Asylum Network

Aiding Survivors of Torture: Medical and Psychological Documentation of Asylum Seekers

Health Professionals and the Asylum Process

Each year thousands of survivors of torture and other forms of persecution seek asylum in the U.S. They often have nothing more than their own words to substantiate their suffering. Some of the most compelling evidence available—physical and psychological sequelae of torture—will go unnoticed and unheeded. Documentation of that evidence by a licensed health professional can make the difference between safety and future persecution. Evidence shows that asylum cases supported by forensic documentation are almost three times more likely to result in a grant of asylum than cases without such documentation.

Physicians for Human Rights' Asylum Network consists of hundreds of health professionals throughout the country who offer pro bono psychological and physical evaluations to document evidence of torture and other abuse for men and women fleeing persecution in their home countries.

PHR is sponsoring a training to provide health professionals with the skills to perform medical and psychological evaluations of asylum seekers.

Please register by Friday, June 12, 2009. 

Space is limited, so preference will be given to board-certified and state-licensed health professionals.

PHR has reserved a number of hotel rooms at a discounted rate, within walking distance of the GWU School of Medicine.

A limited number of travel scholarships is available for health professionals who agree to provide a minimum of 2 forensic evaluations for low-income or indigent noncitizens held at area detention centers. Contact Jennifer Baldé (jbalde [at] phrusa [dot] com) for more information.

The goal of this training is to provide health professionals who are interested in diagnosing and evaluating medical and psychological evidence of human rights violations, with specialized knowledge that will enable them to use their medical skills to document the physical and psychological sequelae of torture. Emphasis will be given to conducting medical and psychological examinations of applicants for asylum in the United States. The sessions will be led by experienced evaluators of survivors of torture.

Course Objectives: 

At the completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Examine torture survivors and others fleeing persecution, and conclude whether or not the physical or psychological aftermath of their experiences are consistent with their accounts of events;
• Prepare an effective medical affidavit documenting the physical and psychological sequelae of torture;
• Provide oral court testimony documenting the evaluation;
• Demonstrate an enhanced understanding of the asylum process in the United States and the importance of the health professional role and forensic documentation in this process; and
• Explain human rights violations and their health consequences.
  

Session highlights:

• Human rights, asylum law, and the importance of health professionals in the asylum process.
• Torture, persecution, and their aftermath: Issues asylum seekers face in their home countries and upon arrival in the United States.
• Immigration detention, and mandatory detention of asylum seekers.
• Evaluating and documenting the physical and psychological sequelae of torture.
• Effective affidavit writing and providing oral testimony in Immigration Court.
• Expanding the reach of your skils: evaluating asylum seekers and advocating for change.
• Legal professionals and health professionals: working effectively together.

Register today.