Happy New Year 2015: Freedom from Torture's 30th anniversary year starts now

It is difficult to celebrate our 30th anniversary: after all, we exist because torture exists.

But we do want to use this year to highlight the magnificent achievements of our founders, staff, volunteers - and, above all, survivors of torture who continue on the path to rehabilitation. We also want to reflect on the future.

We were established in 1985, the year after the ratification of the UN Convention Against Torture. Since then we have supported more than 55,000 survivors by providing psychological therapies, forensic documentation of torture, and holistic welfare services - and using evidence from these in international research and lobbying to end torture.

We have supported survivors to triumph over their torturers by showing that their spirit is strong enough to overcome what they have suffered. For many, we have been the difference between hope and despair.

We have supported over 55,000 survivors by providing psychological therapies, forensic documentation of torture, and holistic welfare services.

For the first time I was able to unload the hate that had become my prison. The late Eric Lomax, the "Railwayman" tortured during World War Two, told us that when he discovered Freedom from Torture it was as if "for the first time I was able to unload the hate that had become my prison."

We have supported survivors like Eric to move from fractured lives to fulfilling lives: a small victory over torture is achieved every time a client joins the Survivors Speak OUT network, gains a worthwhile job, moves into further education, or simply stops needing our services.

We are also conscious that we are able to support survivors like this because of the belief and support of many thousands of people who want to end the suffering of torture enough to do something about it.

So we want to use this year to invite everyone who is interested in working for a world free from torture to join us in reflecting on how we can achieve this together.

With 1,251 survivors referred in 2013 alone, it has never been more challenging to support all torture survivors in the U.K. who need our services - and torture remains a major international human rights issue. It is vital we work together to spread our message.