PHOTO: Dr. Jill John-Kall People in the Darfur IDP camps are at constant risk of violence.

Torture takes place in about one-third of countries. Torture means the infliction of physical or emotional pain, anguish, agony and torment in order to obtain information or to change the views of the tortured person. Torture methods are designed to force the victim to do what the torturer wants. Physical techniques include all kinds of beating and electric shock. People may also be deprived of food, water, sound or light, or submerged in water. Or they may be tortured with other kinds of violence and physical and sexual abuse. Psychological techniques such as false accusations, threats of death or fake executions are used to confuse the victim and break down resistance. The most common consequences are psychological ones such as fear, depression and nervousness. The person who has been tortured may experience difficulty in concentrating, may be unable to sleep or may have nightmares. These problems usually start immediately but in some cases they may begin months or years after the original torture. They may last for a long time.

Many refugees ave also suffered other forms of violence, which may have been as severe as torture. They may have lost one or more family members and may even have witnessed their death. Some may have been wounded or physically disabled. They may have seen others starve or may have been bombarded during their escape.