Survivors of Torture and Severe Trauma

Torture is the purposed infliction of physical or mental suffering as a means of gaining information or discipline opponents. The goal of torture is to break down the human spirit and instill fear into the community. Torture includes physical and psychological abuse. The effects can be deep, leaving survivors with physical, emotional and spiritual scars. Torture victims are frequently ignored in today’s society, isolated and depressed as a consequence of their experience.

Many survivors of torture and severe trauma have well developed coping mechanisms and are able to adjust to life in a new country, requiring only minimal services to overcome fear of repatriation, language difficulties or temporary economic hardship. For others, however, the impact of torture is overwhelming. Programs for survivors of torture and severe trauma have been created especially for them. The objective of such programs is to help survivors of torture to address the consequences of the abuses to their human rights. An encompassing range of services is used to deal with the emotional and psychological ramifications of their torture and trauma.

The vast majority of torture and severe trauma victims come from war torn areas, and usually relocate to democratic countries like the United States. It is important to keep in mind that they do not do so only to escape their trauma, but also to rebuild their lives and become productive members of a society once again. Therefore, they should not be shut out but rather offered the means with which to overcome their past ordeal and regain the dignity that was taken away from them. In that sense, programs for survivors of torture and severe trauma are essential to rehabilitate these individuals so that they can contribute to their new environment, as well as being able to help others who have gone through a similar experience.