The IRCT structure
The IRCT is governed by three bodies: the General Assembly, the Council and the Executive Committee, and has its General Secretariat in Copenhagen, Denmark.
General Assembly
The IRCT General Assembly takes place every three years and is comprised of rehabilitation centres and programmes worldwide. The General Assembly provides a forum in which representatives of rehabilitation centres and programmes facilitate the global work against torture and elect the IRCT Council.
The first IRCT General Assembly was conducted as a Written General Assembly 2003, followed by the first physical General Assembly in conjunction with a Symposium in Berlin, Germany in 2006, and a written General Assembly in 2009.
The full list of the IRCT member rehabilitation centres and programmes is available on this site.
For information about membership criteria, please visit Why and how to join or contact: centres@irct.org.
Council and Executive Committee
According to the IRCT Statutes, the IRCT Council (see the Council's current composition) is elected by the General Assembly and is comprised of 29 members, 26 representing rehabilitation centres and programmes worldwide, and three independent experts. The Council is the principal policy making and advisory standard-setting body of the IRCT,
The allocation of seats to the IRCT Council by region is as follows:
- Asia – 4 seats
- Europe – 7 seats
- Middle East and North Africa – 3 seats
- North America – 2 seats
- Latin America – 4 seats
- Pacific – 2 seats
- Sub Sahara Africa – 4 seats
- Independent experts – 3 seats
The Council elects the 7 members of the Executive Committee (8 members as of 2009 election) including the President and the Vice-President of the IRCT.
General Secretariat
The General Secretariat, based in Copenhagen, Denmark, is the operational body of the IRCT, responsible for the management and implementation of the IRCT's policies and programmes in support of the rehabilitation of torture victims and the prevention of torture worldwide.
Brita Sydhoff is Secretary-General, Peter Hellmers is head of Programmes, Sune Segal is head of Communications, and Dr Önder Özkalipci is Medical Director.
