RCT International brochure

A strong partner in the fight against torture in North Africa and the Middle East Rehabilitation and Research Centre for Torture Victims (RCT)

Leading research centre, provider of first class rehabilitation, and pioneer in the fight against torture

About RCT Based in Copenhagen – and with offices in Tunisia and in the US - RCT is an independent knowledge centre with 30 years of experience in the following fields: - Rehabilitation of victims of torture and organised violence - Prevention of torture and organised violence - Research into causes and consequences of torture as well as rehabilitative and preventive interventions -

Preventing and eradicating torture RCT’s global work to prevent torture is based on the United Nations Convention against Torture (UNCAT) and its Optional Protocol (OPCAT). During the course of our long-standing efforts to contribute to the eradication of torture we have developed five complementary strategies. In North Africa and the Middle East we promote and help implement these strategies in cooperation with local partners: 1. Reforming national legislation

Creating a national legal framework that is consistent with international human rights standards is crucial to the prevention and eradication of torture. RCT works with local partners to ensure that national laws contain the necessary provisions and safeguards to protect individuals from torture and to ensure torture victims’ right to reparation, including compensation and rehabilitation.

2. Reforming institutions within national criminal justice systems

Influencing the policies and practices of the justice administration is crucial to curb torture. Whenever feasible RCT works with the police, the prosecution, the judiciary and the prison sector to strengthen their capacity to investigate, prosecute and punish alleged crimes with due regard to international standards of humane treatment, lawful detention and fair trial. We also seek to enhance these institutions’ ability to prevent and punish acts of torture.

RCT

works with local partners to ensure that national laws contain the necessary provisions and safeguards to protect individuals from torture.

3. Independent monitoring of places of detention

Regular inspection of places of detention by independent national and international bodies is one of the most effective ways of preventing torture. The purpose of such inspections is to examine the treatment of persons deprived of their liberty and the conditions under which they are held. Recommendations for improvements of laws, policies and practices on the ground are made through a constructive dialogue with the responsible central and local authorities. RCT builds capacity among independent local organisations to undertake such scrutiny and dialogue.nsation and rehabilitation.

4. Promoting access to justice for torture victims

Access to justice lies at the heart of the right for torture victims to a remedy and reparation for their pain and suffering. This includes equal access to an effective judicial remedy and an enforceable right to reparation in the form of financial compensation, rehabilitation and guarantees on non-repetition. RCT seeks to translate this fundamental human right into practice by supporting the creation of legal aid schemes for individual victims as well as the establishment of capacity to document acts of torture in order to produce evidence that can be used in legal proceedings.

5. Advocacy through the international human rights system

Building international pressure on states can be an efficient tool – and in some instances the only tool - to increase compliance with their international human rights obligations, notably the Convention against Torture. To this end, RCT and local partners conduct advocacy vis-à-vis the UN human rights system, EU institutions and governments.

This includes reporting on our partner countries’ compliance – or lack thereof – with the Convention against Torture to the Committee against Torture and the Special Rapporteur on Torture.

RCT - Leading research centre, provider of first class rehabilitation, and pioneer in the fight against torture.

Humanity needs organizations like RCT that decade after decade carry out risky, uphill, and often unrecognized work towards a world free from torture. I am glad that RCT continues to sharpen its tools in the campaign against torture.

I am proud to be Patron of RCT and value enormously its contribution in helping all of us become more human, compassionate and caring.

Desmond Tutu Archbishop Emeritus

Thirty years of delivering specialised torture rehabilitation services Experiencing war, torture and the loss of loved-ones, neighbours and colleagues put tremendous strain on children, women and men alike.

In the wake of such man-made disasters, as homes are rebuilt, social services re-established and livelihoods recommenced, it is essential that the social, psychological and physical needs of severely traumatised persons

- including victims of torture - be closely attended to.

Too often, however, this is not the case due to lack of knowledge and resources to care for the victims. This is where RCT comes in: Through thirty years of developing and delivering torture rehabilitation services we have become leading experts in the treatment of victims of torture and severe trauma. Among our core competences are the skills needed to address the long-term consequences of torture, such as chronic pain, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Interdisciplinary rehabilitation approach

The psychological, physical and socio-economic problems that torture survivors often face are equally significant.

RCT has therefor adopted an interdisciplinary bio-psychosocial approach as a guiding principle in its work with victims of torture and organised violence. In practice this means that all patients at the RCT clinic in Denmark are treated by a team consisting of a physician, a psychologist, a physiotherapist and a social worker. The same approach is used at several of our partner organisations where health professionals have found that such an interdisciplinary approach is well-suited to address the often multiple and mutually reinforcing problems that survivors of torture face.

