Message from the Secretary General

Up until three decades ago, there were no treatment centres or services to treat torture survivors. Today there are some 200 centres or programs all over the world. There is now profound knowledge of the effects of torture, and how to diagnose and rehabilitate torture victims.

Thousands of victims of gross human rights abuses are being treated through hundreds of programmes in more than 50 countries. Many amongst these centres are ISHHR members committed to eliminating all types of torture and ill treatment.

The United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture celebrated on 26 June reminds the world that torture is a crime and provides us with an opportunity to stand united against this cruel violation of human rights.

Meanwhile, I’m happy to announce that the bid prepared by our colleagues in Georgia to host next ISHHR workshops and conference was successful. This means Tbilisi will host next ISHHR Workshops & Conference in October of 2011. ISHHR Secretariat already started working on organising this exciting international event along with a strong Local Committee formed in"> Georgia. The LC is led by ISHHR Council member Nino Makhashvili (Director of Global Initiative on Psychiatry-Tbilisi) who is working hard to make this important event a big international success. The proposed dates for the event are 6-9 October 2011, so make sure to save the date!

It is also a pleasant development that ISHHR, with the help of Psyche Visual, will pod-cast the 2011 International Conference in a section dedicated to ISHHR and its members.