Freedom from Torture contributes to pioneering guidelines

Freedom from Torture has contributed to pioneering new guidelines funded by the European Commission, entitled ‘Good Practices with Victims of Torture’. The first of its kind, the document lays down guidelines for organisations and professionals working with torture survivors, established by an international panel of experts.

Representatives from Freedom from Torture attended a seminar in Barcelona where they shared their valuable insights into the process of therapeutic intervention with other experts in the field. The conversation focused on several key topics including social exclusion, family, fundraising and specialised project management.

The conclusions drawn from this stimulating seminar have now been formulated into a report, which will serve as a useful reference point for others and help improve performance in the field.

The guidelines suggest that in particular the role of NGOs such as Freedom from Torture should be to:

• Work to ensure that the basic needs of torture survivors are fulfilled (shelter, food, transportation, etc) so that they can fully engage in therapy

• Generate continuous dialogue between service providers and service users to ensure proper feedback and help improve services

• Work with the government and build awareness within relevant departments (immigration, welfare services, etc.), so that officials know how to properly respond to those affected by torture and trauma

• Integrate partnerships and networking where international organisations can focus on each other’s strengths and maximise their resources

The seminar was held to complement the European Commission’s Pilot Project of Preparatory Action on Victims of Torture, which aims to create and support a network of centres across the EU to provide survivors with holistic rehabilitation and aid integration.