International Day in Support of Victims of Torture
- 26 June, 2020
“I heard the voice of my friend screaming in pain. I
turned my head to see three security officers hitting him hard. One using an
electric wire cable, the second using his bare hands, and the third was hitting
him hard with the butt of the rifle.”
– Awad Haroun, Survivor of Citibank ghost house
Over the past few years, GATS managed to document many
Ghost Houses. Here are some infamous examples:
2. Elde’ain Street ghost house in Nyala
3. 114 ghost house in Meddani
4. Airport district ghost house in Atbara
5. Security HQ ghost house in Geddarif
6. Former EPLF hospital in Port Sudan (one of the worst Ghost Houses)
- All government records (past and present) of torture be made Public Records (specifically those sealed cabinets stored at Citibank Ghost House)
- Transition Citibank ghost house into the National Museum of Torture
- Pass a Transitional Justice Act into law that is led by torture survivors nationwide
- Remove all time limitations for survivors to File Court Claims in regards to torture
Once these demands have been
met, the real work of healing/wellness begins. Survivors and their families not
only need compensatory and punitive damages awarded but an entire reconfiguration
of the mental and emotional health systems or lack thereof in the country.
Physical therapy needs to also be accessible and funded by the government.
Rehabilitation programs must be created and properly staffed to aide in the
healing and care of our communities. Now is time to hold these human rights
violators accountable and provide the adequate support to survivors and their
families.
GATS want to thank the
international human rights community for the continued support and pressure it
has placed on the deposed regime to listen to its people. We respectfully petition
that they and the rest of the world continue to advocate for survivors of
torture in Sudan.
