In this episode of the 39A Dialogues, commemorating the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, human rights lawyers Babloo Lointongbam (Human Rights Alert, Manipur) and Henri Tiphagne (People’s Watch, Tamil Nadu) share their experiences of working, supporting and building relationships with victims of torture.
Reflecting on their decades of interventions, Babloo and Henri tell us about their own journeys in coming to grips with the nature and frequency of torture in their contexts, and highlight the central role of victim-survivors, and their families, in documentation and litigation efforts, amongst other strategies for justice. They offer tales of empowerment, and point to the importance of psychological support and rehabilitation of torture survivors. At the same time, their challenges remind us that the criminal justice system continues to shield torture and block redress.
