IRCT [to 12 April 2014]

News
IRCT to mark 40 years of the anti-torture movement with a special 8 April event
06-04-2014
On 8 April, the IRCT will celebrate the 40 years of the anti-torture movement initiated by Danish doctor and human rights defender Inge Genefke, with an event including poetry readings, a presentation by a unique anti-torture writing group, and the presentation of the prestigious Inge Genefke Award.
The event marks 40 years since human rights defender, Dr Inge Genefke, placed an advertisement requesting help from doctors willing to investigate torture in Chile, an advert which encouraged the development of the first medical group for the rehabilitation of torture victims in Denmark.
From this beginning on 8 April 1974, the first medical group under Amnesty International was created, and from this blossomed the evolution of the anti-torture movement, including the International Rehabilitation Council for torture Victims (IRCT). Now with over 140 centres in 73 countries, the IRCT has come a long way from its humble beginnings and provides rehabilitation services to thousands of torture victims every year.
To commemorate the anniversary, the 8 April event at Domus Medica, Copenhagen, will feature a range of activities including speeches from the IRCT Secretary-General Victor Madrigal-Borloz and IRCT President Suzanne Jabbour, poetry readings, and presentations from two participants in a unique therapeutic writing project from UK anti-torture organisation Freedom From Torture.
The 8 April commemoration event will take place on Tuesday 8 April from 1730hrs at Lægeforeningen Domus Medica, Kristianiagade 12, 2100 København Ø.
The ‘Write to Life’ project, which is administered by UK torture rehabilitation network Freedom From Torture, is a writing group which meets twice a month to allow survivors of torture to formulate their experiences into creative texts, many of which have been used in collaborations with opera and performing arts groups who dramatise the experiences of torture survivors.
The highlight of the evening will be the presentation of the Inge Genefke Award, an annual prize given to a prominent human rights defender in celebration of their dedication to preventing torture. Previous winners include Veli Løek (2004), Monica Ferrier (2006), Frances Lovemore (2008), June Lopez (2010) and Jim Jaranson and Jose Quiroga (2012).
This year’s winner will be revealed at the event.

IRCT ‏@IRCT Apr 7
Join us in our #Rwanda20yrs campaign to tell the stories of female victims of torture #RwandaRemembers http://www.irct.org/media-and-resources/irct-news/show-news.aspx?PID=13767&Action=1&NewsId=3864 …