freedom from torture - rebuilding lives

Rehabilitation and Research Centre for Torture Victims (RCT)

Leading research centre, provider of first class rehabilitation, and pioneer in the fight against torture

Freedom From torture- rebuilding lives

RCT is the most famous torture rehabilitation centre in the world. In addition to providing hundreds of torture survivors from all world regions with medical, psychological, social and other forms of rehabilitation, RCT is a leading research and documentation centre on the methods of torture and its effects on human beings.

Prof. Manfred NowakUN Special Rapporteur on Torture

RCT is an amazing success story: one medical expert’s efforts to help torture survivors led to the creation of one of the world’s first specialized rehabilitation centres and made the campaign against torture a key issue for the Danish government creating great international respect and recognition.

Inge Genefke, internationally renowned and innovative physician and human rights activist, founded RCT in 1982. Since then, RCT has evolved from a health care organization rehabilitating torture victims into a multi-sector institution that undertakes rehabilitation, research and prevention of torture and organized violence, both nationally and globally. In 1985, the International Council for Torture Victims (IRCT) was created to meet the growing demand for rehabilitation of torture survivors the world over.

In 2005, RCT and the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) signed a cooperation agreement, making MFA the main donor to RCT’s work. A year later, RCT’s rehabilitation work with torture survivors became an integral part of the Danish health care system.

In 2010, RCT was recognized by the Danish National Board of Health as one of three national centres specializing in the treatment of severely traumatized refugees. RCT has Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations and is a member of the World Health Organization’s global Violence Prevention Alliance.

Great eFForts lead to Great success

In 2010, RCT was recognized by the Danish National Board of Health as one of three national centers specializing in the treatment of severely traumatized refugees.


ProvidinG First class rehabilitation – rebuildinG lives

An estimated 45 % of the refugees who obtain asylum in Denmark have been subjected to torture. The rehabilitation RCT offers to torture survivors allows them to regain their self-esteem, giving them the ability to live more active lives and to participate more fully in society. The RCT rehabilitation process has inspired many centres all over the world.

Through an inter-disciplinary approach with medical, physiotherapeutic, psychological, and social components, we help rebuild lives that have been torn apart.

Every year, we rehabilitate more than 100 torture survivors, most of whom require individual rehabilitation. We have a staff of 23, including physicians, physiotherapists, psychologists and social workers divided into 4 rehabilitation teams.

leadinG research centre, provider of first class rehabilitation, and pioneer in the fight against torture

An estimated 45 % of the refugees who obtain asylum in Denmark have been subjected to torture.


a leadinG Player in the research Field Over the past three decades, RCT has established itself as a leader in its field. This is a role that RCT is proud to fulfil. Whether within rehabilitation, prevention or advocacy, our work is based on state of the art knowledge, i.e. on evidence, consensus or international conventions.

RCT conducts research into the mental and physical consequences of torture, rehabilitation approaches, the prevalence and effects of torture in local communities and the reasons for and prevention of torture within institutions and networks that perpetrate torture.

Currently, 18 senior scientists, post-docs and PhD-students are working within three research clusters. Research results are regularly published in internationally recognized journals.

sharinG our knowledGeRCT Documentation Centre and Library compiles, generates, systematizes, stores and disseminates knowledge on torture and its consequences worldwide. This enables RCT to advise Danish and international scholars, practitioners and decision makers on prevention of torture and organized violence, as well as on cutting edge rehabilitation methodologies for torture survivors, and on the biological, psychological and social effects of torture and organized violence.


Only a fraction of people subjected to torture can be offered rehabilitation in Denmark. Therefore, RCT’s work transcends international borders to reach torture survivors and their families, wherever they are located. RCT develops tools to improve rehabilitation and prevention and co-operates with local organizations throughout the world to strengthen capacity in treating torture survivors and to help prevent torture. At the moment we have programmes in Africa, Asia, Latin America, The Middle East and the Balkans.

At the very top of RCT’s priority list is the training of police recruits, military personnel and state officials in the UN Convention Against Torture (CAT) and the fragile nature of torture survivors. RCT also advocates for governments all over the globe to ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture (OPCAT), ensuring that places of detention are safe from torture. As of March 2010, the OPCAT has been signed by 64 countries, of which only 14 have yet to ratify.

the world is our workPlace

at the moment we have programmes in

aFrica, asia, latin america, the middle east and the balkans.


RCT develops tools to improve rehabilitation and prevention and co-operates with local organizations throughout the world.

In 2010, RCT was recognized by the Danish National Board of Health as one of three national centers specializing in the treatment of severely traumatized refugees.


RCTBorgergade 13P.O. Box 2107DK-1014 Copenhagen KDenmark

E-mail: [email protected]: + 45 3376 0600Web: www.rct.dk

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freedom from torture - rebuilding lives

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