IRCT REGIONAL REPORT 2016 One way torture victims can substantiate their allegations of torture is by requesting an MLR, for their asylum claim. The OIN is able to request MLRs but in practice they are normally provided at the request of the applicant via their legal team13. The Cordelia Foundation is the only NGO in Hungary that specialises in the treatment of torture victims and the only NGO that provides MLRs according to the Istanbul Protocol. The Hungarian courts and the OIN, have unfortunately, sometimes completely disregarded these MLRs. However In many cases, MLRs successfully contribute to proving the asylum seekers’ allegation of torture and to international protection being granted. In cases when torture survivor or traumatised asylum seekers are placed in asylum detention, Cordelia Foundation’s MLRs are aimed at proving the harmful, re-traumatizing effect of detention, and at ensuring that the person is transferred to an open reception facility. The Cordelia Foundation provides weekly psychiatric and psychosocial treatment to torture survivor and traumatised asylum seekers and refugees in all the open reception facilities (currently Bicske, Vámosszabadi and Fót Center for the unaccompanied minors) and all asylum detention facilities (Békéscsaba, Nyírbátor, Kiskunhalas) and visits immigration jails and other detention sites at least twice a month. Obtaining entry permits from the authorities to visit these premisesis a long and inflexible process as the location is fixed and staff or interpreters cannot be changed. This puts a considerable administrative burden on the management of the Cordelia Foundation. As referrals from staff do not always take place when they should, the Cordelia Foundation cooperates actively with a whole network of NGOs providing services at the same premises, and gets referrals from the social workers of the Menedék Association, the lawyers of the Helsinki Committee or the monitoring teams of the UNHCR. Due to the Cordelia Foundation’s long history and visibility in the centres, asylum seekers often manage to find the therapeutic team on their own initiative. Even though asylum seekers are supposed to have access to primary public healthcare, the lack of translation and interpretation acts as a real barrier in accessing the regular healthcare system both in reception facilities and detention centres. The OIN does not always provide translators, due in large part to capacity constraints.14 Child in group of refugees leaving Hungary © Procyk Radek Mental and physical health is a major concern for many torture victims who arrive in Hungary, often in perilous circumstances. The state does not ensure that torture victims receive the necessary medical and psychological treatment for the damage caused by torture and the Cordelia Foundation is the only NGO in Hungary to provide psychological services for torture victims. However, due to limited financial capacity and corresponding lack of clinical staff, the Cordelia Foundation can only support a limited number of victims. The Cordelia Foundation is not contracted by the OIN to provide these services and as such does not receive any remuneration. The costs are instead covered entirely through project funding. Furthermore, referrals to the Cordelia Foundation’s services depend on the discretion of the caseworker at the OIN or the local staff of reception and detention facilities. page 28