IRCT International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims

Today many of the 200+ international partners of our #UnitedAgainstTorture Consortium (UATC) face the sudden loss of vital international financial support for the fight against #torture, from the US, UK, Netherlands, France, Germany, and other countries, amidst allegations of widespread torture and ill-treatment, and powerful States undermining #HumanRights. In this concerning context, the UATC urges international donors to maintain their strong commitment to preventing torture and providing redress to victims. Read the statement below, or download from 👉 https://lnkd.in/dDiT2U4D Read IRCT's Briefing on the Impact of Funding Cuts on #Rehabilitation of Torture Survivors 👉 https://lnkd.in/dekixQmz

Read the full statement at 👉 https://lnkd.in/dDiT2U4D Read IRCT's Briefing on the Impact of Funding Cuts on #Rehabilitation of #Torture Survivors 👉 https://lnkd.in/dekixQmz

"All we ask of authorities is that they value the evidence we have.” Oswaldo Rodriguez, who was tortured and imprisoned in Mexico’s so-called 'War on Drugs' for 15 years for a crime he did not commit, reflecting on his meeting face-to-face with the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture (SRT), alongside survivors from 12 other countries in Latin America, to share their experiences of #torture and views on improving access to #justice and #reparation. Many of those who spoke to Alice Edwards, the UN SRT, also wanted to speak out publicly, and this short video gives a sample of those survivors and what they had to say. Their individual testimony will be published throughout 2025 as part of IRCT's on-going #SurvivorEngagement project. In this era of authoritarianism rising, and in a climate where powerful elites thrive on impunity and hate-mongering, we believe the voices of those who have survived the ultimate abuses of power are an essential antidote: resilient, inspiring, humane. Insisting on accountability and our common humanity. Speaking from first-hand experience, not second-hand opinions. Speaking truth to power in a public conversation that power seeks to undermine with lies. We hope you agree, and we hope you will help us amplify these authentic voices, and stand with them and us, #UnitedAgainstTorture. World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), REDRESS, Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT), Omega Research Foundation, FIACAT

"All we ask of authorities is that they value the evidence we have.” Oswaldo Rodriguez, who was tortured and imprisoned in Mexico’s so-called 'War on Drugs' for 15 years for a crime he did not commit, reflecting on his meeting face-to-face with the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture (SRT), alongside survivors from 12 other countries in Latin America, to share their experiences of #torture and views on improving access to #justice and #reparation. Many of those who spoke to Alice Edwards, the UN SRT, also wanted to speak out publicly, and this short video gives a sample of those survivors and what they had to say. Their individual testimony will be published throughout 2025 as part of IRCT's on-going #SurvivorEngagement project. In this era of authoritarianism rising, and in a climate where powerful elites thrive on impunity and hate-mongering, we believe the voices of those who have survived the ultimate abuses of power are an essential antidote: resilient, inspiring, humane. Insisting on accountability and our common humanity. Speaking from first-hand experience, not second-hand opinions. Speaking truth to power in a public conversation that power seeks to undermine with lies. We hope you agree, and we hope you will help us amplify these authentic voices, and stand with them and us, #UnitedAgainstTorture. World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), REDRESS, Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT), Omega Research Foundation, FIACAT

When Roman Abramovich sold Chelsea FC, he pledged the £2.5 billion proceeds to survivors of the war in Ukraine. Three years later, not a single penny has been delivered. And no one can tell us why.💰 ⚽We went to Stamford Bridge to ask Chelsea fans what they knew about the money, and where they think it should go. The verdict? The people in charge of the money should keep their promise and give the money to the victims of the war in Ukraine. 📽️Watch the video 👇 #chelseafunds #JusticeForUkraine #ChelseaFCSale

Ensuring everyone has access to legal aid is crucial! On the 17th March 2025, PRAWA, with support from @Rolac , assessed the Legal Aid Council in Lagos State to boost their capacity as a central hub for legal assistance. We're working towards a more just society. #JusticeForAll

Here on LinkedIn, we're all quite familiar with each other's professional expertise. But how would you go about educating the general public about #torture? How about spending EUR500 to take a slot twice a month, for a year, on a radio show reaching two million listeners at a time, and then getting the most interesting people from the field to discuss what #healing and #justice mean for survivors? That's #ImpactInvesting, and that's exactly what IRCT member in #Nigeria Legend Golden Care Foundation did. Listen in to a clip from Victor Adejoh, Chairman of the FCT Chapter of the Nigerian Psychological Association, as he unpacks the links between #torture, trust and overcoming fear, for listeners of Rhythm FM #Abuja. #UnitedAgainstTorture

🇵🇭 Duterte’s arrest and transfer to the @IntlCrimCourt is a historic and long-awaited step towards achieving justice for thousands of victims of violations perpetrated during his administration’s “war on drugs”. Hundreds of children were among victims. ⚖️ His arrest offers a glimmer of hope that justice can be done and sends a powerful message to global leaders that no one is above the law. To achieve full justice, accountability must extend beyond Duterte to all those responsible for human rights violations during the "war on drugs" as well as ongoing killings that continue to this day. 🔗 Read our full statement: https://bit.ly/3Fp55PP #Duterte #Philippines #EndImpunity #Justice #HumanRights #Accountability #WarOnDrugs Alice Edwards Morris Tidball-Binz UN SRSG on Violence Against Children

“Survivors have held hope even during the darkest of times locked inside torture chambers. And they expect us to hold it, too.” A great pleasure for Kolbassia Haoussou MBE and I to join Dr Rebekka Friedman and Dushyanthy Pillai for the Conflict, Security and Development Conference today at King's College London. Kolbassia drew on his decades of work with survivors around the world to press the case for justice “through the survivor’s lens” as a set of needs and rights, including for protection, accountability, reparation, rehabilitation, prevention, non-repetition and for “voice” for survivors every step of the way. My main point: justice has always been illusory for survivors as a rule - and delivered only as an exception. And despite the treacherous moment for justice around the world, this is no time for despair. As allies, we must take the hope survivors expect of us - and use it to fight for justice. Because when survivors and caring people come together, we can win as stunning victories against the UK’s efforts to legislate impunity for British war criminals and against the “cash for humans” deal with Rwanda demonstrate 🙌 Thanks to Bekka for sharing insights on transitional justice models from her work with survivors in Sri Lanka, Peru, Sierra Leone and elsewhere. And to Dushy for brilliant moderation. And finally thank you to all the talented conference participants for probing questions and discussion — and for all you are doing to theorise and realise a world in which justice is the rule, not the exception.