We all agree that human rights are universally applicable, and should be non-negotiable, unlimited and inviolable.
We all readily make sacrifices in order to defend international human rights. We are prepared to fight so that torture and all other cruel, inhumane and degrading activities eventually come to an end.
We have all certainly experienced different types of abuse, be it directly or indirectly.
We all claim that it is useful and absolutely necessary to uncover the truth, to avoid repeating history and to draw lessons from the past.
We all think that it is crucial the perpetrators of those crimes are judged and held accountable for their crimes.
I have on many different occasions personally suffered cruel, inhuman and degrading behaviour that has physically and mentally scarred me.
In addition to that, I received an official death threat and have lived with 'police surveillance' for over two years at this point.
However, this has not prevented me from feeling irritable and uncomfortable every time I get the impression that I am being treated like a victim.
It is true that when an individual is alone, isolated and attacked from all sides, at the mercy of state representatives who mistreat and bully them at their whim that it seems completely normal that they should perceived and treated like the 'victim'.
However, is it not also the case that many of those who suffer abuse from government agents do not consider themselves victims under any circumstance and absolutely do not want to be referred to as such?
In fact many of the individuals targeted by abuse have voluntarily, deliberately and conscientiously chosen to stand up to and consequently suffer these gross human rights violations.
Many of these individuals have in fact made the choice to express and mobilise themselves and to fight for their values, their principles and rights. They end up paying the price in sacrifices, and sometimes even die in order to defend their beliefs.
Let us therefore discuss the best strategies that will help us to more efficiently defend international human rights. Let us carve out appropriate avenues for protecting human rights defenders, but let us also give credit where credit is due; May we grant activists the credit they deserve by recognising their courage, altruism and heroism. Let us together find new ways of referring to them.
Let us stress that humanity needs and will always need people like that, both men and women alike. People who are prepared to make sacrifices in order to defend their intrinsic human rights and who in doing so, tackle the injustices of this world!
Let us denounce inhumane and criminal practices. However, let us not forget that there are men and women who are prepared to voluntarily expose themselves to these cruelties with the intention of putting an end to it all!
Let us fight against torture and violence with all our might. However, let us publicly honour those that have been subjected to violence, and those that are prepared to face and those who will face violent crimes by describing them as heroes rather than victims.
Let me finally stress that this also applies to individuals that have not been subjected to torture as a result of their opinions or human rights activities. This also applies to individuals that are tortured for having committed or for purportedly having committed offences and common crimes, and to those suffering arbitrary and coincidental abuses for supposed infractions. I have on many occasions encountered people that have difficulties accepting that they are pitied and treated with benevolence. What they expect of us instead is our support, our advice and our encouragement.
Let us fight against torture and violence with all our might. However, let us publicly honour those that have been subjected to violence, and those that are prepared to face and those who will face violent crimes by describing them as heroes rather than victims.
