Memo: 26 June – International Day against Torture. The fight against torture: a key priority for the EU

The prevention and the eradication of all forms of torture and ill-treatment within the EU and worldwide is one of the main objectives of the EU human rights policy. The EU Guidelines on Torture, adopted in 2001, provide the general framework for EU action in this area towards third countries, as well as in multilateral human rights fora. These Guidelines foresee the use of all available tools of diplomacy and co-operation, most notably through political dialogue, demarches and assistance under the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR), and the EU pursues a policy of raising the issue of torture systematically with third countries. The EU is currently carrying out its 'Global action plan' on torture, consisting in demarches to all countries on the issue of torture and ill-treatment. Issues raised in the course of these demarches include the ratification or implementation of the UN Convention against Torture (UNCAT), pending requests to visit from the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture and torture issues and cases relevant to the specific country.