On 30 June 2026, High Representative/Vice-President Kaja Kallas issued a statement on the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, reaffirming the EU's commitment to the global prohibition of torture and its support for victims worldwide. The statement, published by the European External Action Service (EEAS), underscores the EU's stance against torture as an absolute and non-derogable right under international law, and calls on all states to uphold their obligations under the UN Convention against Torture and other relevant instruments.
The statement reiterates the EU's longstanding position that torture is never justified, regardless of the circumstances, and highlights the EU's active role in promoting the eradication of torture through diplomatic channels, funding for rehabilitation centres, and support for civil society organisations working with victims. It also emphasises the EU's commitment to holding perpetrators accountable and ensuring that victims have access to justice and reparations.
This annual declaration follows similar statements by previous High Representatives, including Josep Borrell, who in past years used the occasion to condemn the use of torture in specific countries and to call for the ratification of the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture. The 2026 statement, while not detailing new measures or specific country cases, serves as a reaffirmation of the EU's principled position on this human rights issue.
The statement has no direct regulatory or financial impact on EU member states or businesses, as it is a declaratory act without binding legal force. It primarily serves as a diplomatic signal to non-EU countries and as a morale boost for human rights defenders and victim support organisations. The main stakeholders affected are civil society groups working on anti-torture advocacy, which may use the statement to bolster their campaigns, and victims of torture, who may see it as a symbolic gesture of solidarity. No new funding, legislation, or enforcement mechanisms are announced.