Annual Report 2023
09
Support to victims
0
survivors, including 90 direct victims of torture in 12 countries, have benefited from our help.
They received a wide range of benefits, including medical assistance, psychosocial care, relocation assistance, legal advice, financial aid for basic needs or to find a job and rebuild their lives.
For the OMCT, fighting torture also means providing concrete support to survivors and their families. Holding perpetrators accountable and compensating victims allow individuals to start a new life and communities to rebuild.
Tunisia
OMCT's assistance can take the form of long-term support. Through SANAD, our programme in Tunisia, we gave legal advice to Jamel in his long quest for justice. Jamel Ouerghi was in the wrong place at the wrong time and was tortured by the police, leaving him in a coma for four months. At the time, we also supported his wife, 3-year-old daughter and 2-month-old baby financially, as Jamel was unable to walk due to injuries caused by the police. After nine years of campaigning by the OMCT, a judge finally ruled in Jamel's favour, ordering the state to pay him compensation.
Chad
In other cases, our aid is a one-off intervention, as when we supported Zara and Madiam from Chad to cover medical expenses and set up an income-generating activity: a small catering stand for one and hotel management training for the other. Through an employment agency, the two young Chadian women had left for Oman to work and provide for their families. But once there, they found themselves stuck with a two-year contract and a residency obligation. They were subjected to extremely harsh working conditions. They were constantly harassed and accused of theft. After negotiations, they managed to return to their country. They suffered from various post-traumatic pathologies, but with the support of the OMCT's member of the SOS Torture network in Chad, they managed to rebuild their lives.
Our support system for victims of torture is unique because it can be called upon by individuals at any time who receive comprehensive support after an examination of their situation. We are there for survivors every step of the way. Whether it's legal advice to further their quest for justice, medical expertise when requested as part of a complaint, or paying for medical treatment if the victim needs it to recover. We also provide psychosocial support, such as granting housing allowances, paying for job training, or helping a family to resettle.
"Torture can change a person’s identity" - A journey of psychological damage and recovery
In 2023, torture remained a terrible reality in many countries worldwide. To mark the International Day for Torture Victims, we gave the floor to someone who helps torture survivors overcome their trauma. Goran Lukic is a psychologist for our network member, Freedom from Torture. Based in London, he is regularly confronted with the suffering of refugees fleeing threats to their lives and mental integrity. He tells us how, with in-depth psychological work, one can recover from the worst.