UPDATE 3.7.2007 - 31.12.2007

October 29, 2007 - Presentation of the report with a title "the true is bitter but it must be said" from the group of lawyers for the rights of refugees and migrants with the support of the German organization of supporting refugees PRO ASYL in the Hall of Athens BAR Association. Among the main speakers was Dr. Maria Piniou-Kalli, Medical Director of the Center.

January 14, 2007 - clipping in the Greek newspaper ETHNOS TIS KIRIAKIS "Support of refugees - victims of torture", regarding the program of European Refugee Fund and Ministry of Health and Welfare of Greece with one of the major purposes: supportive and creative lessons for the children of our clients (secondary victims) by M.Psara.

October 8, 2007 - Dr. Maria Piniou-Kalli, has been nominated for the UN Committee Against Torture (CAT). In an interview to Sune Segal, head of the IRCT Communications Unit, Dr. Maria Piniou-Kalli talks about the nomination, her background and how she plans to contribute to the work of the Committee if she becomes one of its members.

November 7th to 14th, 2007 the Medical Rehabilitation Center for Torture Victims organised an exhibition with an initiative of the artist Mrs. Smaragda Avramidou, and the support of the University of Indianapolis. Mrs. Smaragda Avramidou has donated her paintings and handicrafts to the profit of the Medical Rehabilitation Center. Medical Rehabilitation Center For Torture Victims wants to express the gratefulness to the artist and to the University of Indianapolis.

The International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT), Brussels Office, on December 3-4, realised the meeting of European Centers with the subject "IRCT Member Centers in Europe-Planning Meeting". Dr. Maria Piniou Kalli, Medical Director of the Center, was the representative of the Medical Rehabilitation Center For Torture Victims in Athens. During her visit to Brussels she had meetings with Greek MePs where they had a discussion on the issue of the funding of the Rehabilitation Centers.

Also, on the 7-9 of December in Istanbul, Turkey, the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT), organized an International Symposium with the subject "V International Trauma Symposium", and on the 10-11 of December followed the annual meeting of Council members of the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims. The Medical Director of our Center, Dr. Maria Piniou- Kalli, the member of the Council, represented our Center.

SOCIAL SERVICE
On the 29-31 October The social service realized a visit in Kosteas Gitonas School in (Pallini) and had a briefing with the students. The subject of the briefing was "Torture" and the services that Medical Rehabilitation Center provides to its clients. The Medical Rehabilitation Center For Torture Victims was represented by the social workers Mrs. Dora Papazafiri, Mrs. Ekavi Papadimitriou, and the psychologist – Mr. Christos Kryssilas.

"Governments fail to support Torture Survivors in Europe"

The European Network of Treatment and Rehabilitation Centres for Victims of Torture and Human Rights Violations calls upon the governments of Europe to respect their commitments to survivors of torture and other severe acts of political violence seeking recognition, protection and access to appropriate healthcare in their territories.

Hosted by the Primo Levi Association, the fourth annual conference of the European Network of Treatment and Rehabilitation Centres for Victims of Torture and Human Rights Violations was held between 30 th March - 1 st April, 2006 . A pp proximately 50 centers, representing hundreds of healthcare professionals, providing psychological, medical, social and legal assistance to victims of torture and other forms of repression gathered in Paris to share their growing concern over the blatant discrepancy between, on the one hand, the sheer number of torture victims present in Europe and their consequent sufferings and needs and, on the other hand, the serious shortcomings of European states in providing the necessary rehabilitation services. The men, women and children who turn to the European Network centers for specialized care include fellow European citizens victims of war crimes or past or present brutal regimes, notably in Eastern Europe and in the Balkans, and/or exiles from all over the world seeking refuge and asylum in Europe.

PRESS RELEASE

The MEDICAL REHABILITATION CENTER FOR TORTURE VICTIMS (MRCT) is a non-governmental organization that was established in 1989 and since then offers different kind of services for the refugees-victims of torture and ill treatment. The center offers different kind of services including: