Truth and dignity for survivors of human rights violations

March 24th marks the International Day for the Right to the Truth concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims.

In 2010 when the United Nations General Assembly inaugurated the day, they had one specific person in mind. Archbishop Oscar Arnulfo Romero of El Salvador was a champion of the poor who also spoke out against the excesses of police and soldiers. He was shot dead on 24 March 1980 in a plot that was linked back to the highest levels of the Salvadoran army.

Many of Freedom from Torture's clients are human rights defenders, like Archbishop Romero, who have been arrested and tortured during their struggle to promote and protect human rights for all. Of course all of our clients are also survivors of the gross human rights violation of torture.

Last year 1,313 people from across 77 countries were referred to Freedom from Torture for assessment and treatment. Seventy one per cent of these referrals came from just ten countries.