DG EXPO INTERNAL FEEDBACK NOTE

Joint DROI - Sakharov Prize Community Event

Torture26 – documentary and debate

Brussels, 26 June 2020

In the Chair: Vice-President Fabio Castaldo (NI)

Number MEPs present: 8 (3 in the meeting room; 5 in remote mode)

Assessment

A web streamed documentary short film, Torture26, produced by 2017 Sakharov laureate Lorent Saleh to mark International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. The subsequent remote debate, moderated by VP Fabio Castaldo  and concluded by VP Heidi Hautala involved DROI Members alongside guest speakers Lorent Saleh and Manfred Nowak, Secretary General of the Global Campus of Human Rights and former UN Special Rapporteur for torture.

Positives

With this first multilingual online event, HRAC managed to ensure business continuity of human rights outreach activities in the Covid19 context. Audio statements from Members of the major political groups feature in the documentary film and underscore the EP commitment in the fight against torture, impunity and in supporting the victims.

Echoing a generally positive feedback by the Members, VP Heidi Hautala praised Torture26 as strong communication tool in the prevention of torture that will help the EP carry further the campaign launched on 18 February 2020 with the performance “White Torture - underground poetry” in the EP SPINELLI garage.

Negatives

The allocated meeting slot on a Friday late morning, after a DROI extraordinary meeting made it difficult to reach a wider participation.

Follow up required:

·         Promote the documentary Torture26 for framing online debates in the coming months, starting with a presentation in Madrid

·         Make the recorded debate and documentary accessible on the Sakharov Community web site

Principal points and conclusions

·         Lorent Saleh reminded that the EP had a key role in his liberation. Strong political support is needed to defend victims of torture across the world, especially those who receive little media exposure. Many people still believe that torture can be an efficient way of obtaining information : this is one of many misconceptions exacerbated since 9/11 that should be addressed through education.

·         Prof. Manfred Nowak recalled that 26 June marks both the anniversary of the UN Charter, and of the Convention against torture. The latter is a key instrument for fighting  impunity, preventing torture, and ensuring that victims have a right to compensation. Visits of places of detention are essential to ensure accountability – including in European countries, which are far from immune to inhuman and degrading treatment.

·         Members insisted on human dignity as the core EU value and marked their commitment to eliminating torture internationally. Preventing impunity and ensuring a right to compensation are two priorities of the DROI subcommittee, Soraya Rodríguez argued. Katalin Cseh observed that the EU as a major commercial power, can use its influence to prevent torture across the world and should do so by promoting multilateralism.

Cooperation with/involvement of other Units or bodies in the DG (KPI):

Excellent cooperation with DROI and DGs LINC and INLO, decisive for the success of the event.

Technical or logistical issues:

Repeated connection issues for VP Hautala who tried to participate remotely from her EP office and eventually came to the room to finish her intervention.

Eurico Pedrosa,

on behalf of Stefan Krauss, Head of Unit