Center for Victims of Torture

Today, the #TortureFreeTrade Network is delivering a statement to United Nations First Committee! Join us! Sign the petition & learn about the need for a treaty to stop the trade in equipment used for #torture & its importance for #HumanRights & #ProtectTheProtest: https://lnkd.in/d5K4kCrX

Today, on #WorldMentalHealthDay, I’m reflecting on the deep and lasting impact of crises on communities, especially in places like Gaza and Ukraine where war has become a part of daily life. While the immediate need for food, water, medicine and medical care is undeniable, there’s another significant need we can’t ignore: mental health care.     I’ve seen firsthand how the emotional scars of disaster and conflict remain long after homes have been rebuilt, roads have been repaired, and the media coverage has waned. And in Gaza, trauma is a daily experience for too many, one that began long before this latest crisis. The inescapable reality is that mental and physical health are deeply interconnected. We can’t only focus on physical wounds - we need to treat the whole person.     At Americares a focus on mental health is a critical component of our work. Nowhere is that more true than in Gaza, where an estimated 1.9 million people are displaced, grieving the loss of family and friends and witnessing unrelenting violence. More than 1 million children in Gaza are in need of mental health and psychosocial support, and health workers on the ground are dealing with compounding traumas – some they experience directly and others vicariously through patients day in and day out.     The need is great, and the work is critical. That’s why we’ve awarded emergency funding to local partners to increase access to mental health and psychosocial support for over 8,000 of the most vulnerable in Gaza (including children and first responders). And why we have been supporting partner organizations providing mental health support to those affected by the war in Ukraine for over two years, including more than 26,000 crisis intervention sessions.     We’re proud to partner with Treatment and Rehabilitation Center for Victims of Torture - TRC - مركز علاج و تأهيل ضحايا التعذيب Center for Victims of Torture, Nafs for Empowerment, International Blue Crescent Relief and Development Foundation (IBC) // Uluslararası Mavi Hilal Vakfı, MedGlobal, International Network for Aid, Relief and Assistance - INARA, Anera, Project Divchata, Tabletochki CF and more to get mental health support to those who need it, because mental health is not just a priority – it’s a human right for all.    #MentalHealth #HumanitarianWork #Gaza #Ukraine Image: Dalia, * a 3-year-old medical evacuee from Gaza, takes part in a group mental health and psychosocial support session provided by Americares local partner INARA in Cairo, Egypt, in July 2024, with funding from Americares. (Photo/Jeff Kennel) *Name has been changed

🙏 A step forward in our shared mission We're humbled to have piloted four innovative modules addressing critical aspects of sexual violence in conflict and emergency settings: • Addressing the needs of children conceived in sexual violence in conflict settings • Navigating the complexities of sexual violence, transactional sex and forced migration: Research and practice • Survivor-centred approaches: Projects, organisations, and ecosystems • Across continents: Male survivors of CRSV reclaim voice 🤝 None of this would have been possible without the invaluable support and expertise of wonderful partners, teachers and experts, as well as our alumni community. Your commitment to this crucial cause has been truly inspiring. 🌟 Looking ahead, we're hopeful about the potential impact and remain committed to continued learning and improvement in this vital work. #SexualViolence #CRSV #Cocreation #HumanitarianResponses #Conflict Zaboravljena Djeca Rata ADMSP Centre d'Excellence Denis Mukwege (CEDM) Les Enfants de Panzi et d'ailleurs The Children Born of War Project Chris Dolan Sandra Pertek, PhD Shirin Heidari Terre des Hommes Netherlands Médecins Sans Frontières (Switzerland) Médicos Sin Fronteras España Artsen zonder Grenzen Nederland Eric Rindal Laura Pasquero SEMA Ukraine (Ukraine), Thistle Flower (Germany), Alumni, The Network of Ukrainian Men Who Survived Captivity and Torture (Ukraine), Prof Renos K. Papadopoulos, University of Essex, Centre for Victims of Torture (Ethiopia and Jordan), Grace Agenda (Kenya), Jacqueline Mutere