Last Updated: September 26, 2025By Categories:

Joint Statement: Commemorating the UN International Day in Support of Victims of Torture

On June 26, the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, the Kenya Workers Rights and Harmonization Program (KWRHP) stands in solidarity with the Mwatikho Torture Survivors Foundation (MATESOF) and the global network of the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT).

This day serves as a powerful reminder of our shared commitment to a world free from torture and ill-treatment. It is a day to honour the incredible strength of survivors and to reaffirm their fundamental right to rehabilitation and justice.

Torture is a profound violation of human dignity that seeks to destroy an individual’s personality. Its effects ripple through families and communities, leaving deep physical and psychological scars. As an organization dedicated to the holistic well-being and rights of workers, KWRHP recognizes that victims of torture, including trade unionists and human rights defenders, often face significant barriers to re-entering the workforce and rebuilding their lives.

A Shared Mission for Healing and Justice

Our partnership with MATESOF on this day is a natural alignment of our missions. While MATESOF specializes in providing crucial psychosocial support, medical care, and legal aid to survivors of torture, KWRHP contributes its expertise in economic empowerment and workplace reintegration.

Together, we advocate for:

  • Justice and Accountability: Ensuring perpetrators of torture are held accountable.

  • Comprehensive Rehabilitation: Upholding every survivor’s right to full rehabilitation, as outlined by the UN Convention against Torture and the work of the IRCT.

  • Dignity through Livelihood: Creating pathways for survivors to regain economic independence and social dignity through skills training and fair employment opportunities.

Our amazing team Commemorating the UN International Day in Support of Victims of Torture

Standing United Against Torture and for the Right to Rehabilitation

Our Pledge

On this June 26, and every day, KWRHP and MATESOF pledge to continue our collaborative efforts to:

  1. Amplify the voices of torture survivors.

  2. Advocate for policies that protect against torture and support survivors.

  3. Provide integrated services that address the legal, psychosocial, and economic needs of those affected.

We stand united in the belief that healing is possible and that every survivor deserves a future defined by hope, not by their past suffering.

#UnitedAgainstTorture #June26 #RightToRehab


About the Partners:

  • KWRHP champions the rights and welfare of workers in Kenya through legal aid, advocacy, and empowerment programs.

  • MATESOF is a dedicated foundation providing holistic rehabilitation services to survivors of torture and organized violence in Kenya.

  • The IRCT is a global network of over 160 rehabilitation centers working to end torture and promote victims’ right to rehabilitation.

Related projects