Torture

"Once governments use or allow torture, no one is safe. Almost anyone can be a victim, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity or politics. (...)

However, some individuals and groups are more vulnerable than others. (...) People belonging to a particular religious or other minority group, or targeted because of their identity, also face increased risk. (...) Many victims come from already disadvantaged groups: women; children; members of ethnic minorities; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people; and, overwhelmingly, the poor. These are the very people who find access to redress difficult or impossible. (...)



Rape and other sexual attacks on women by state agents are reported in many countries. Women may have less access to legal remedies and be subject to discriminatory laws, making it even harder for them to secure justice for torture.

Both women and men – but mostly women – are subject to gender-based torture, including in the form of rape and other sexual violence. Some forms of torture and other ill-treatment are unique to women including forced abortions, denial of abortions, forced sterilization and female genital mutilation. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex prisoners will also be targeted in different ways from heterosexual prisoners. For example, transgender prisoners are often held in facilities for their gender at birth rather than their gender of choice, and lesbian and gay prisoners will more often be targeted for sexual and other violence than heterosexual prisoners, whether by other prisoners/detainees or prison staff.



Measures to combat torture must therefore be gender-sensitive and gender inclusive as well as being sensitive and inclusive of the specific measures needed to ensure the protection of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons."
Amnesty International, 2014



via Torture in 2014. 30 Years of Broken Promises. Amnesty International