International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT)

International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT)

Expert Consultation on the Rehabilitation of Torture Survivors: The New Frontier
AUWCL and IRCT Collaborate on Interdisciplinary Program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON, October 1, 2014 – American University Washington College of Law (AUWCL) and the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT) are holding an interdisciplinary “Expert Consultation on the Rehabilitation of Torture Survivors: The New Frontier” on October 1-2, 2014 at AUWCL. Approximately 20 preeminent experts from leading academic, non-governmental, government and international organizations from across the globe will help define the research and action agenda of the IRCT global movement of 145 torture rehabilitation centers in over 70 countries.

“As a law school deeply engaged in protecting fundamental human rights and dignity, AUWCL is proud to co-sponsor this initiative with our distinguished partner, the IRCT,” said Dean Claudio Grossman. “AUWCL actively works for the eradication of torture and rehabilitation of torture survivors through many unique initiatives and programs including the United Nations Committee against Torture Project, and strategic partnerships with key actors such as the IRCT.”

”Victims of torture have a right to rehabilitation,” said Victor Madrigal-Borloz, IRCT’s Secretary General.  “The provision of this right is faced with great challenges, not least because people are tortured every day.  The rehabilitation movement is seeking to achieve maximum effectiveness and efficiency by analyzing its work to determine the future research needs globally.  The IRCT welcomes the partnership with AUWCL in this essential activity.”

This consultation is taking place at a critical time following the UN Committee against Torture’s adoption of General Comment 3 (December 2012). General Comment 3 provides extensive guidance on the state obligation to provide redress and rehabilitation under article 14 of Convention against Torture. The consultation will identify “best practices” and address central issues such as:

  • the global context: research and development in the torture rehabilitation sector,
  • individual and community-based approaches in contemporary mental health,
  • the importance of evidence,
  • opportunities to secure state implementation of article 14,
  • the role of the IRCT members with regard to implementation of the right to rehabilitation, and
  • the role of civil society and research networks.

The inter-disciplinary dialogue between legal, medical and other experts will identify:

  • state-of-the-art methodologies, methods and protocols for the provision of rehabilitation to torture victims,
  • “best practices” for addressing situations where torture victims may be subject to extraordinary demands (i.e., in situations of mass influx),
  • approaches to inform the political agenda of the rehabilitation movement in the coming decade, and
  • objectives, strategies, markers and lines of action for the rehabilitation movement over the next ten years.

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In 1896, American University Washington College of Law became the first law school in the country founded by women. More than 100 years since its founding, this law school community is grounded in the values of equality, diversity, and intellectual rigor. The law school's nationally and internationally recognized programs (in clinical legal education, international law, and intellectual property to name a few) and dedicated faculty provide its 1700 JD, LL.M., and SJD students with the critical skills and values to have an immediate impact as students and as graduates, in Washington, DC and around the world. For more information, visit wcl.american.edu.