Freedom from Torture
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Freedom from Torture is the working name of The Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture.,[1] . The organisation changed its name in 2011. Freedom from Torture is a British registered charity which solely treats torture survivors.[2] Since it was established in 1985, over 50,000 people have been referred to the organisation for help.
Freedom from Torture provides medical and psychological documentation of torture, a range of therapies, including psychotherapy, individual and family counselling, physiotherapy and complementary therapies and group work as well as practical advice and support. It trains health professionals and others throughout the UK to work with torture survivors.
Central to Freedom from Torture's vision are efforts to educate the public and decision makers about torture and its consequences, and through advocacy work strives to ensure that the UK honours its international obligations towards survivors of torture, asylum seekers and refugees.
Most importantly, Freedom from Torture is a place where survivors' experiences are recognised and where they can safely express their grief while working towards recovery.
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[edit] History
Freedom from Torture's work began in the early 1980s, as part of the Amnesty International Medical Group A letter to the British Medical Journal re: Amnesty International's Medical Group of Amnesty International. Volunteer health professionals and senior medical specialists campaigned against violations of human rights and documented evidence of torture.
It was felt during this time that existing health services did not meet the needs of torture survivors who had fled to the UK.
In 1985, under the leadership of Helen Bamber, the organisation was set up as a registered charity. It provided torture survivors with medical treatment, counselling and therapy and documented evidence of torture. The heads of three the Royal College of Physicians, Royal College of Psychiatrists and Royal College of Surgeons of England sponsored the organisation.
The organisation was then based in two rooms in the former National Temperance Hospital, off Hampstead Road in north-west London. In 1990 the organisation treated 750 clients and moved to new premises in Grafton Road, Kentish Town.
The first centre outside London opened in Manchester in late 2003, treating clients living in the north-west.
In 2004, the London headquarters moved into a £5.8m new purpose-built treatment centre in Isledon Road, Finsbury Park, by architect Paul Hyett. Freedom from Torture’s Scotland centre opened in Glasgow soon afterwards, followed by the Newcastle centre providing services across the north-east, in 2006.
Freedom from Torture's chief executive officer is Keith Best, who succeeded Simon Carruth.
[edit] Treatment provided
Freedom from Torture provides services free of charge to survivors of torture. These services include medical consultation, examination and forensic documentation of injuries through medico-legal reports, psychological and physical treatment and support, and practical help.
The organisation employs over 200 staff and volunteers in the five centres, including medical doctors, caseworkers, counsellors, legal advisors, physiotherapists, psychotherapists, psychologists, interpreters, child and family therapists and group workers.
Over 75 interpreters who are employed, who work in 50 regular languages and dialects.
[edit] Centres throughout the UK
Freedom from Torture's main treatment centre is in London, with centres in Manchester covering England's north-west, Newcastle covering the north-east, Glasgow covering the whole of Scotland and Birmingham.[3]
The regional centres were opened to treat torture surviving asylum seekers who have been dispersed outside of London.
[edit] Facts and figures
Since it was founded in in 1985, the organisation received over 50,000 referrals.
In 2010, Freedom from Torture’s five centres received 1,726 referrals. For the same year, 59.5% of referrals were from the following 10 countries: Iran (293), Afghanistan (179), Sri Lanka (135), Democratic Republic of Congo (82)/ and also Turkey (82), Pakistan (71), Sudan (62), Nigeria (60), Cameroon (58), Uganda (56) and Iraq (52). Of these 1,726 referrals, 71% were men, 25% were women and 4% were children.
Ninety-nine per cent of Freedom from Torture clients on average are asylum seekers or refugees, who have fled torture and persecution usually in their home countries.
[edit] Medico-legal reports
The organisation's Medico Legal Report Service is called the 'Medical Foundation Medico Legal Report Service' (taking its name from the registered name of the charity - the Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture).
These referrals are accepted from torture survivors, their friends and family, GPs, solicitors, refugee community organisations or any other voluntary or statutory sector body.
Medico-legal reports provide detailed evidence of the extent of a torture survivor’s injuries and trauma. Freedom from Torture's team of clinical staff apply international standards for documenting torture in these assessments.
[edit] Funding
The organisation does not accept Government funding. The only exception is funding from the Department of Health for the production of guidelines for assessing torture survivors and to train health professionals.
Donations from individuals provide the core income for the charity's work. In 2008, individual donations contributed 65% to the organisation's income (£4,785,000 of a total income of £7,382,000).
[edit] References
- ^ Dudman, Jane (21 June 2011). "Leading questions: Keith Best, Freedom from Torture". The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/jun/21/leading-questions-keith-best-freedom-from-torture. Retrieved 23 June 2011.
- ^ Channel 4 Dispatches Programme "The Kids Britain Doesn't Want", 25 November 2010. accessed 12 February 2011
- ^ "The Integration of Refugees - Positive Practice for Health Professionals", Home Office National Refugee Integration website, accessed 12 February 2011
