Mission Statement 

To contribute significantly to eliminating the occurrence and consequences of politically-motivated torture and violence against Palestinians.

 

TRC is an independent, non-governmental organization which was founded in response to the human rights abuses perpetrated in the context of the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories. Specifically, the Center was created to combat the effects of the systematic practice of torture in Israeli prisons on individual, family and community members which has been carried out on hundreds of thousands of Palestinian political prisoners since 1967. Services are also extended to direct and indirect victims of other forms of politically-motivated violence in the occupied territories, and to those tortured by other perpetrators. TRC's mandate has become all the more significant since the second Palestinian uprising (Intifada) against the Israeli occupation that began in September 2000, which has seen an increase to the already extremely oppressive Israeli practices in the occupied territories. In order to accomplish its mission, the Center, the only of its kind in the West Bank, provides a range of services and activities designed to alleviate the effects of politically-motivated torture and violence and to advocate and act against torture both locally and internationally. The following immediate objectives combine to work towards the Center's Mission:

 

1.         To assist residents of Palestine in coping with and overcoming the consequences of their traumatic experiences and resulting difficulties in living through:

·        Individual psychosocial support

·        Family counseling

·        Crisis Intervention

·        Group Therapy

·        Outreach / community activities

·        Public awareness concerning mental health and the psychosocial effects of politically-motivated torture and violence

·        Media activities

·        Applied research

 

2.         To increase and strengthen professional awareness and expertise in the areas of mental health and human rights through the training of professionals from the health, social services, law enforcement and educational sectors. The ultimate purpose of this public awareness campaign is an increase in effective resources and services available to survivors of politically-motivated torture and violence.

 

3.         To work towards the prevention of further human rights abuses -- through training, campaigning and documentation - and towards building an atmosphere of respect and openness and a culture that rejects all forms of human rights violations in general, and politically motivated torture and violence in particular.