard, fence, etc). RCT rented all that material. However, it is a good idea to contact your national football federation and local football clubs and ask them to lend you all the necessary equipment.
Other practical matters: Besides football equipment, you will need to set up facilities for the general public such as benches, maybe a tent, and some refreshments for the participants.
RCT: Politicians, comedians, professional soccer players, among many others, joined the mini street football tournament in the centre of Copenhagen, organised by the Danish member centre RCT.
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Besides the activities described in this guide, there are many others you can organise. A few examples are: Informational/educational activities:
Events for children:
• Distributing informational materials
• Kite flying
• Testimonies by torture survivors
• Puppet shows
• Radio quizzes
• Drama or street performances
• Film screenings • Open houses
Others: • Sponsored walks
Cultural activities:
• Mobile clinics
• Book launches
• A moment of silence
• Candlelight vigils
• Religious or prayer ceremonies
• Exhibitions
• Tree planting
Political activities: • “Human chains” in front of public buildings • Petitions or letter writing campaigns
• Releasing pigeons/doves • Visits to prisons • Auctions of donated items
Vive Žene: concert with the band "Zgate and Fetus" was held in Bosnia and Herzegovina to commemorate 26 June.
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Raising the profile of your campaign Drawing media to your event has the potential to spread your message further, and to bring in more supporters for your cause and for future events. While a press conference may be useful if you are planning a large activity with prominent guests, there are other ways to bring in the media with fewer demands on your time and resources. For example: • Invite a few journalists to your event. It is best to identify those journalists you have contact with already or who have a special interest in your work. Be sure to give them plenty of advance notice about the event and offer to send them supplementary informational material.
point and end on a challenging note, with a call to action. Letters also can be signed by a number of signatories, which may increase their impact. • Seek out free advertisements in newspapers, magazines, radio or television. An ad can either promote your event or draw attention to the importance of 26 June.
CIR-VI.TO., in Italy, used the 26 June campaign to give several interviews for national TV and radio on the need for public support against torture. As a result, their activities were attended by over 600 people. CRAT, in Cameroon, had their 26 June events covered by 16 print and audio-visual media, and many other organizations have been realising the importance of media in the success of their events.
• Approach a local radio or TV current affairs programme to suggest they broadcast a feature programme on 26 June. Provide an outline of a possible story and list interesting people who could be interviewed. • Submit a Letter to the Editor to local newspapers and magazines for publication on 26 June. Letters are widely read and provide a good opportunity to promote a cause and/or organisation. Letters should be short and concise – aim to make one main
IAN CRTV, Serbia
FAVL, Armenia
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Organising a press conference A press conference has the potential to draw greater attention to your message, but press conferences also require a lot of planning before, during and after the event. Press conferences work best when you organise them to:
• Release important new findings or research data.
• Showcase a newsworthy story (your 26 June event).
To maximise the impact of your press conference (and to pool resources), consider joining forces with other NGOs, rehabilitation centres, etc. to co-host an event.
• Provide new information relating to a big story being followed by the media. • Make a statement on a controversial issue. • Utilise high profile speakers or celebrities to back your cause.
• Launch a major new initiative. • Announce something of local importance.
There are many online resources that provide step-by-step guides on how to organise a press conference. Here are two we recommend from Aim higher (http://bit.ly/kzwle1) and the European Commission (http://bit.ly/llqRAZ).
If you are preparing a press conference, RCTV (Moldova) recommends: Join forces with similar organisations: Identify other human rights organisation with whom you would like to organise the press conference and draft the basic common message of the press conference.
Speakers: each organisation shall delegate
one speaker. Usually RCTV motivates and invites their beneficiaries to participate as a speaker at the conference. By doing so, the general public and journalists are sensitised and more willing to attend and pay attention to the event.
Schedule date and time: One of the main elements that can ensure success or failure of the conference is the date on which the conference will be held. In setting the date of the event, RCTV always takes into account the unfavourable periods to avoid some eventual overlaps; in this case, usually they work with press agencies. The total duration of the RCTV’s conferences do not exceed 30-40 minutes, including questions and answers. Prepare a press folder: each organisation in-
volved in the press conference shall provide informative materials such as brochures about torture, the rehabilitation of torture victims, the activities provided by organisation, etc. It should also include a text that you would like to have published in the media, with some concrete
data, information on the benefits of rehabilitation, concrete examples where torture occurs, and proposals of steps that need to be undertaken.
Attract attention by writing and delivering a press release: The press release should in-
clude information about WHY the conference is organized, WHO the speakers are, and WHERE the conference will be held. Send it press agencies/media outlets and place it on your website (if you have one) and other news sites at least a week before the press conference. Resend the invitation and press release one day before the conference.
Confirming attendance: Call the journalists you personally know. If you do not have a PR service it is good to engage a PR agency to make sure that the journalists will come to the conference.
Prepare visual aids: place banners behind the speakers which help you get the message across.
Measure the impact: After the press conference remember to gather press clippings of the coverage you got. It is a way of assessing the impact of you event.
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Share your activities and ideas Every year the IRCT publishes “Together against Torture� - a global report on the activities held around the world in commemoration of the 26 June. The IRCT welcomes submissions of reports, photos and other materials from your 26 June activities to be included in the 26 June report, campaign kit and other materials produced by the IRCT. We also encourage you to send an e-mail to 26june@irct.org with your ideas to help us improve this guide.
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www.irct.org/26june 26june@irct.org
Related publications by the IRCT: • “Together against Torture”: Global Report on the 26 June 2010 Campaign
Other guides by the IRCT: • Website creation: Easy ways to build a website at no or very little cost, 2010 (English and Spanish) • Guide to Advocacy, 2007 (English, Spanish, French and Arabic) • Guide to Fundraising, 2007 (English, Spanish, French and Arabic) • How to work with the media (Online guide)
International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT) Borgergade 13 • P.O. Box 9049 • 1022 Copenhagen K • Denmark Tel.: +45 33 76 06 00 • Fax: +45 33 76 05 00 Email: irct@irct.org • http://www.irct.org