World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT)

🚨 The presentation of the 2026 edition of the #GlobalTortureIndex will take place on June 25 at 15:00 to 16:30 CEST. 📊 New countries. More data. 📈 A unique data-driven tool designed to annually assess the risk of torture and other ill-treatment. 🗺️ The interactive map presents each country's score, based on seven thematic pillars, and highlights systemic issues and progress to support advocacy strategies and accountability. 🗣️ Interpretation will be available in English, French, Spanish, Arabic and Russian. 🔗 Registration is already available: bit.ly/index_2026

🇮🇷 Since late December 2025, the Islamic Republic of Iran is witnessing its largest wave of protests in decades, driven by economic hardship, demands for political change, and decades of accumulated repression. The situation has further deteriorated since February 2026, following military strikes by Israel and the United States against the Islamic Republic of Iran, disrupting the use of the Strait of Hormuz and triggering an energy crisis. Iran is now featured in OMCT’s #GlobalTortureIndex, which reveals the absence of basic safeguards against torture and ill-treatment in the country. Explore the Index data here: bit.ly/4y9t7VR In this interview, Mai Sato, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, talks about the documented human rights violations amid the ongoing military conflict in Iran, and the importance of keeping human rights at the centre of any negotiation. 🔗 Read the interview to learn more: bit.ly/4hhfOfU

🇪🇸 Spain in the #GlobalTortureIndex #Spain is classified as being at “moderate risk” of torture, according to the Global Torture Index by OMCT and partners. Explore the findings from Spain and discover how the Index uses data to assess the risk of torture and demand change worldwide. 📢 The second edition of the Global Torture Index is now available with data from 39 countries. Access the Index here: bit.ly/4fnDBtg

🇵🇪 Tania Pariona Tarqui is an Indigenous Quechua human rights defender, activist from Peru, and Executive Secretary of the coalition Coordinadora Nacional de Derechos Humanos (CNDDHH). As she started defending the rights of children and youth during her teenage years, now an advocate for women’s rights across South America, her work is more than ever relevant, not only in Peru, but for the global anti-torture movement. Over the past few months, the country has passed a series of laws that threaten decades of efforts for justice and accountability. In this interview, she tells us all about the state of human rights in Peru and what these laws will mean for human rights defenders and victims of torture and ill-treatment. 🔗 bit.ly/46NyBdm

We're pleased to announce Stéphanie David as OMCT's next Secretary General. An international lawyer and human rights advocate with over two decades defending civic space and human rights defenders worldwide, she takes up the role on 1 August 2026 – succeeding Gerald Staberock, who steps down after 16 years of dedicated leadership. "I am honoured to take on this responsibility at such a decisive moment...our task is clear: to stand with victims and defenders, to amplify local voices, and to hold power to account through rigorous work." – Stéphanie David 🔗 Read the press release: bit.ly/4aOhtWp

🇳🇪 #FacesOfHope: OMCT in the framework of the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, welcomes the opinion of the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, which concluded that the detention of the human rights defender Moussa Tchangari is arbitrary. Moussa Tchangari was arrested for expressing critical views on the ruling authorities, after decades of standing up for the people of Niger and their demand for democracy, security and independence. ✊🏻 Join our call for the immediate release of Moussa Tchangari and all arbitrarily detained human rights defenders! 🔗 Share our statement: bit.ly/4ydxkIa #MoussaTchangari #Niger #ArbitraryDetention #HumanRightsDefenders #DefendetheDefenders @eu_eeas

🇺🇳 We warmly welcome Pau Pérez as the newly appointed UN Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. OMCT has had the privilege of working alongside him over the years, witnessing his unwavering commitment to persons who have experienced torture and other ill-treatment. His longstanding work to strengthen the documentation, investigation and rehabilitation of torture, advance the recognition and medico-legal documentation of psychological torture, and promote survivor-centred approaches to accountability will be invaluable in this mandate. We look forward to working together to advance the global fight against torture and other ill-treatment. @apt_americas @IRCT @FIACAT_org @Omega_RF @sira_centro

