Timor Aid staff demonstrating the use of trauma alleviating methods
The IRCT works to fulfil the needs and rights of torture survivors whoever and wherever they are.
Our member centres and programmes – today located in more than 70 countries – provide torture survivors with treatment of physical and mental disorders, but also with psycho-social and legal support. In some cases, especially among those who serve a large number of refugees or asylum seekers, vocational training, financial and housing assistance, language classes and other support services are offered to help with integration into the host society.
While torture often has devastating implications for the individual survivor, it also impacts negatively on immediate families as well communities and society at large. Our member centres employ a holistic service approach to address the needs and rights of individual torture survivors as well as their affected family members and communities.
Advancing knowledge and practice
The IRCT remains committed to continuously developing our ability to serve survivors of torture across the world in the best way possible. We use several means to increase knowledge and exchange of information about treatment methods and care of survivors of torture and other human rights violations.
• Regional seminars and advanced health professional training facilitate IRCT members to share experience and knowledge with those who may work in similar contexts and to learn more about clinical research and evidence-based treatment interventions.
• Through its system of internships and peer supervisions, the IRCT Exchange Programme allows member centres to visit and learn from each other and to develop their own formal and informal networks of support.
• Strategic partnerships with health professional organisations, academic institutions and other international non-governmental organisations help the IRCT to disseminate knowledge of rehabilitation and prevention, and to benefit from others’ research and science-based approaches.
• Targeted grants enables IRCT members to enhance their technological capacity and web presence through equipment acquisition (including patient security systems) and building new or improved websites.
Reaching the underserved
The IRCT also attempts to support projects and initiatives that reach populations who may be underserved by current rehabilitation services. Our selection of priority thematic issues (e.g. child torture survivors; persons in detention) allows us to support research and development of services for these groups. We also target capacity development to suitable local organisations and our members to expand services into new areas where specialised rehabilitation services for torture survivors are unavailable.
All of these activities work toward our goal of supporting torture survivors in their quest to rebuild their lives as fully as possible.
