The year kicked off with our first Baraza By the Fire (BBF) on the 26th of February 2022 at Roots Restaurant in Nakasero. “Towards the End of Torture” was a two-part series that dove deep into the Collective Voice and Action against torture AND Unearthing the Roots of Victim-Blaming.
Is a collective voice against torture possible? And what social structures should provide this voice? Why is victim-blaming still happening against torture victims? And how did it start in the first place? These were some of the questions that drove the discussion. From the thoughts shared by the participants in the discussion, a few points were brought to light:
First, the topic in itself insinuated that everyone WANTS to end torture. Which may not necessarily be the case. Some people believe that those who are tortured, deserve it. Even the Western World which often speaks out against torture is running torture chambers within their countries. Here in Uganda, torture exists either between individuals or on individuals by the state.
Further discussion revealed that the mindsets and value system we have been raised with here in Uganda have made a collective voice against torture impossible. The use of extreme forms of violence as a form of discipline has made torture seemingly justifiable in our society.
However, the situation surrounding torture is not without hope. Steps on how to begin the journey towards the end of torture were discussed: identifying and documenting stories of torture is one such step. As these stories are found, people’s curiosity will awaken and ignorance around the topic will reduce. Engaging in conversations where torture is discussed within our areas of influence will also create more awareness about the topic. Social media can also be used to publicize instances of torture and discuss with different social groups that may otherwise be geographically separated.
These steps can be spearheaded by social structures that can provide a collective voice against torture:
Artists, who can easily rally people together around a common cause. Identifying and celebrating ‘unifiers’ such as elderly statesmen, who can bring different individual voices together to form one unified collective voice. Cultural institutions and political formations also have the ability to galvanize the masses under one unified voice. They should be encouraged to set their differences aside and be united so that they can unite others for a common cause.
Torture has existed in humanity since the dawn of time. Ending it will be no easy feat. But through intentional discussion with communities and leaders, the journey to the end of torture can begin, and the first of one thousand steps can begin to take shape.
By Interface Team
