In recent years, we have witnessed a surge in torture and excessive use of force against civilians in countries such as Belarus, Bangladesh, Myanmar, the US, France, Egypt, Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Sudan, and Venezuela. The widespread use of torture is closely linked to persistent impunity, whereby those in power are enabled to commit human rights abuses without fear of repercussion. This culture of impunity erodes the rule of law, fuels inequality, and perpetuates cycles of violence.

There is an urgent need to address both the prevalence of torture and the root causes which have allowed it to grow. But the threat of torture is too big to tackle alone. This year, REDRESS joined the United Against Torture consortium and the Global Initiative Against Impunity to strengthen collective efforts to confront torture and impunity in an increasingly volatile world.

Survivors and civil society play a fundamental role in advancing justice and accountability efforts. A key objective of both the United Against Torture consortium and the Global Initiative Against Impunity is supporting different anti-torture actors, networks, and movements, as well as empowering survivors in their journey for justice and accountability.

REDRESS also seeks to enhance a global community of practice to advance cases against torture through our Solidarity programme. REDRESS hosted litigation workshops with national partners to facilitate mutual learning in strategic litigation against torture. We published practice notes on Reparation for Torture Survivors and a Survivor-Centred Approach to Seeking Reparation for Torture as tools to help practitioners better support survivors in their pursuit of justice.

REDRESS also provides some financial support to partners through grants, such as our Innovative Lawyer Awards. These grants recognise the work of our partners in the anti-torture movement, many of whom are operating in challenging contexts that are hostile to human rights, and contribute to their work on strategic litigation on behalf of survivors.

Confronting the global rise of torture is no mean feat. Perpetrators do not relinquish power easily, and efforts to hold them accountable are often met with resistance. But working together with survivors and civil society, we can take steps to hold perpetrators accountable and make justice a reality.