Legal support
Torture is a crime. If you have been tortured you may want to contact an organisation that can inform you of the legal means available to you, which can include actions for compensation and rehabilitation services as well as support in participating in a criminal case against those who committed the act(s) of torture. Even if you are not interested in pursuing any type of legal reparations, it is still advisable to consult a legal advisor so that you do not have to be alone in considering the alternatives available to you. A legal advisor can both educate you about the intricacies of the law and help you think through what actions, if any, you would like to take.
Procuring legal support is often the necessary first step in initiating the justice process. In many situations there will be several ways of pursuing a remedy or reparations, and the advice of someone who knows the process can aid greatly in choosing the best strategy for one’s particular needs and circumstances. In addition, since the course of action will depend on the particular laws and processes of each locality, advice from professionals based in the victim’s community, district, or country will likely be much more valuable than advice from external professionals. Most often, a remedy must be sought within one’s own national legal system before the claim can be brought to a regional or international body. Therefore, the best legal advice to seek first will be local to your area and specialized to claims of torture.
As a first contact, a rehabilitation centre or programme that is a member of the IRCT network (click here to see a list of centres and programmes by country) will likely be a good option. Though not all of these organizations will have the ability to give legal advice themselves, they will very likely be able to make referrals to local organizations that can do so. If rehabilitation services have not yet been received, as well, a member centre will additionally be able to provide vital rehabilitative support to help treat the physical and mental trauma caused by torture.
The following is a partial list of international organizations that, in certain circumstances, provide support to victims of torture. These organizations can be contacted in conjunction with local support organizations, though local organizations should be contacted first as they will most likely be better able to provide support in your own geographical area:
Center for Justice and Accountability (CJA) – Works to deter torture and other severe human rights abuses around the world by helping survivors hold their persecutors accountable. Homepage:
Canadian Centre for International Justice/Centre Canadien pour la justice internationale (CCJI) - A charitable organisation that works with survivors of genocide, torture and other atrocities to seek redress and bring perpetrators to justice.
Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) – A non-profit legal and educational organisation dedicated to protecting and advancing the rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
International Federation of Human Rights Leagues (FIDH) – Its mandate is to contribute to the respect of all the rights defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Homepage in English, French, Spanish and Arabic.
REDRESS – A human rights organisation that helps torture survivors obtain justice and reparation. It seeks a variety of remedies, including restitution, compensation, rehabilitation, satisfaction and guarantees of non-repetition.
Interights - An organisation that focuses on advocacy and education about human rights, and that also undertakes strategic litigation cases that if successful, are deemed to have a high impact at the national, regional or international level.
Center for Justice and International Law (CEJIL) - Defends human rights before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.
Universal and regional mechanisms for individual complaint
Some international and regional human rights treaties and bodies provide individuals, under certain circumstances, the opportunity to appeal against the violation of human rights, including torture and ill-treatment. Local legal expertise, however, should be sought before attempting to appeal to these bodies.
