Supporting victims of torture

Every year, on the 26th of June, we come together as a community to observe the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. On this day, we honor the voices, stories and experiences of torture survivors, and reaffirm our commitment to our asylum seeking clients and to refugees around the world.

During this year’s event, clients created images using a variety of media that reflected their cultural heritage and background.

As we gathered this week, the urgency of our work weighed heavily. De Novo provides legal and mental health services to immigrants and refugees from all over the world who carry the psychological scars of war and extreme violence. We hear their stories of suffering and survival, the sacrifices their families have made, and their hopes for building a new life after torture.

At a time when the global needs are greater than ever, the U.S. government has turned its back on refugees and threatened our asylum system. Families seeking safety are being sent back to dangerous cities along the Mexican border, and immigrant children are being detained in appalling conditions as if they are criminals.

While it's hard to process that our country is committing these abuses, it's important that we not stop at outrage. Our staff and volunteers continue to be advocates for justice and human rights at home and a voice for the plight of over 70 million refugees worldwide. Now, more than ever, we have to stand together and fight for the rights of all people.