The Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles’ Torture Survivors Project attends to the needs of immigrants who were victims of torture in their countries of origin. It involves both outreach and legal assistance to this diverse community of asylees and refugees.

We assist torture survivors to apply for their initial and renewal work permits, adjustment of status and naturalization. We also assist them to file petitions for family members and applications for political asylum. Other legal services include: in court representation, family reunification assistance and government benefits assistance.

The Torture Survivors Project conducts outreach in key ethnic communities where it is known there are large populations of asylees and refugees who have come to the U.S. from countries where torture is commonly committed. These include countries such as Armenia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Colombia, Kenya, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Guatemala, Honduras, Iran, Liberia, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Peru, Somalia, Sudan and Vietnam.

One example of our outreach efforts was done in April, when we organized AFRICA, the African Forum on Immigrants and Refugees in California. We see this as a long-term project to bring together representatives from various ethnic African communities and from organizations like LAFLA that provide services to these communities. Our long term goal is to help them build capable organizations within the African community.

The Torture Survivors Project maintains a strong partnership with the local International Rescue Committee (IRC) office and the Program for Torture Victims (PTV). IRC is a refugee resettlement organization that provides assistance to refugees and asylees through the IRC’s Matching Grant program. The Program for Torture Victims provides medical, psychological and case management services to survivors of torture. LAFLA’s Torture Survivors Project, IRC and PTV refer and share clients with each other so as to compliment each organization’s respective services. Clients who are torture survivors benefit enormously from this collaboration in that they receive a comprehensive range of legal, social and health services.

For more information about the Torture Survivors Project or if you need assistance, email us at tsp@lafla.org or call:

Carolina Sheinfeld (213) 640-3933

Emily Carey (562) 304-2539 or

Agustin Corral at (323) 801-7901

 

STANDING WITH TORTURE SURVIVORS:

UN INTERNATIONAL DAY IN SUPPORT OF VICTIMS OF TORTURE

 

LAFLA, together with the Museum of Tolerance, the Program for Torture Victims and the International Rescue Committee, commemorated the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture on June 19, 2007 at the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles. The United Nations celebrates June 26 as the anniversary of the enactment of the Convention Against Torture.

The evening started with the screening of the Museum’s newest exhibition “In Our Time.” This short documentary depicts crimes against humanity in the 21st (Darfur, North Korea, Terrorism) and 20th centuries (Rwanda, Cambodia, the Balkans, Armenian Genocide).

The short film consists of videos and images about these tragic events, narrated by some of the victims and by human rights advocates. Composers Elik Álvarez and Freddy Sheinfeld, responsible for the music that drives the story, were present at the event. 

Our panel of speakers gave their impressions on the important issue of torture and torture survivors. Ana Deutsch, Clinical Director at PTV, talked about what torture does to people and what it takes to heal, as well as healing and safety in the US as a form of justice for. Retired Honorable Immigration Judge Bruce Einhorn’ s presentation was entitled “The Shredding of Law by the Bush Administration and the Tolerance of the Intolerable: Our Government's Application and Defense of Torture in the Struggle Against Terror,” he also talked about Political Asylum and the US Immigration courts. 

Brigitte Suhr, Director of Regional Programs at the Coalition for the International Criminal Court, talked in general about the existence of the new International Criminal Court, which has jurisdiction over torture and how, it is hoped, that justice can been seen as part of the healing process for victims of torture, for the specific victims of the cases being investigated and also, more broadly, as a statement that torture is one of the most serious crimes of concern to the international community and that its perpetrators should be held accountable.

“Standing with Torture Survivors” was sold out (more than 125 people attended for free) and we look forward for next year’s commemorative event.