4,970
edits
Unit for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Torture: Difference between revisions
From Future Worlds Center Wiki
Jump to navigationJump to search
Unit for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Torture (view source)
Revision as of 01:26, 29 January 2024
, 29 Januaryremoved duplicates
(removed duplicates) |
|||
| (2 intermediate revisions by one other user not shown) | |||
| Line 14: | Line 14: | ||
__TOC__ | __TOC__ | ||
Unit for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Torture (URVT) | The '''Unit for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Torture''' (URVT) was a specialized unit to assist victims of torture by providing them with multidisciplinary treatment and rehabilitation services. It was launched in 2006 and runs since under [[Future Worlds Center]]. URVT was first funded by the [[UNVFVT]] (United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture). | ||
==Overall Objective== | ==Overall Objective== | ||
The URVT's mission was to support and promote the empowerment and rehabilitation of people who have been subjected to torture, inhumane, degrading treatment or punishment in their country of origin and/or in Cyprus. Victims are mainly refugees and asylum seekers, and at times victims of trafficking. URVT’s aim was to assist victims and their families to rehabilitate and to integrate into the local society. | |||
==Detailed Description== | |||
The Unit aimed to support and promote the empowerment and rehabilitation of torture victims and victims of trafficking who are asylum seekers or persons granted with international protection status in Cyprus and to assist them to integrate into the local society. | |||
URVT | URVT adopted a holistic approach to rehabilitation offering a full range of services, including psychological support and rehabilitation; legal counselling and assistance throughout the asylum procedures; and social counselling during the rehabilitation process. The URVT team worked alongside the UNHCR funded project [[Strengthening Asylum]]. URVT also focused on raising awareness among the local community on torture related issues. | ||
The URVT operated according to the standards of the Istanbul Protocol - United Nations Manual on the Effective Investigation and Documentation of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. Its services were offered to the beneficiaries by specialized, experienced and well-trained personnel. URVT furthermore works closely with a network of volunteer service providers, medical professionals and interpreters. | |||
The | |||
Modeled after the Medical Rehabilitation Center for Torture Victims (MRCT) in Athens, the Cypriot URVT was established in June 2006 as a collaboration between the Greek MRCT and the Cyprus Neuroscience and Technology Institute (CNTI), a non-profit, non-governmental organization established in Cyprus. | Modeled after the Medical Rehabilitation Center for Torture Victims (MRCT) in Athens, the Cypriot URVT was established in June 2006 as a collaboration between the Greek MRCT and the Cyprus Neuroscience and Technology Institute (CNTI), a non-profit, non-governmental organization established in Cyprus. | ||
URVT | The URVT operated under the [[Humanitarian Affairs Unit]] of the [[Future Worlds Center]]. | ||
One of the most important beliefs of the Future Worlds Center is that by befriending and understanding people of different cultures, backgrounds and experiences, the future world becomes a better place. | |||
==Our Mission | ==Our Mission== | ||
URVT’s mission | URVT’s mission was to: | ||
* Assist victims of torture by providing multidisciplinary treatment and rehabilitation services | * Assist victims of torture by providing multidisciplinary treatment and rehabilitation services | ||
| Line 42: | Line 41: | ||
==What is Torture== | ==What is Torture== | ||
The Manual on Effective Investigation and Documentation of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, commonly known as the Istanbul Protocol is the first set of international guidelines for documentation of torture and its consequences. It became an official United Nations document in 1999. The Istanbul Protocol is intended to serve as a set of international guidelines for the assessment of persons who allege torture and ill treatment, for investigating cases of alleged torture, and for reporting such findings to the judiciary and any other investigative body. | The Manual on Effective Investigation and Documentation of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, commonly known as the [http://physiciansforhumanrights.org/library/istanbul-protocol.html Istanbul Protocol] is the first set of international guidelines for documentation of torture and its consequences. It became an official [http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/ United Nations] document in 1999. The Istanbul Protocol is intended to serve as a set of international guidelines for the assessment of persons who allege torture and ill treatment, for investigating cases of alleged torture, and for reporting such findings to the judiciary and any other investigative body. | ||
"...the term '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 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." (Article I, United Nations Convention Against Torture, 1984) | "...the term '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 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." [http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu3/b/h_cat39.htm (Article I, United Nations Convention Against Torture, 1984)] | ||
"...torture is defined as the deliberate, systematic or wanton infliction of physical or mental suffering by one or more persons acting alone or on the orders of any authority to force another person to yield information, to make a confession, or for any other reason." (World Medical Association, Declaration of Tokyo, 1975). | "...torture is defined as the deliberate, systematic or wanton infliction of physical or mental suffering by one or more persons acting alone or on the orders of any authority to force another person to yield information, to make a confession, or for any other reason." (World Medical Association, [http://www.cirp.org/library/ethics/tokyo/ Declaration of Tokyo], 1975). | ||
==Who We Serve== | ==Who We Serve== | ||
"No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment."(Article 5, Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948) | "No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment."(Article 5, Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948) | ||
The Unit for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Torture | The Unit for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Torture was dedicated to helping victims of torture and their families rebuild their lives, regardless of race, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or economic or legal status. | ||
<b>Who is a victim of torture?</b> | <b>Who is a victim of torture?</b> | ||
| Line 167: | Line 166: | ||
</table> | </table> | ||
== | ==Staff== | ||
<b>Dr. [[Elias Papadopoulos]] (Medical Director)</b> | <b>Dr. [[Elias Papadopoulos]] (Medical Director)</b> | ||
| Line 194: | Line 193: | ||
<b>[[Larry Fergeson]]</b> | <b>[[Larry Fergeson]]</b> | ||
Larry began with FWC in 2005 as a graduate student intern from Portland State University. From 2006-2008 he performed the duties of Project Coordinator and Program Developer. In 2009 Larry became the Head of the Humanitarian Affairs Unit which implements the projects "Unit for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Torture" and the "“Strengthening Asylum for Refugees and Asylum-seekers in Cyprus” as the implementing partner of UNHCR in Cyprus. Larry also acts as media consultant/expert for FWC because of his long history working in media related matters. | Larry began with FWC in 2005 as a graduate student intern from Portland State University. From 2006-2008 he performed the duties of Project Coordinator and Program Developer. In 2009 Larry became the '''Head''' of the [[Humanitarian Affairs Unit]] which implements the projects "Unit for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Torture" and the "“Strengthening Asylum for Refugees and Asylum-seekers in Cyprus” as the implementing partner of UNHCR in Cyprus. Larry also acts as media consultant/expert for FWC because of his long history working in media related matters. | ||
= | =Sponsors== | ||
URVT emerged under the European Refugee Fund (ERF) II - programme period 2005 – 2010. In particular, URVT was established in June 2006, after a collaboration of the Cyprus Neuroscience & Technology Institute (CNTI) with the Medical Rehabilitation Center for Torture Victims (MRCT) in Athens. The latter offered the training for URVT’s first staff and assisted in its preparation. The actual operation of URVT started with the second ERF grant that was provided in January 2007, funding which was also obtained in 2008. | URVT emerged under the European Refugee Fund (ERF) II - programme period 2005 – 2010. In particular, URVT was established in June 2006, after a collaboration of the Cyprus Neuroscience & Technology Institute (CNTI) with the Medical Rehabilitation Center for Torture Victims (MRCT) in Athens. The latter offered the training for URVT’s first staff and assisted in its preparation. The actual operation of URVT started with the second ERF grant that was provided in January 2007, funding which was also obtained in 2008. | ||
URVT currently runs under a new grant awarded by the Asylum Service, Ministry of Interior, within the framework programme of the European Refugee Fund on “Solidarity and Management of Migration Flows” for the period 2008-2013. This fund is covered 75% by the European Refugee Fund and 25% by the Government of Cyprus and is to be concluded on 30th June 2010. | URVT currently runs under a new grant awarded by the Asylum Service, Ministry of Interior, within the framework programme of the European Refugee Fund on “Solidarity and Management of Migration Flows” for the period 2008-2013. This fund is covered 75% by the European Refugee Fund and 25% by the Government of Cyprus and is to be concluded on 30th June 2010. | ||
The Unit also | The Unit also received, since May 2009, a supplementary fund from the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture (UNFVT), which aimed to support and promote the empowerment and rehabilitation of torture victims with a focus on refugees and asylum seekers. This fund was concluded on 1st June 2010. | ||
==Partnerships== | ==Partnerships== | ||
