About Us

Welcome

CEO's Message

Ac

As we begin the year 2023, I would like to express our deep gratitude to all individuals and organizations who have contributed over the years to the success and development of the Torture Victims Treatment and Rehabilitation Center. The idea for the center was first conceived in the mid-1980s, specifically in 1983, by the initiative of the center's president and founder, Dr. Mahmoud Sehwail, in response to the urgent cases and the absence of service providers at that time to examine and treat Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. These visits were purely voluntary and continued until 1997, when the center was established as a culmination of accumulated experience in dealing with the issues and needs of victims of traumatic events and their families who share their suffering. The center launched by providing services to a large segment of beneficiaries in keeping up with developments and changes in Palestinian society, where the center is the only one of its kind in the West Bank in terms of its areas of work and services provided.

In this context, We would like to express our deep appreciation and respect for the survivors themselves, who inspire us daily with their courage and resilience. We also appreciate the dedicated efforts of our staff. We also thank the volunteers, board members, and esteemed donors who generously contribute their time, resources, and expertise to our cause. We would also like to express our gratitude to our partners in non-governmental organizations and institutions for their continuous support and cooperation, which has enabled us to enhance our ability to provide comprehensive care and work towards preventing torture and promoting human rights.

About TRC

The Treatment and Rehabilitation Center for Victims of Torture (TRC) is a Palestinian non-profit, non-governmental human rights organization and mental health service provider. TRC is an independent and impartial entity advocating for the human rights of victims of torture, organized violence and Gender Based Violence throughout the West Bank.

 TRC is a registered Palestinian NGO under license number RA-235/SC at the Palestinian Ministry of Interior (MoI), as well as with the Ministry of Health (License R/6/212). TRC is a member of the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT) which is the world’s largest membership-based civil society organisation specialised in the field of torture. It is also the only Palestinian NGO permitted by the government to provide psychotherapy in Palestinian correction and rehabilitation centers.

 TRC specializes in providing psychosocial services to survivors of torture. Since its founding, the Center has gradually expanded its work, and in addition to the individual, group and family therapy, which the Center provides.

The Center was founded in 1997 by Dr. Mahmud Sehwail, a Palestinian Psychiatrist and human rights activist. It operated on a voluntary basis until it was instituted in 1999. The Center is governed by a Board of Directors and supported by a Board of International Advisors. Day-to-day management is run by the Executive Director, Dr. Khader Rasras, who is a Senior Clinical Psychologist.

TRC intervention strategy inspired by Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in particular SDG 3.4 Promote mental health and The convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the Convention on the rights of person with disabilities (CRPD) and Convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination, and from the where all children are free from violence, exploitation, abuse, neglect and harmful practices.

TRC Mandate, Core Value, Strategic Goals

The mandate of the Treatment and Rehabilitation Center for Victims of Torture (TRC) is to provide comprehensive care, support, and rehabilitation to individuals who have experienced torture and deployment of holistic interventions that do no harm. The TRC is guided by the following core principles:

Healing and Rehabilitation: TRC is dedicated to promoting the psychological, and social healing of survivors of torture. Through a multidisciplinary approach, including medical, psychological, and social services, the center aims to address the complex needs of survivors and support their recovery and well-being.

 Empowerment and Dignity: TRC recognizes the inherent dignity and worth of every survivor of torture. The center is committed to fostering an environment that respects survivors' rights, choices, and autonomy. By empowering survivors with knowledge, skills, and support.

 Justice and Human Rights: Upholding the principles of justice and human rights lies at the core of the TRC's mandate. The center advocates for the prevention of torture, accountability for perpetrators, and access to justice for survivors. It works towards raising awareness about the impact of torture and the importance of safeguarding human rights, both locally and globally.

 Collaboration and Partnerships: TRC recognizes the value of collaboration and partnerships in achieving its mandate. The center actively seeks to engage with governmental and non-governmental organizations, human rights institutions, healthcare providers, legal advisors, and other stakeholders to enhance its capacity, expand its reach, and promote a coordinated response to the needs of survivors.

 Research and Advocacy: TRC actively contributes to research, knowledge exchange, and advocacy efforts related to the prevention of torture and the rehabilitation of survivors. By advocating for policy reforms, the center aims to influence systemic changes and ensure the rights and well-being of survivors are safeguarded.

TRC's mandate encompasses providing holistic care and rehabilitation, empowering survivors, advocating for justice and human rights, fostering collaborations, and engaging in research and advocacy to address the needs of victims of torture and contribute to the prevention of torture, as per the internationally adopted and ratified Convention against Torture, the Universal Declaration for Human Rights (UDHR) and the 4^th Geneva Convention.

TRC supports and empowers the victims to reintegrate into Palestinian society, in addition to providing them with the knowledge and skills to identify and address psychological symptoms, through the provision of specialized psychological support services such as: debriefing activities; Psychodrama, Art Therapy, Eye Therapy, to strengthen their coping mechanisms Therefore, in order to support the victims, and ensure that they have access to a comprehensive package of intervention aimed at supporting their full recovery. This will go through increasing awareness of positive parenting, psychological first aid, crisis intervention, identification of symptoms of trauma and appropriate responses and referral pathways, and stress management and debriefing for the affected women and children. 

Strategic Goals

1-    Providing Psychological and social services treatment and rehabilitation for victims of torture and organized violence and their families as much as possible since those responsible for their rights deny it

2-     Advocating victims of torturer and other affected person, developing appropriate platforms for them, and putting pressure on the responsible parties to bear responsibility and the consequences of their actions.

3-  Building a general societal culture based on respect for IHR, and humanitarian values and principles of the international humanitarian law, international law, international human rights treaties.

4-     Contributing to the transfer of experience and knowledge through the centre’s training to build the capacity of institutions and workers in the field of human rights and mental health and criminalize torture.

5-   Ensuring continuity of service to the victims by maintaining the suitability of the work in the institution by building a strategy and administrative structure that provide that.