Survivors of Torture: Assistance, Care and Rehabilitation Conference: Difference between revisions

The final symposium of the Good Practice (Victims of Torture) project took place in Nicosia. A conference was organised as part of that symposium by Future Worlds Center and its Unit for Rehabilitation of Victims of Torture (URVT). The Unit for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Torture (URVT) hosted the Ministry of Interior Asylum Service, UNHCR and Ombudswoman’s Office as well as its European partners from Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Romania and France for a symposium to discuss ways European Centres for the Rehabilitation of Torture Victims can align their methods of operation to better serve vulnerable groups.

Future Worlds Center (leg.reg. Cyprus Neuroscience & Technology Institute – CNTI) is one of the six European partner organizations which are currently involved on the project ' ''Promotion and dissemination of good practice in addressing specific needs of vulnerable groups – especially victims of torture and human rights violations – based on a transnational  in-depth study and evaluation of working and treatment methods'' ' which runs under the German Association of Psychological Centers for Refugees and Victims  of Torture (BAFF) and is funded under the European Commission – European refugee Fund Community Actions 2009.  

Good Practice (Torture Victims) project, aims to develop a common approach within the EU on the specific needs of most vulnerable groups, especially those who have undergone torture or other severe human rights violations.  

The conference started with an introduction for URVT by Future Worlds Center president  [[Yiannis Laouris]]. Similarly, Elisse Bittendinder from BAfF introduced to the audience the project and it's goals. The official guests followed, discussing the issue under their perspective. Specifically, Mrs Evangelia Constantinou from the Asylum Service of the Ministry of Interior presented Cyprus Impression and state's policies on the matter; Mr Nasr Ishak from UNHCR explained the standard procedure in regards to asylum seekers and torture victims; and finally Mrs Kalia Kampanella from Ombudsman's office explained the situation for vulnerable groups in Cyprus. Finally, Pim Scholte from Equator Foundation in the Netherlands and Camelia Doru from ICAR Foundation in Romania meticulously presented their respective centers' situation, as well as their countries' policies and reality.   

File:Yannis_Conference.jpg|Yiannis Laouris - Future Worlds Center