Epidemiological expertise

Before planning a rehabilitation intervention, RCT engages with local partners in conducting an epidemiological survey to assess the needs of the local population. The survey answers questions such as where people go for treatment, what kinds of abuse have they been subjected to, and what their needs are. Surveys also guide prevention efforts as in-depth knowledge about the circumstances surrounding torture and violence is a prerequisite for preventing it.

Brief therapies

Brief therapies with proven positive effects on the functioning of victims of torture and war is a cost- and time- effective way to deliver alleviating services to traumatised persons. Brief therapies address specific health problems or symptoms and are limited to a specified

number of sessions with the therapist. RCT provides training for health professionals in for example Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET ) to assist them in their treatment of severely traumatised victims of torture and war as a way of providing immediate assistance.

Partnerships – the path to sustainability

Common to all of our interventions is that they take place in close collaboration with local partners, creating a professional dialogue that strengthens the professional skills of both sides. Throughout all of our interventions we aim at jointly monitoring and evaluating challenges and results to ensure that required adjustments are made.

RCT

engages with local partners in conducting an epidemiological survey to assess the needs of the local population.

Working in Arabic

Language and a solid understanding of the local context is of the essence to RCT’s international programmes.

In the Middle East and North Africa we team up with Arab rehabilitation experts to maximise efficiency and effectiveness of the capacity building efforts that are part of our programmes.

RCT - Leading research centre, provider of first class rehabilitation, and pioneer in the fight against torture.

Engaging with partners in MENA to prevent torture and assist victims of torture North Africa

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- The Freedom from Torture programme Citizens across the Middle East and North Africa are standing up against torture like never before. Responding to the new and potentially promising situation that the Arab Spring has created, RCT is implementing the programme “Freedom from Torture – Remedying Past Torture and Preventing Future Torture in North Africa”. The programme aims to: • Strengthen the public health systems and/or civil societies of Libya, Tunisia and Egypt to provide rehabilitation for victims of torture. This entails training health professionals in torture rehabilitation approaches.

Palestine

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In Palestine RCT has collaborated with the Gaza Community Mental Health Programme (GCMHP) since 1994. The GCMHP provides community mental healthcare services to victims of torture and other vulnerable groups. RCT supports GCMHP’s core programmes and participates actively in advocacy campaigns in Denmark and Europe focusing on the humanitarian and human rights situation in Gaza. Key achievements include:

• Strengthen capacity within the human rights communities of Libya, Tunisia and Egypt to prevent torture. This entails training and supporting NGO partners in undertaking strategic advocacy for legal reforms conducive to the prevention of torture.

• Strengthen capacity across the region, including Morocco, Lebanon, Jordan and Palestine, to conduct independent monitoring of places of detention. This entails training independent individuals and organisations on how to examining the conditions of persons deprived of their liberty and engage in a dialogue with the relevant authorities on this basis in order to prevent torture and improve conditions.

• Establishment of a leading institution in the field of community mental health services.

• Establishment of an outstanding training programme on community mental health.

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RCT

Jordan

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In Jordan we are working with the Mizan Law Group for Human Rights (an NGO), Jordan’s National Center for Human Rights and the Jordanian Ministry of Justice/Public Prosecution. Key achievements since 2006 include: • Legal amendments that strengthen the fight against torture in Jordan have been adopted.

• A set of guidelines for prosecutors on how to prevent, identify and document cases of torture has been produced by the Public Prosecution of Jordan in collaboration with the Danish Public Prosecution and RCT.

rovides training and supervision in the use of specialised interdisciplinary rehabilitation.

Since 2008 we have also cooperated with the Noor Al Hussein Foundation/ Institute for Family Health to increase treatment options available to victims of torture and organised violence in the region. RCT provides training and supervision in the use of specialised interdisciplinary rehabilitation. Key achievements include: • Establishment of a trauma centre and a trauma unit in Amman treating victims of torture and trauma, including Iraqi refugees .

• Initiation of a regional torture rehabilitation training center to facilitate sharing of experiences across the MENA region.

• An independent detention monitoring team has been established. The team inspects places of detention with the aim of preventing torture and improving detention conditions.

RCT - Leading research centre, provider of first class rehabilitation, and pioneer in the fight against torture.

Member of: Rehabilitation and Research Centre for Torture Victims (RCT) Borgergade 13 P. +45 3376 0600 P.O. Box 2107 M. rct@rct.dk DK-1014 Copenhagen K W. www.rct.org Denmark

RCT’s international work is funded by Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark.