positive family and social lives and facilitates their reintegration into the workforce, which thereby strengthens
social inclusion and integration, and maintains the victims and where applicable, their family’s livelihood.
Rehabilitation reduces chronic, long-term health problems, which may require interventions by health and social
care services over many years if not addressed. Finally, ensuring that torture victims have access to redress and
reparation is a key indicator that a society is built on the principle of rule of law and respects the inclusion of all its
members.
“
The rehabilitation of victims of torture requires a multidisciplinary, participatory, and holistic approach
which is integrated with programmes of empowerment aimed at improving personal skills in order to
strengthen positive social relationships, as a powerful additional support mechanism providing victims of
torture with access to activities that give them some dignity.”
Ambassador Alessandro Azzoni, Chairperson of the Permanent Council of the OSCE
UN Convention against Torture, Article 14:
1. Each State Party shall ensure in its legal system
that the victim of an act of torture obtains redress
and has an enforceable right to fair and adequate
compensation, including the means for as full
rehabilitation as possible. In the event of the death
of the victim as a result of an act of torture, his
dependants shall be entitled to compensation.
2. Nothing in this article shall affect any right of the
victim or other persons to compensation which may
exist under national law.
Key elements in effective rehabilitation services:
The right to
redress and
rehabilitation
is recognized
in national
law.
Rehabilitation
is funded
directly or
indirectly
by national
governments.
Rehabilitation is
provided in close
consultation with
and tailored to
meet the specific
needs of each
individual victim.
The effectiveness
of services is
continuously
monitored and
evaluated.
Rehabilitation is
provided at the
earliest possible time
after the torture
occurred, without
a requirement for
victims to pursue
judicial remedies,
but solely based on
recommendations
by a qualified health
professional.
TOOL: Providing Rehabilitation to Victims of Torture and Other Ill-treatment
Rehabilitation
is holistic,
providing
medical and
psychological
care, legal
and social
services.
Rehabilitation
is available,
appropriate,
accessible and
provided in a way
that guarantees
the safety
and personal
integrity of the
victims, their
families and their
care-takers.
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