PRI Moscow conducts Expert meetings on holistic rehabilitation and torture prevention.

Within the framework of PRI’s Torture Prevention project two parallel events were organised in Moscow for experts from Ukraine, Belarus and Russia between 24 – 28 October 2011. One event was a training of trainers provided by Freedom from Torture on holistic rehabilitation issues and the other an expert meeting with researcher from  Bristol University to discuss the country background studies on the situation of torture in detention facilities in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. The Bristol University Human Rights Implementation Centre and Freedom from Torture are the official partners of PRI in its Torture Prevention project.

During the Training of Trainers delivered by Freedom from Torture participants received materials and guidance on training others on the issues of rehabilitation of torture victims for The Trainer’s manual and other training materials on holistic rehabilitation were developed specifically for this event. The group of trainees was a multidisciplinary one comprised of lawyers and psychologists. The trainees were mainly acquainted with the holistic rehabilitation as an approach for their work with survivors of torture and also techniques of training  professionals on rehabilitation work.

The meeting of national experts with the Bristol University researcher was mainly aimed at reviewing the draft country background reports and adding national information and relevant examples which  The country experts were asked to provide to assist in writing of strong country reports.  The three day expert workshop was very productive and as a result the country background research papers were enriched with the relevant information received from the country experts and also with recommendations to the states compiled in each paper.

Both the parallel events were organised by the PRI regional office in Moscow within the framework of the Torture Prevention project. The PRI Moscow office provided all the logistical and organisational  support for the events which were very successful.