No torture survivor should ever have to worry that they could be sent back into the hands of their torturers.
Yet recently the UK and other European Governments have been discussing the “interpretation” of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights – which guarantees protection against torture and other inhumane treatment.
Last month the UK Government was a willing player in efforts at the Council of Europe to narrow the interpretation of “inhuman or degrading treatment” for certain groups, stoking fears that this could lead to a watering down of vital protections against torture.
It is more important than ever that this Government stands firm in its commitment to upholding and defending the torture ban, and rejects any steps that could risk weakening it.
Just last year the leader of Reform UK, Nigel Farage outlined a plan to work with the Taliban to return people to Afghanistan. It's shocking to hear any British politician tout policies that would risk sending survivors back into the hands of torturers. Such proposals can cause deep anxiety for torture survivors who are trying to rebuild their lives in safety.
Rather than taking steps that could chip away at protections against torture, this Government should make crystal clear that the torture ban is not negotiable, now or in the future, and that the UK must always be a place of safety for survivors. Add your voice now.
