Torture is used to punish people, to obtain information, or to make people afraid. Wherever torture is practised, people are afraid to speak out, in case they or members of their family will be attacked or tortured themselves. According to the UN Convention against Torture, no one must ever practise torture. Torture is forbidden and there is no excuse for using it. You might see a torture victim on the television or you might sit next to one in class, and you would not know.
Torture can happen to anyone.
In some countries, children are tortured. They may be tortured to upset their parents, or as punishment for a small crime such as stealing a loaf of bread. Children who are homeless, and forced to live on the streets, may also be tortured because they are not welcome to live in the area. Children can also victims of torture victims in another way, even if they are not tortured themselves. When a child's mother or father has been tortured, the child may feel angry or sad that their parent is no longer able to care for them.