Amnesty International supporters and members of the public will be marking Cornwall's contribution to the global campaign against torture on Saturday, July 4.

Since 2009 Amnesty International has had reports of torture in 141 countries. In the last year alone it has documented the use of 27 different torture methods with survivors speaking of having pins pushed under their fingernails, being burnt with cigarettes and even being stabbed in custody.

A new global poll, specially commissioned by Amnesty, has revealed that 44 per cent of people around the world fear being tortured in their own country.

Amnesty International Truro Group chair, Hetty Tye, said: "It's easy to feel powerless to stop torture but across Cornwall, hundreds of ordinary members of the public are joining Amnesty International's campaign to highlight the plight of torture victims from Mexico to Morocco and from the Philippines to Uzbekistan.

"In Truro, we are planning a half-hour silent vigil as part of Cornwall's Stop Torture campaign on Saturday. We are calling for people to support this important cause and let governments everywhere know we are following their actions and that torturers will be held to account.

"There's no need to register, just turn-up at 2pm at High Cross (outside Truro Catherdral) wearing something black if possible. We will also have cards to sign to send to authorities in five countries where Amnesty is campaigning on behalf of individual victims of torture. We will have blindfolds carrying the message that Governments mustn't turn a blind eye to torture."

Amnesty's campaign includes calling for lawyers to be present during interrogations, when torture is most likely to happen and for independent doctors to be on hand to examine the health and welfare of detainees.

For more information on Amnesty's campaign, including case studies, visit www.amnesty.org.uk/stoptorture