🕊️ “Hope Is in the Right to Protest”. In recent years, the right to protest has way too often been met with violence and repression. Police forces around the world have been abusing so-called non-lethal weapons, causing lifelong harm to protesters. In this interview, Anaïs Franquesa from Spain and Juan Pablo Fonseca from Colombia tell us about some of the growing trends of repression of protests, and impact this has on victims. 🔗 Read the full interview here: bit.ly/4vQjyK3

On 26 June, as we celebrated the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, it is crucial to continue listening to the voices of survivors. That is why in this interview, Mexican survivor and activist Italia Méndez tells us about the importance of the new Charter for Victims and Survivors of Torture. "There cannot be a single model of care. Who better than survivors themselves to define what they need? The key is to listen." 🔗 Read the full interview here: bit.ly/4aF0RQZ #InternationalDayInSupportOfVictimsOfTorture #UnitedAgainstTorture

🇧🇷 In Brazil, torture and other forms of ill-treatment of children in socioeducative units are widespread. Maria Clara D’Ávila is a lawyer at the Brazil-based organisation GAJOP, The Office of Legal Advice to Popular Organizations, OMCT's partner in our Child Protection against Torture project. 🎥 In this interview, she recounts some of the detention conditions that she has witnessed and shares her hopes for the Committee on the Rights of the Child’s review of Brazil. 🔗 Read the interview: bit.ly/3OoqoC9

Explore the Global Torture Index: bit.ly/4vSbUib

On 25 June, the day before the UN International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, the second edition of the Global Torture Index was launched, covering 39 countries across all regions. The 2026 Index highlights a persistent gap between international standards and reality: torture remains widespread, safeguards are often ignored, and survivors still face major barriers to justice and rehabilitation. Here are just a few of the realities the Index sheds a light on, in numbers. #GlobalTortureIndex

📻 #Entrevistas | “Aunque Ecuador cuenta con un marco legal contra la tortura y ha ratificado los principales tratados internacionales de derechos humanos, persiste una práctica institucional que invisibiliza estos casos. Los hechos que podrían constituir tortura suelen investigarse como extralimitación de funciones de servidores públicos, lo que minimiza su gravedad”, señaló Olga Guzmán, responsable para las Américas de la OMCT, en #PuntoNoticias. #LaRadioDeLasNoticias

📻 #Entrevistas | “En la segunda edición del Índice Global de la Tortura incorporamos a Ecuador, Venezuela y Nicaragua debido al alto riesgo de que las personas sean víctimas de tortura. En el caso de Ecuador, hemos observado un deterioro sustancial de los derechos humanos desde la vigencia del estado de excepción en 2024, marcado por una fuerte militarización de la seguridad pública”, afirmó Olga Guzmán, responsable para las Américas de la OMCT, en #PuntoNoticias. #LaRadioDeLasNoticias

🌍 UATC Three Years of Impact In a world facing rising conflict, shrinking civil space, and attacks on human rights, collective action has never been more important. 📄Our new Impact Report (2023–2026) highlights how torture cannot be tackled in isolation. Real impact demands a united front. Through joining forces, we can overcome political resistance, funding constraints, and fragmented intervention and build a world free from torture. 📖 Read the new #UnitedAgainstTorture Consortium report to discover the impact we've achieved together—and how you can support our movement ➡️ bit.ly/4xU088B #EndTorture #HumanRights #UATC #Justice #Accountability #SurvivorsFirst 5d

OMCT mourns the passing of Gustavo Gallón, Ambassador of the Permanent Mission of Colombia to the United Nations and other International Organisations in Geneva, founder of the Colombian Commission of Jurists, former Special Rapporteur, and a leading voice in the global struggle for human rights. A key member of the OMCT SOS-Torture Network and a leader of the Colombian Coalition Against Torture, Gustavo dedicated his life to defending human dignity and justice in Colombia and around the world. His commitment, courage, and vision inspired generations of human rights defenders. We extend our deepest condolences and solidarity to his family, the entire team at the Colombian Commission of Jurists (CCJ), and all those who had the privilege of working alongside him. His legacy will continue to guide and inspire the pursuit of justice and human rights for all. 🕊️ Rest in peace, Gustavo Gallón. Your voice and your work will not be forgotten. Find here an interview OMCT had conducted with Gustavo in 2016: bit.ly/4vb64al