Archive

Thinking about the horror of torture can keep me awake at night. But my work to fight it gets me up in the morning.

I work with the clinical and advocacy departments as health and human rights adviser. I examine clients and take testimonies, documenting physical and psychological consequences from torture. Most of my clients are young women who have survived physical and sexual violence in their countries of origin, only to face further hardship as asylum seekers here in the UK.

In my second role as an advocacy officer I take up issues arising from my clinical work. I conduct research which enables the foundation to challenge human rights abuses. I also write briefings presenting the foundation's view to parliamentary committees, government ministers, or the UN. It is satisfying to know that as well as offering clients help, I can campaign on their behalf.

I first joined the foundation as an NHS volunteer. It is multi-disciplinary work and I have learned much from working with counsellors, psychotherapists, psychologists, social workers, lawyers and interpreters. That holistic approach attracted me to work here full-time. The result has been increased job satisfaction and the opportunity to take on roles unavailable to a hospital doctor.

In the NHS, I often felt frustrated by difficulties confronted by marginalised groups in accessing health care and by the lack of time available for patients. The foundation allows me time to sit with clients until they feel able to reveal what they endured.

My work is dictated by external as well as clinical factors, like changes in asylum legislation which is frustrating.

Another concern is the apparent willingness among politicians to ignore the lessons of the past. The foundation stands against all forms of torture. I am proud to work for it.