REDRESS' International Legal Advisor Lorna McGregor at a hearing before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
Casework
Case Docket | Examples | Assistance
REDRESS works to combat torture by seeking justice and reparation for torture survivors from all over the world. This is a survivor’s right and a vital step in their recovery process. REDRESS also works to ensure that torturers are punished and that governments uphold the absolute prohibition on torture.
Our current work currently covers torture and related crimes in more than 40 countries around the world, with over 100 active cases relating to more than 1200 survivors before national and international courts.
Success stories:
- REDRESS brought the case of Necati Zontul to the European Court of Human Rights. The Court found that the rape by Greek coastguards constituted torture and ordered Greece to pay him €50 000 in compensation. Press release.
- REDRESS took the case of Ebenezer Akwanga, political activist from Cameroon, who was tortured in prison and tried before a military tribunal to the United Nations Human Rights Committee. The Committee found that Cameroon breached Ebenezer's right to be free from torture and the right to a fair trial. Ebenezer said: "I felt for once vindicated and relieved from the constant necessity to explain what happened to me and its consequences on my psychological wellbeing".
- REDRESS took the case of Leopold Garcia, a Chilean torture survivor, to the Inter-American Commission. It was deemed admissible, and later refered to the Inter-American Court. A public hearing is expected in 2012.
- REDRESS intervened for relatives of Baha Mousa, seeking compensation for his torture and subsequent death in a British military base in Basra, an Iraqi civilian tortured to death by British soldiers.
- REDRESS has Bahraini nationals in efforts to seek justice for systematic torture.
- REDRESS brought the case of Albert Wilson, to the UN Human Rights Committee. In 1996, he was arrested for rape, in what turned out to be fabricated charges as part of a plot to extort money from him. He was imprisoned and tortured and found guilty and placed on ‘death row’. The UN Committee ordered the Philippines Government to afford him with an appropriate remedy. REDRESS is now working to have his remedy enforced in the Philippines.
- REDRESS is supporting UK nationals who were tortured in Saudi Arabia to get remedies.
- REDRESS took on the case of Patson Muzuwa and another Zimbabwean who were allegedly tortured by a Zimbabwean, then policeman, Henry Dowa. REDRESS publicised the case in a report, which resulted in an investigation and the termination of Henry Dowa's later employment with the United Nations.
- REDRESS is helping to advance the case of Kamylia Tueni, a UAE citizen, who suffered severe ill-treatment after being rendered from Kenya to Somalia and then to Ethiopia as part of counter-terrorism operations in the context of the "War on Terror".
- REDRESS is assisting a number of Peruvian torture survivors with claims in the Inter-American Commission.
- REDRESS has brought a number of cases of torture in Sudan to the African Commission on Human & Peoples’ Rights.
- Working with torture and rape survivors in the Maldives and Nepal with the help of local human rights groups. REDRESS has filed several cases of Nepali victims who have suffered sexual violence amounting to torture before the UN Human Rights Commission.
