[The Declaration was jointly adopted by the UN Committee against Torture, the Board of Trustees of the Voluntary Fund. for Victims of Torture, the Special Rapporteur of the UN Commission on Human Rights on Question relating to Torture and the High Commissioner for Human Rights on 26 June, 1998 to commemorate the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture - Editor.]

The Joint Declaration,

Recalling the appeal against torture of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, in Copenhagen  on 28 June, 1994, in which he stated that ending torture is a beginning of true respect for the most basic of all human rights: the intrinsic dignity and value of each individual.

Welcoming the decision of the General Assembly to declare 26 June the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture.

Recognising that torture is one of the vilest acts to be perpetrated by human beings upon each others;

Recognising that torture is prohibited by Article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;

Recognising that torture is a breach of a non-derogable human right and a crime under international law;

Urges all States to ratify the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment without reservation, if they have not already done so.

Urges States Parties to the Convention which have not yet accepted its optional provisions to do so as soon as possible.

Urges all States to ensure that torture is a crime in their domestic law and to rigorously pursue perpetrators whenever the act was committed and bring them to justice;

Urges all States to provide for compensation and rehabilitation of the victims of torture in their domestic law; ...

Urges all States to cooperate with the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture in fulfilling its mandate when requested to do so;

Considers that, by these means, the vile crime of torture may be condemned and suppressed by all the people of the world.