THEMATIC REPORT 2017 TORTURE AND MIGRATION SUMMARY By examining the data of 371 clients of five torture rehabilitation centres participating in the DFI Project, this report aims to explore the intersection between torture and displacement or migration as well as to highlight the ongoing adversity that victims of torture face in their host countries. Torture trauma often leads to severe physical and mental injuries; in cases of displacement, this trauma can be aggravated by more suffering during flight. When people seek protection in foreign countries they often live without the support of family and community, with precarious legal status and with little recourse to financial security, rights or services. The clients sampled in this report demonstrate some noteworthy trends for further research into challenges faced by victims of torture and people on the move. Most of the clients were tortured in a context of armed conflict or widespread violence, usually by armed non-State actors such as guerrilla or paramilitary forces or State actors including police and military forces. Torture rehabilitation centres participating in this report have noted that many of their clients also suffered abuse and violence at the hands of police and border agents while in transit to their host countries. Two-fifths of the clients reported some form of psychological problems as a result of their experience of torture and flight, while nearly one-third reported having a physical problem. Mental health disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and anxiety disorders have a very practical impact on day-today life, with survivors often reporting severe headaches, insomnia, suicidal ideation, feeling frightened and suspicious, thus making it extremely difficult to maintain family and social relations, to work and function in society. Torture trauma does not disappear by itself, and often worsens over time if left unaddressed. Social problems are often passed on to family members, children and even communities. Holistic rehabilitation is therefore crucial as it aims to provide socio-economic, legal, psychological and physical support to torture survivors and their families. This is an essential element in supporting victims to live fulfilling lives in their new home. The report shows that the vast majority of the clients, well over two-thirds, are living in or near poverty, which is also corroborated by the very large numbers of people that are facing unemployment in their host communities. Research has consistently shown that these conditions of insecurity can lead to severe stressors than can aggravate existing mental health problems.1 It is vital for governments to not only facilitate access to rehabilitation providers, but also to provide access to decent livelihoods, including socio-economic and legal support. However, in many countries, there is simply no specialised support for victims of torture who have been displaced. In other contexts, even where laws and regulations do exist that stipulate rights for victims of torture who have fled, these are poorly implemented – or in some cases not implemented at all – often page 5 “Torture survivors suffered from torture in their countries of origin. They suffered at the hands of traffickers and border guards while they were on their journeys to safety. And they continue to suffer from undignified living conditions when they arrive in the country of destination” Bojana Trivuncic International Aid Network (IAN), Serbia