The international community has resisted the spread of various forms of violence and abuse. But with the outbreak of full-scale war in Ukraine, the situation has worsened. Find out why torture continues and which organizations support torture victims

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The United Nations has introduced many significant days to inform the public and counteract negative social phenomena. On June 26, the United Nations initiated the Day of Support for Victims of Torture, so today we honor the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. 

Torture is one of the most serious crimes a person can commit. Unfortunately, this problem is especially relevant for every Ukrainian, because since the first days of the full-scale invasion, russians have been torturing our citizens.

The other day, the whole world learned the terrible news again: russian inhumans killed underage partisans in occupied Berdiansk.  Unfortunately, unfounded statements of world politicians and days of remembrance do not prevent crimes. Nevertheless, it is important for society to talk about the horrors of war and draw attention to each case because, every word of truth reminds us once again what russians are and what they bring to the world.

Why did the UN establish the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture?

Victims of torture have been commemorated annually on June 26 since 1997. It was on this June day in 1987 that the UN General Assembly approved the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. This document prohibits any kind of torture.

Ukraine has ratified this convention, as has russia, but the aggressor country is not stopped by any agreements.

Unprecedented cruelty: killings of minors

On June 25, two underage guerrillas, Tigran Ogannisyan and Nikita Khanganov, were killed after they killed a russian soldier and a collaborator policeman. This was reported by the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets.

It is not yet known exactly what happened. 

Information about the persecution of the boys appeared in the spring of this year, when they were charged with preparing a sabotage on the railroad. The occupiers called the killed boys terrorists and militants, so we are not surprised that one of the victims, Tigran, had been detained for "anti-russian activities" before. Last fall, the security forces kidnapped and tortured him. 

The story of the 16-year-old guerrillas was publicized in the media, and the European Parliament demanded that the boys be released to the territory controlled by Ukraine. This did not happen, instead Tyhran and Mykyta were placed under house arrest. In his comments on the murder, Dmytro Lubinets noted that Ukraine tried to take the boys out by various means.

The day before the crime, the Berdiansk city military administration reported a shootout in the city, the culprit of which was allegedly Tigran. Later, the occupiers reported that the boys had been killed.

According to the MIA, it is impossible to verify all the facts of the situation, as there is no contact with the relatives of the victims.

Olga Reshetylova, a representative of the Media Initiative for Human Rights, wrote on her Facebook page that the parents have not yet seen the bodies of the boys, and their relatives are being tortured with interrogations and searches.

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Organizations that support victims of torture

Ukrainians have suffered from torture during different historical periods. Unfortunately, the present is not without such horrific events.

We know that many Ukrainian military and civilian prisoners were tortured. Citizens released from captivity tell of beatings, administration of unknown drugs, rape and other types of abuse.

Ukraine does not yet have separately developed programs for the care of victims, but many non-governmental organizations provide medical and psychological support. For example:

• Ukraine without Torture is an organization that works to eradicate torture and ill-treatment from the territory of Ukraine. In addition to this goal, they work to improve the conditions of detainees and prevent torture of citizens in places of detention;

• Bluebird is a non-governmental organization that provides psychological, medical and legal support to families of captured or missing persons, as well as to survivors of captivity;

• HealthRight International - an international organization that protects the rights of people in difficult situations. Activists also work to ensure access to treatment for victims of torture;

• The International Medical Rehabilitation Center is an institution that provides free treatment and rehabilitation to victims of torture and ill-treatment, as well as victims of war and captivity.

Today, on the Day of Support for Victims of Torture, we, Ukrainians, once again remind the world of the evil that continues to violate human rights and commit arbitrariness. Until the world stops the russia and Ukraine returns all its territories, the crimes will continue. 

In early June, we honored the dead children who became victims of aggression. Follow the link to read how many lives russia has taken.

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