June 26 is the International Day of Support of Victims of Torture.  In conjunction with this day, our ESL and interpreter volunteers planned an event to help raise over $3,000 to purchase Metrocards for clients to use for travel to classes and appointments at the program. Thanks to everyone who came out to make it a successful event.  Thanks especially to our organizers Sarah Benckart, Inbal Samin and Nicole Deutsch who pulled together an excellent party and brought in so many attendees. 

On December 12th, 1997, the UN declared June 26th the International Day of Support for Victims of Torture. This day, guaranteed within the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, emphasizes the right of security and personal dignity to all individuals around the world. The main objective of this day is to create solidarity between torture victims, to remind the general public that torture ranks among one of the most heinous and blatant violation of human rights, and to draw attention to the widespread torture still present in the world today. For this reason, every year on June 26th, people take the occasion to announce their opposition to torture.

June 26 is the International Day of Support of Victims of Torture.  In conjunction with this day, our ESL and interpreter volunteers planned an event to help raise over $3,000 to purchase Metrocards for clients to use for travel to classes and appointments at the program. Thanks to everyone who came out to make it a successful event.  Thanks especially to our organizers Sarah Benckart, Inbal Samin and Nicole Deutsch who pulled together an excellent party and brought in so many attendees. 

On December 12th, 1997, the UN declared June 26th the International Day of Support for Victims of Torture. This day, guaranteed within the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, emphasizes the right of security and personal dignity to all individuals around the world. The main objective of this day is to create solidarity between torture victims, to remind the general public that torture ranks among one of the most heinous and blatant violation of human rights, and to draw attention to the widespread torture still present in the world today. For this reason, every year on June 26th, people take the occasion to announce their opposition to torture.

In a statement sent to members of the United States Senate, The Bellevue/NYU Program for Survivors of Torture (PSOT), The Center for Victims of Torture (CVT) and Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) raised concerns regarding the substantial health concerns of indefinite detention, which is being considered by Congress and the Obama Administration. The organizations note that: “Medical knowledge and experience clearly demonstrate that indefinite detention without charge or trial results in harmful mental health consequences including severe depression and anxiety… A responsible debate of the prospects of indefinite detention in Congress must include open acknowledgement of the serious medical consequences.”

Noted PSOT Director, Dr. Allen Keller, “Indefinite detention results in pain and suffering well above what occurs simply  by virtue of being imprisoned. The uncertainty implicit in indefinite detention is profoundly traumatizing with serious health consequences.”