The United Nations Fund for Victims of Torture, managed by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), works by awarding grants – of an average size of US$40,000 – to such entities as nongovernmental organizations, victims’ associations, hospitals or legal clinics.
Projects supported by the Fund place victims of torture and their families at the centre of their activities, and provide:
- Psychological assistance, specifically tailored to help victims of torture overcome trauma, regain their dignity and function in everyday life.
- Medical assistance, including emergency treatment, to treat the physical after-effects of torture.
- Social assistance to reintegrate victims into society, through – for example – vocational training, language classes and housing.
- Legal assistance to secure redress, including through the collection of forensic evidence, documentation and representation of torture victims in court cases.
The Fund also plays an important role in building the specialised skills of professionals working in these organizations – psychologists, lawyers, medical staff and social workers – so they can better serve victims of torture.