June 26, 2017 (Geneva/DC/Vienna/Amsterdam) - Today, on the occasion of the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture,we commemorate and honour victims and survivors of torture, and reaffi rm our commitment to continuing to work together and with partners around the world to combat torture in all its forms, and in all places.

At the same time, we remain vigilant against the threat of torture and other ill-treatment, and cognizant of the fact that torture can happen anywhere,anytime, and to anybody.

How can we rid ourselves of this world-wide scourge? In combating this abhorrent practice, we must first identifythe risks of torture andthen find solutions to reduce and eliminatethem.

It is well-known that the risk of torture and other ill-treatment issignifi cantly greater during the fi rst hours of police custody. To prevent torture during this heightened period of risk, safeguards such as access to a lawyer and notification of relativesmust be put in place and implemented in practice.

The independent study "Does Torture Prevention Work?" which looked at 16 countries over a 30-year period, commissioned by the Association for the Prevention of Torture, found that such safeguards, when applied in practice, are the most effective means to prevent torture.

There are thus a number of feasible steps that States cJune 26, 2017 (Geneva/DC/Vienna/Amsterdam) - Today, on the occasion of the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture,we commemorate and honour victims and survivors of torture, and reaffi rm our commitment to continuing to work together and with partners around the world to combat torture in all its forms, and in all places.

At the same time, we remain vigilant against the threat of torture and other ill-treatment, and cognizant of the fact that torture can happen anywhere,anytime, and to anybody.

How can we rid ourselves of this world-wide scourge? In combating this abhorrent practice, we must fi rst identifythe risks of torture andthen fi nd solutions to reduce and eliminatethem.

It is well-known that the risk of torture and other ill-treatment issignifi cantly greater during the first hours of police custody.

To prevent torture during this heightened period of risk, safeguards such as access to a lawyer and notifi cation of relativesmust be put in place and implemented in practice.

The independent study "Does Torture Prevention Work?" which looked at 16 countries over a 30-year period, commissioned by the Association for the Prevention of Torture, found that such safeguards, when applied in practice, are the most effective means to prevent torture.

There are thus a number of feasible steps that States can take to effectively prevent torture.an take to effectively prevent torture.

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