Editing Freedom from Torture (section)

== History ==
Freedom from Torture began in the early 1980s, as part of the Medical Group of [[Amnesty International]].<ref>{{cite journal|pmc=1600475 | pmid=7357273 | volume=280 | title=Amnesty International's medical group | journal=Br Med J | pages=48–9 | last1 = Pollert | first1 = J | last2 = Gordon | first2 = EM | year=1980 | issue=6206 | doi=10.1136/bmj.280.6206.48-d}}</ref> The organisation was set up to improve existing health services for torture survivors in the UK. This work initially took the form of campaigns against violations of [[human rights]] and the documentation of evidence of torture by volunteer health professionals and senior medical specialists as a reaction .

In 1985, under the leadership of [[Helen Bamber]],<ref name="About us">{{cite web|url=https://www.freedomfromtorture.org/what-we-do/about-us|title=About us {{!}} Our history|website=Freedom From Torture|access-date=13 October 2024}}</ref> the organisation was established as a registered charity. It provided medical treatment, counselling and [[therapy]] to torture survivors and documented evidence of torture using the [[Istanbul Protocol]]. Sponsorship came from the heads of the [[Royal College of Physicians]], [[Royal College of Psychiatrists]] and [[Royal College of Surgeons of England]].

It worked at first in two rooms in the former [[National Temperance Hospital]], off [[Hampstead Road, London|Hampstead Road]] in north-west [[London]].<ref>Freedom from Torture history: http://www.freedomfromtorture.org/about/33</ref> By 1990, the organisation was treating 750 clients and then moved to a building in Grafton Road, [[Kentish Town]].

The organisation began a regional programme in late 2003 with the opening of a centre in [[Manchester]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.freedomfromtorture.org/uk-centres/our-north-west-centre-in-manchester|title=Our North West centre in Manchester|website=Freedom From Torture|access-date=13 October 2024}}</ref> treating clients living in the north-west. This followed the government's dispersal scheme,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/1477491.stm|title=Q&A: Asylum seeker dispersal|website=BBC News|date=2001-08-07|access-date=2019-06-13|language=en-GB}}</ref> which saw [[asylum seekers]] relocated outside London.

In 2004, the London headquarters moved into a £5.8m treatment centre in Isledon Road, [[Finsbury Park]]. The building was purpose-built by architect Paul Hyett. Freedom from Torture’s [[Scotland]] centre opened in [[Glasgow]] in 2004, followed by the [[Newcastle upon Tyne|Newcastle]] centre in 2006 and the Birmingham centre in 2009. These regional centres were opened to treat torture survivors who had been dispersed outside London.<ref>[http://nrif.homeoffice.gov.uk/Health/SpecialistSupport/TortureViolence/survivorsoftorture.asp?oi=06-05-01 "The Integration of Refugees - Positive Practice for Health Professionals", Home Office National Refugee Integration website] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110130105951/http://nrif.homeoffice.gov.uk/Health/SpecialistSupport/TortureViolence/survivorsoftorture.asp?oi=06-05-01 |date=30 Januaryn2011 }}. Retrieved 12 February 2011.</ref>

Freedom from Torture's [[chief executive]] is Sonya Sceats.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.freedomfromtorture.org/news-blogs/15_03_2018/sonya_sceats_is_appointed_chief_executive_of_freedom_from_torture |title=Freedom from Torture - Sonya Sceats is appointed Chief Executive of Freedom from Torture |website=www.freedomfromtorture.org|date= 15 March 2018|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180324043300/https://www.freedomfromtorture.org/news-blogs/15_03_2018/sonya_sceats_is_appointed_chief_executive_of_freedom_from_torture |archive-date=2018-03-24}} </ref>