The World Council of Churches’ (WCC) general secretary, Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia gave comment on the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, which took place on 26th June.

Rev. Kobia said, "Although there is no human practice so abominable or so widely condemned, physical and mental torture and other forms of cruel and inhuman treatment are now on the increase and are applied systematically in many countries, to the extent that practically no nation can claim to be free of them. The inhuman treatment of helpless men and women in the Abu Ghraib prison in Baghdad that shocked people all over the world a few weeks ago is a recent and tragic example. Torture in all its forms remains a violation of the absolute gospel value of the dignity of the human person and the sacredness of life that the WCC upholds.”

Kobia continued, "The sad fact that the horrible practice of degrading people, subjecting them to physical and psychological torture continues to be practiced at local and international levels in all the regions of the world, whether in the northern or southern hemisphere, is largely due to the fact that national governments have failed to ratify international norms and standards in order to make them applicable to local and national situations."

Kobia also took the time to commend and give the WCC’s full support to organisations that tirelessly work and fight against torture. In particular, Kobia mentioned ‘Action by Christians for the Abolition of Torture’ (ACAT) for mention, and pointed out ACAT’s struggles “to bring to an end the culture of impunity that plagues many of our societies particularly in the South.”

ACAT and the WCC share the similar belief that the “common objective of the abolition of capital punishment which the members of the WCC see as a significant expression of the Christian belief in the sanctity of life.”

Rev. Dr. Kobia acknowledged the cooperation seen between the two organisations in the past during a meeting with leaders of ACAT’s International Federation on 11th June 2004. At the meeting, Kobia gave recognition to the past relationship and also declared the intention of both groups to continue and further develop the connection in their common struggle against torture in the world.