High Representative/Vice-President Kaja Kallas, in a statement on 26 June 2026 marking the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, condemned the persistent use of torture worldwide and reaffirmed the European Union's commitment to combating it through sanctions, legislation, and support for survivors. The statement highlights that torture remains a tool to silence political dissent and suppress fundamental freedoms, despite being absolutely prohibited under international law.
The EU has placed the fight against torture high on its political agenda. Kallas noted that EU sanctions target individuals and entities involved or complicit in torture or ill-treatment, and that the EU was the first region globally to ban the trade in tools of torture under EU law. The EU continues to work closely with the 'United Against Torture Consortium', which unites over 200 civil society organisations from more than 100 countries to support judicial processes, reparations, and rehabilitation for survivors.
Accountability and reparations, Kallas argued, must be central to any response, as they restore dignity and agency that torture seeks to destroy. She highlighted the 'Charter of Rights of Victims and Survivors of Torture and other ill-treatment' as a landmark document shaped by survivors. The statement also called on all states to ratify and fully implement the UN Convention against Torture and its Optional Protocol, which provides a framework for independent monitoring of detention facilities.
The statement carries no new policy measures but reiterates existing EU positions and actions. It serves as a diplomatic declaration of solidarity with victims and a call for global adherence to anti-torture norms. The impact on stakeholders is limited: EU sanctions regimes already in place continue to target perpetrators; civil society organisations gain renewed political backing; and survivors see their rights framework reaffirmed. No new legislative or financial commitments were announced.