SUPPORT FOR TORTURE VICTIMS AND EU ANTI-TORTURE

UNCLAS STOCKHOLM 000492 SIPDIS STATE FOR DRL/MLGA KRISTEN MCGEENY, EUR/WE, EUR/PGI E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM EUN SW SUBJECT: SUPPORT FOR TORTURE VICTIMS AND EU ANTI-TORTURE POLICIES IN THE STOCKHOLM PROGRAMME REF: STATE 70129 ¶1. This is Embassy Stockholm's response to reftel demarche. ¶2. Summary: Sweden has a long-standing commitment to support and provide treatment to torture victims. As current President of the EU, Sweden also plays a strategic role in developing a common EU policy on human rights and torture through the proposed Stockholm Programme, the third in a series of five-year plans setting the agenda for Justice and Home Affairs and security policy in Europe. In response to early EU Parliament and Council discussions on the Stockholm Programme, Amnesty International has offered critique and specific recommendations for strengthening the EU policies on torture and counter-terrorism. End Summary. ¶3. Swedish foreign policy on human rights emphasizes that "torture can never be accepted." Sweden is a signatory to the UN Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment as well as other EU security instruments condemning the use of torture. Swedish policies further establish that Sweden will support victims of torture and will give aid to organizations that work against torture. ¶4. In Sweden, an estimated one third of the individuals granted asylum have experienced trauma due to war and torture. Many victims come from countries in the Middle East and Africa. For nearly twenty years, the Red Cross Center for Tortured Refugees has operated five centers throughout Sweden to rehabilitate individuals in need. In 2008, there were 414 patients, the majority of whom were male. Treatment is given free of charge and contact with the patient starts with preliminary assessment meetings, often with an interpreter. The target is to restore the patient's self-esteem and dignity and to offer the victim of torture an opportunity to live a normal life. ¶5. As President of the EU in the second half of 2009, Sweden plays an important role in setting policy and political objectives. The EU will discuss freedom, security and justice priorities on the basis of a document called Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and Council, "An Area of Freedom, Security and Justice Serving the Citizen." In the document, dated July 12, torture is identified as a priority area with regard to terrorist threats. Comments from the discussion of this document will be used to inform the Stockholm Programme, set to go into effect at the end of 2009. ¶6. Amnesty International's EU office quickly issued a response to the Communication from the Commission, calling for all EU stakeholders to use the opportunity to shape an ambitious internal human rights policy for the EU. Noting a lack of attention to international human rights law and anti-torture policies, Amnesty offered the following recommendations: --Reform of blacklist systems of the EU to respect the right of defendants to be heard, the right to an independent review and to an effective judicial remedy; --Attention to efforts and action at international, regional and national levels to prevent and combat torture and other ill-treatment within the EU. (Note: Currently, the only EU reference to EU action against torture is made in relation to EU external policies. End Note.); --Prevention of violations in the course of EU Member State participation in CIA illegal rendition and secret prison programs; --Development of a strong stance against the use of diplomatic assurances to expel terrorist suspects to countries where they would be at risk for torture or other ill-treatment. SILVERMAN