[psych-hr] The Syros Declaration on Torture, Terrorism, and War

THE SYROS DECLARATION ON TORTURE, TERRORISM, AND WAR
The recent events in the United States and the subsequent war in
Afghanistan once again focused our attention on the continuing atrocities
and conflicts throughout the world.

WE, THE UNDERSIGNED
members of the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims
(IRCT), representing health professionals caring for survivors of torture
throughout the world, gathered at the annual Council meeting on the Island
of Syros, Greece, 30 October  2 November, 2001

EXPRESS OUR DEEP CONCERN ABOUT:
I       The devastating losses to individuals, their families, and
communities resulting from the 11th September 11 terrorist attacks on the
United States and the subsequent attacks on Afghanistan;
II.     The adverse health consequences of  torture, terrorism, and war;
III.    The increasing polarisation resulting from fear for safety from
terrorism;
IV.     The proposed and actual use of torture to extract information from
detainees and alleged terrorists.

CONSIDERING THAT:
I.      Since its founding, the IRCT has observed the suffering and
enormous loss of life resulting from torture and repression worldwide;
II.     Many innocent persons died in the September 11 terrorist attacks on
the World Trade Center in New York and on the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.,
as well as the subsequent attacks on Afghanistan. This has had devastating
psychological, physical, and economic consequences for all populations,
especially the survivors and their families;
III.    The war in Afghanistan has resulted in increasing levels of racism
and intolerance, and has eroded a culture of human rights;
IV.     War has provided repressive regimes justification for increasing
repression and using torture;
V       Societies have been destabilised by torture, terrorism, and war,
which also threaten civil liberties in democracies;
VI      Governmental policies, human rights violations, social injustice,
and political oppression have fuelled terrorism.

HAVING NOTED THAT:
I.      All communities are at risk for adverse health consequences as a
result of torture, terrorism, and war, which increase intolerance,
violence, and feelings of terror;
II.     Survivors of torture, terrorism, and war often suffer from
traumatic stress disorders, which can be exacerbated by additional acts of
violence;
III.    The use of torture is prohibited under any circumstances and for
any reason by the UN Convention Against Torture and other Inhuman or
Degrading Treatment or Punishment, ratified by 126 countries.

WE CALL UPON:
I.      The attacks on Afghanistan and the Middle East to cease immediately;
II.     Governments, organisations, and individuals to find alternative non
violent resolution to conflicts;
III.    Governments, organisations and individuals to work towards the
elimination of the root causes of torture, terrorism, and war;
IV.     Governments, organisations, and individuals to work towards
promoting a culture of human rights, peace and an end to  war and armed
conflicts;
V.      International communities to share the responsibility of  providing
protection of refugees and  of supporting countries which receive refugees
to keep their borders open;
VI.     International communities to include mental health care as part of
relief activities for refugees displaced by war;
VII.    Political groups to use international organisations and conventions
to resolve conflicts and to  ensure the protection of human rights for all
the peoples of the world;
VIII.   Governments to respect the absolute prohibition of the use of
torture and extra-judicial killings in all circumstances.

Given in Syros, Greece, on the Second Day of the Month of November of the
Year Two Thousand and One


Maria Piniou-Kalli, MD, Medical Director of MRCT, Greece
Jørgen Nystrup, MD, Psychiatrist, Chairman of RCT, Denmark
Christian Pross, MD, Medical Director of BZFO, Germany
Anthony P. Reeler, Psychologist, Clinical Director of AMANI, Zimbabwe
Bhogendra Sharma, MD, Medical Director of CVICT, Nepal
Kirsten Stallknecht, RN, Board Member RCT, Denmark
Arno Aadamsoo, MD, Psychiatrist, Executive Director of MRT, Estonia
Okan Akhan, MD, Professor, Former Secretary-General of HRFT, Turkey
Juan Almendares, MD, Executive Director of CPTRT, Honduras
Anita Apsite, MD, Medical Director of SMRC, Latvia
Keith Carmichael, Executive Director of Redress, UK
Camelia Doru, MD, Medical Director of ICAR, Bucharest, Romania
Semyon Gluzman, MD, Psychiatrist, Director of IRC, Ukraine
Douglas Johnson, Executive Director of CVT, USA
Ling Merete Kituyi, MD, The Independent Medico-Legal Unit, Kenya
Diana Kordon, MD, Psychiatrist, Co-ordinator of EATIP, Argentina
Carlos Madariaga, MD, Psychiatrist, Medical Director of CINTRAS, Chile
Abdallah Mansour, MD, Director of El Nadim Centre, Egypt
Aldo Martin, MD, Psychiatrist, Executive Co-ordinator of SERSOC, Uruguay
Vivienne Nathanson, MD, Professor, Chair of BMA Steering Group on Human
Rights, UK
Samuel Nsamba, MD, Medical Director of ACTV, Uganda
Regina Benevides de Barros, Grupo Tortura Nunca Mais/RJ, Brazil
Khalida Salimi, Director of SACH, Pakistan
Dimocritos Sarantidis, Psychiatrist, President of MRCT, Greece
Eyad El Sarraj, MD, Psychiatrist, Director of GCMHP, Palestine
Joan Simalchik, MA, Canadian Network for Health and Human Rights of
Survivors of Torture and Organized Violence, Canada
Jagdish C. Sobti, MD, India
Nomfundo Walasa, MA, Director of TCVVT, South Africa
Ole Vedel Rasmussen, MD, DMSc, Member of CPT and CAT, Consultant at IRCT,
(co-opted to IRCT Council)

Secretary-General of the IRCT, Jens Modvig, MD PhD

Staff of the IRCT





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