Spotlight on torture

On June 26th, activists all over the world joined in an 'International Day in Support of Victims of Torture' by calling on governments to reaffirm their commitment to the consensus first affirmed after the Second World War - that torture and other ill-treatment are absolutely prohibited. Members of Amnesty International held events in Luxembourg, Portugal, Denmark, Ireland, Belgium, Australia, New Zealand and the United States as part of their Counter Terror with Justice campaign. You can read about the events in their campaign activism blog, or view images from the day of action on the 'Counter Terror with Justice' Flickr Photostream.

In commemoration of victims of torture all over the world, Amnesty International also released this video, titled 'Torture must Never be Justified', featuring interviews with The Elders Jimmy Carter and Mary Robinson.

Amnesty International is calling on all governments to: condemn all forms of torture and other ill-treatment; prevent torture, including through ending secret and incommunicado detention; and hold to account those responsible for authorising, facilitating, or inflicting torture or other ill-treatment.

• The Every Human Has Rights campaign partner is calling for members to take action by sending an email to President Nicolas Sarkozy, urging him to lead the EU Council in action to end rendition and secret detention; writing the Tunisian government to demand it takes steps to end torture and other ill-treatment; and to sign onto a call demanding that the US government ends illegal detentions.