Rehabilitation Centre for Torture Victims
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What is Torture?
26 of June
United Nation Day in support of Victims of Torture
What is Torture?
What is torture?
Torture is the intentional infliction of severe pain or suffering for a specific purpose. The aim of torture is not to kill the victim, but to break down the victim’s personality. Torture is often used to:
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punish a person
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obtain information or a confession from a person
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take revenge on a person
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create terror and fear within a population.
What kind of torture exist?
Methods of physical and psychological torture are remarkably similar worldwide. Most techniques seek to prolong the victims’ pain and fear for as long as possible without leaving visible evidence.
Some of the most common methods of physical torture include:
Some of the most common methods of physical torture include:
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beating
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electric shocks
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stretching
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submersion
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suffocation
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burns
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rape and sexual assault.
Common methods of psychological torture include:
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isolation
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threats
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humiliation
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mock executions
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witnessing the torture of others.
What are the effects of torture?
People who have been tortured are often very afraid that they will be tortured again, and they may suffer from serious physical and psychological problems. It may be very difficult for them to trust another person again, even their closest friends or family. They may have nightmares, and they may no longer be able to concentrate or to be around other people. The consequences of torture reach far beyond immediate pain. Many victims suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which includes symptoms such as:
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flashbacks (or intrusive thoughts)
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severe anxiety
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insomnia
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nightmares
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depression
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memory lapses.
Torture victims often feel guilt and shame, triggered by the humiliation they have endured. Many feel that they have betrayed themselves or their friends and family. All such symptoms are normal human responses to abnormal and inhumane treatment.
Who are the victims of torture?
Torture victims can include politicians, union leaders, student leaders, religious leaders, journalists, people who are in detention centres or prisons, or ordinary people like you and me. 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 can also be victims of torture 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 its parent is no longer able to care for it. It may feel that its parent doesn’t love it or want it anymore. Often, when parents are tortured, they are not able to care for their child in the same way that they did before the torture took place, because the parent is suffering badly. Victims of torture do not suffer alone. In many cases, the victims’ families and friends are also affected. The broader society may also be indirectly affected. The use of torture sends a strong warning to those within a political, social, or religious opposition.
How widespread is torture in the world?
Torture is prohibited under international law. A number of international conventions and treaties condemn torture. They place a special responsibility on governments to stop torture from taking place. The most important of these is the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, which entered into force in 1987. Governments that are party to the UN Convention have committed themselves to preventing torture in their own country, and to providing for the needs of torture victims, including as full rehabilitation as possible.
However, torture continues to be practised regularly in up to 100 countries, including countries that are parties to the UN Convention. For this reason, the IRCT actively lobbies governments to ratify and implement the UN Convention, as part of our commitment to the eradication of torture worldwide.
“... ‘torture’ means any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him or a third person information or a confession, punishing him for an act he or a third person has committed or is suspected of having committed, or intimidating or coercing him or a third person, or for any reason based on discrimination of any kind, when such pain or suffering is inflicted by or at the instigation of or with the consent or acquiescence of a public official or other person acting in an official capacity. It does not include pain or suffering arising only from, inherent in or incidental to lawful sanctions.”
(United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, Article 1(1).)
However, torture continues to be practised regularly in up to 100 countries, including countries that are parties to the UN Convention. For this reason, the IRCT actively lobbies governments to ratify and implement the UN Convention, as part of our commitment to the eradication of torture worldwide.
“... ‘torture’ means any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him or a third person information or a confession, punishing him for an act he or a third person has committed or is suspected of having committed, or intimidating or coercing him or a third person, or for any reason based on discrimination of any kind, when such pain or suffering is inflicted by or at the instigation of or with the consent or acquiescence of a public official or other person acting in an official capacity. It does not include pain or suffering arising only from, inherent in or incidental to lawful sanctions.”
(United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, Article 1(1).)
About Rehabilitation
The consequences of torture are very serious. Torture victims are no longer the same people they used to be and it is very important that they receive some kind of help and care. Such help is called rehabilitation, and it is important that torture victims receive rehabilitation so that they can recover from the experience they have had.
Around 200 rehabilitation centres around the world are helping to rehabilitate people who have been affected by torture. Doctors, physiotherapists, psychologists, and nurses provide health care; lawyers, social workers and others help torture victims to establish or reestablish themselves in their community and to rebuild relationships with their friends and family. According to the UN Convention against Torture, all States should ensure that victims of torture are able to receive compensation and rehabilitation.
What is rehabilitation?
The aim of rehabilitation is to empower the torture victims to resume as full a life as possible. To this end, rehabilitation centres use a variety of different treatment approaches, taking into account victims’ individual needs, as well as the cultural, social, and political environment. Rehabilitation centres offer a range of treatment, support and counselling, including:
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medical care/psychotherapeutic treatment
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psychosocial support/trauma treatment
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legal services and redress
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social reintegration
In the case of asylum seekers and refugees, these services may include assisting in documentation of torture for the asylum decision, language classes and help in finding somewhere to live and in finding work.
The family members become secondary victims and therefore they also need support. In the worst case, torture can affect several generations. The after-effects of torture often place great strain on the entire family. Therefore, other members of the victim’s family – in particular the spouse and children – are often given treatment and counselling. Children are particularly affected by torture. They often suffer from a feeling of guilt or personal responsibility for what has happened.
Rebuilding the life of someone whose dignity has been destroyed takes time. Health professionals and other caregivers need to gain the trust and confidence of their clients, and need to be available for the client whenever needed.
Rebuilding the life of someone whose dignity has been destroyed takes time. Health professionals and other caregivers need to gain the trust and confidence of their clients, and need to be available for the client whenever needed.
Rehabilitation centres play a key role
The impact of rehabilitation centres on society is often far-reaching. Torture is a political act, and so too is the rehabilitation of torture victims. Centres therefore play a key role in promoting democracy, and respect for human rights. Rehabilitation centres provide support and hope, and act as a symbol of triumph over the terror of torture. Through the following activities, a centre can play a role in the promotion of democracy, co-existence, and respect for human rights:
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awareness
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reporting
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media
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campaigns
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local community development
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documentation
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training
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education
Reconstructing broken societies
After wars and other serious conflicts, regular support networks and structures have often been destroyed. Rehabilitation programmes for torture victims need to be closely integrated with broader community-oriented initiatives. Providing psychosocial support to victims of torture and other acts of organised violence can help reconstruct broken societies. Health professionals and other caregivers need to collaborate closely with local authorities, social service providers, and human rights NGOs to address the needs of torture victims and their families.