RIDDING SOCIETY OF DRUG ABUSE AND TORTURE

The spotlight on the commemoration of the International Day Against
Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking yesterday shifted on children.

With the theme of "drugs are not child's play" the aim was to increase
public awareness about the destructive power of drugs and society's
responsibility to care for the well-being of its children. And with
nearly 200 million consumers of illegal drugs world wide, we have our
job cut out for us.

Deputy Minister of Health and Social Services, Petrina Haingura, said
in commemoration of the day: "We also remember those whose lives have
been destroyed by drugs, and we take hands with those communities and
families torn asunder by the ills that accompany drug and alcohol abuse."

UN Secretary general Kofi Annan said: "Taking drugs or not is about
making choices - informed choices. We need to spread the understanding
that drugs are illegal because they are a problem; not a problem
because they are illegal.

"Our efforts must focus especially on young people - through outreach,
peer-to-peer networks, and using opportunities such as sport to keep
young people active, healthy, and confident. That also means engaging
and encouraging parents and teachers to play their part in full."

The UN Secretary General added that too many people in the world are
badly informed about the potentially devastating effects of drugs.

It is for this reason that the global community needs to work for
better education and greater awareness to prevent drug abuse. "We need
more consistent leadership from governments and we need better
examples from role models whose drug use damages more people than just
themselves."

Efforts also require working to reduce supply through law enforcement,
and through working with the producing countries to give farmers
sustainable alternatives to growing illicit crops. Annan commented
that in this way, "we must strive to tackle poverty and drug supply at
the same time".

This calendar date is coupled with the Day in Support of Victims of
Torture. Annan said, "It is long overdue that a day be dedicated to
remembering and supporting the many victims and survivors of torture
around the world. June 26 is not a date chosen at random. It was the
day, 11 years ago, that the Convention against Torture came into
force. It was also the day, 53 years ago, that the United Nations
Charter was signed - the first international instrument to embody
obligations for Member States to promote and encourage respect for
human rights."

The Namibian Constitution is well in line with these conventions as
Article 8 states: "No person shall be subject to cruel, inhumane or
degrading treatment or punishment."

The Legal Assistance Centre (LAC) helps victims of torture by opening
civil claims cases against offenders as was done with the most recent
cases of alleged torture in the Caprivi. The centre sues offenders on
behalf of the victim for an amount to be paid in damages.

Previously, the centre would also give human rights training to the
victims and the public in general, but this has now fallen away due to
a lack of funds as the centre told New Era.

However, despite being party to these conventions, the National
Society for Human Rights (NSHR) continues to receive disturbing
reports of alleged police brutality and about private citizens who
engaged in acts of torture and other cruel, inhumane and degrading
treatment or punishment against not only suspected common criminals
but also other citizens, especially those allegedly suspected of being
government critics.

Over 40 police and defense force members have over more than seven
years been accused of having brutally tortured more than 130 persons,
according to the NSHR. These people were allegedly tortured because
they were suspected of high treason in connection with the alleged
plot to secede the Caprivi Region from the rest of the country.

Torture is one of the worst human rights abuses, taking a terrible
toll on millions of individuals and their families. Acts of torture
include rape, blows to the soles of the feet, suffocation in water,
burns, electric shocks, sleep deprivation, shaking and beating. These
abuses are commonly used by torturers to break down an individual's
personality.

As terrible as the physical wounds are, the psychological and
emotional scars are usually the most devastating and the most
difficult to repair. Many torture survivors suffer recurring
nightmares and flashbacks. They withdraw from family, school and work
and feel a loss of trust.

Dorkas Phillemon of the NSHR said, "We are calling upon all Namibians
to embrace a culture of tolerance and work together against torture."

Thirty years ago, there were no treatment centres or services to treat
torture survivors. Today there are some 200 centres or programmes all
over the world. There is now profound knowledge of torture methods,
the effects of torture, and how to diagnose and rehabilitate torture
victims.