Jeanne fled the Democratic Republic of Congo after being repeatedly raped and tortured by rebels. She had been working for a non-government organisation in the east of the country and the rebels accused her of being a spy. ”My life was in great danger and I was very near to death. I was detained for at least two months,” she says. ”I was tortured, raped and beaten up. The torture was the most horrible you could think. I was beaten, spat on and treated in the least human way.”
She has been helped by the Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture at its Manchester office. The foundation offers medical, psychiatric, rehabilitation, counselling and befriending services. The charity also has centres in Newcastle and Glasgow and is hoping to open one in Birmingham.
Jeanne felt very fragile and vulnerable when she arrived here. ”I had to explain these things that had happened in my life two or three times to immigration officers — and questions dealing with intimacy.” The mental health service in Salford referred her to the foundation. ”I was out of balance and I didn’t believe in life any more. I had lost every hope of actually going on living and rebuilding my life. I felt my personality had been wiped.” The foundation helped her to regain her self-confidence.
”It has helped me express myself and confide in someone about things I was pushing back down.” Jeanne needed several sessions to be able to build up the trust to start talking. She was also supported through her pregnancy and the birth of her daughter. ”I gained a feeling of safety — I can depend on people and rely on people.”
The Medical Foundation was established in 1985 and opened its centre in the north-west almost four years ago as a response to the dispersal of asylum seekers. The centre has nine core staff, 11 volunteer counsellors and 18 volunteer doctors working with it. Last year, the foundation had 2 786 referrals of victims of torture. Across the United Kingdom, it has helped more than 35 000 people from 100 countries.
Jude Boyles, the Manchester centre manager, said victims had experienced rape, torture and possible HIV infection in their home country, were separated from their families when they arrived in the UK, and often experienced poverty and racism. ”Often people who have been affected by torture have stopped speaking,” she said. ”We have people who do not sleep and are only able to sleep for the odd hour.”
The charity has trained interpreters and arts and drama therapists working with it. But it is under-resourced and relies on volunteers.
Sebastian (31) from Cameroon, was also tortured in his home country. ”We were mistreated in the most brutal, inhuman and savage way.”
He escaped from prison and arrived in the UK in March last year. ”If suddenly you are cut off from your wife, your family, you cannot use all your education … the Medical Foundation supported me but I got to the point where I was asking if all there really was to life was finding clothes to keep warm. Taking part in a drama workshop at the Medical Foundation actually allowed me to consider that I may have a hidden talent — to the extent that I have now been taking part in drama at the University of Manchester.
”There is an issue that I have discussed with the staff … with all the support I was given, I would like [them] to be able to extend their reach to those who are still in their home country. Only maybe one out of 10 torture victims make it out of their home country.”
The figures
More than 3 000 torture survivors arrive in Britain each year, often with painful mental and physical conditions
Last year 2 786 men, women and children were referred to the Medical Foundation
The foundation provides medical and psychotherapeutic treatment and support
It documents evidence of torture
Trains health professionals working with torture survivors
Educates the public and decision-makers about torture
Attempts to ensure that Britain honours its international obligations towards survivors and asylum seekers – Guardian Unlimited Â