Forum for Activists Against Torture (FACT)
FACT is the Focal NGO for Rwanda and Burundi

BACKGROUND:
Formed in 1999 and registered as local human rights NGO by a Ministerial Decree in 2003, FACT RWANDA works to contribute to development of social justice through addressing issues of prevention of torture and organized violence. It was created through the coming together of human rights activists including lawyers, physicians, and students of the Medical Students Association (MEDSA) of the National University of Rwanda. They were all inspired to contribute to the healing of the Rwandan people and to prevent the recurrence of torture and violence such as that which characterized the 1994 genocide in this country. The organization is comprised of 60 volunteers from differing professions who devote their time to the organization on a part-time and as needed basis.

VISION/MISSION:
FACT- RWANDA is working toward a world free from all forms of torture and violence. FACT contributes to the prevention, denunciation and eradication of the practices of torture and violence, and rehabilitation of victims of these practices.

OBJECTIVES:
While there is a range of activities and expertise, the main work is done in the area of advocacy and education. Such activities include the sensitization of the national police, students and the general public on issues of torture and organized violence. Other services include medical attention and referrals for victims as well as legal and psychosocial assistance in collaboration with other trauma centers. The torture survivors being served include Rwandans (living with and outside the Rwanda), as well as Congolese, Ugandan and Burundian refugees who have been tortured in their home countries. The average number of survivors served is 15-20 per month on an outpatient basis.

PROGRAM AREAS:

1. Rehabilitation services delivery
The Rwandan torture and trauma survivors include the genocide survivors, prisoners/detainees, repatriates, armed conflict victims and victims/survivors of sexual and gender violence who comprise the majority of FACT’s clients. FACT is committed to bring humanity back to those who have been dehumanised through torture and violence by treating and rehabilitating them into their normal lives.The main activities in this regard include:

Psychosocial assistance: Counselling is the fundamental activity of FACT RWANDA; many of our clients are genocide survivors they are in need of psychological support.

Medical assistance: The medical doctor does consultation of somatic patients every Thursday afternoon. The consultation is done within the centre; complicated cases are referred to specialised hospitals.  

Legal assistance: FACT has a part-time lawyer to assist the victims of torture and violence who may need legal redress.

Outreach activities: The outreach is an important activity as it helps the victims to know that they are not abandoned, and we provide support to the caregivers as well. On the other side it allows us to assess the real social situation of our clients, as we do home and hospital visits, checking in on cases that haven’t responded to appointments for a long time.

2.  Networking
FACT networks with different organisations and institutes to help them assist our clients where possible. FACT also created FACT Burundi, and FACT RD Congo (Bukavu and Goma), which operate as autonomous NGOs with guidance and support from FACT Rwanda.

3. Research and documentation
With support from IRCT-DENMARK, FACT RWANDA carried out a micro survey on the magnitude of torture and its consequences in thee provinces of Rwanda. The results were published and widely shared among partners and from them we got a picture and the extent of suffering torture survivors have experienced, especially the survivors of the 1994 genocide. This survey enabled us to get a glimpse of the basic needs that people commonly have and it also helped us to design our minimum standards and trauma response mechanisms in our rehabilitation center.

With help from UNIFEM FACT RWANDA is carrying out a base line survey to identify what has been done on prevention of gender based violence as well as documenting best practices in GBV prevention. With support from ICCO- Nethrlands, FACT RWANDA has also carried out a baseline assessment of human rights in the Rwandan prisons and those findings will soon be out.  

With support from MTN, FACT RWANDA has a toll free line to assist the victim’s with easy communication with our staff, especially in times of emergencies. This toll free number helps us to reach and talk to our clients in different parts of the country and facilitates our intervention efforts on victim rehabilitation. The telephone number is 3232.

4. Prevention activities
In prevention, FACT has focused its activities mainly on training and sensitization dealing with a selected target group at a time. Our prevention activities include the following:

Working in Rwanda prisons: FACT-Rwanda has carried out Training of Trainers (TOT) in 13 prisons countrywide with the overall aim of having prison inmates benefiting from the development of social justice. FACT RWANDA initiated and organised training programs against torture, sexual and gender based violence and other human rights violations by involving a small group and equipping them with necessary information and training skills to enable them pass on information to other inmates. The TOT involved 60 prisoners and 10 prison staff in each prison.

FACT RWANDA also has trained prison social workers from all 16 prisons of Rwanda on trauma management. We have also carried monitoring of Human Rights violations in prisons, particularly torture and violence. This project is aimed at prison reform by making necessary recommendations to stakeholders responsible for the living standards of prisoners.

Working in Rwandan schools: Both primary and secondary schools form our target group as recipients of our preventive services. School sensitisation programs on torture, gender based violence and children rights were carried out in a total of 48 schools. We also provide youth with relevant information on how to protect themselves against all forms of human rights violations.

FACT RWANDA has carried out a Training of Trainers for school teachers from all primary and secondary schools in Cyangugu province, involving 147 and 60 primary and secondary schools respectively. In the context of Cyangugu province, beneficiaries included; parents’ representatives, head of the youth, gender, health and police representatives at the district levels.  We have also worked to create human rights clubs in schools. The overall objective of this project is to assist children to fight against torture, violence and other human rights violations affecting them and other children.

Working with the National Police of Rwanda: FACT RWANDA has made a commitment to working with police officers, especially the police in the department of Democracy and human rights, including officers from family and child protection units. Torture, by definition, is inflicted by or with the acquiescence of those who hold power, and public servants have been proven around the world to be at risk of abusing the power vested in them. In the past three years, FACT-Rwanda has been able to work in partnership with police to increase capacity to handle torture, organized violence or SGBV cases in an appropriate manner, respecting the victims’ human rights.

FACT in collaboration with NOVA (National Organisation for Victims Assistance) has also trained police officials in the past three years. This training was further to strengthen police’s capacity to handle the victims of torture and violence especially in crisis times.

Working with local defense forces in Rwanda: FACT RWANDA trained the local Defense Forces of Rwanda in Umutara and Kibuye provinces to increase awareness on torture and violence and consequently promote human rights and social justice among the local defence. The TOT was carried out first in both provinces at the provincial level involving 766 participants who went down to train others in the districts.

Working with Female Ex-combantants: FACT-Rwanda organized a training of women ex-combatants. This is a special group of women, who despite the cultural beliefs that do not approve of women participating in military activities, played a big role in the deliberation war of Rwanda. FACT chose to work with these women because there is power and devotion in them as demonstrated during the war. FACT believes that since these women have returned back to their societies, they will take a leading role to fight violence against women if they are equipped with necessary knowledge on how to do it.

Working with community associations: In collaboration with, PACFA another local NGO that helps vulnerable people with HIV/ AIDS, FACT trained child headed households on trauma management and healing and the importance of counseling while dealing with trauma. Because of their vulnerability, they have been exposed to all sorts of abuses including torture and violence leading to trauma.

FACT Rwanda in collaboration with MEMISA – CORDAID, organized and facilitated a TOT workshop on issues of torture, Gender-Based violence and its effects on Reproductive Health. Its overall objective was to create awareness about torture, GBV and its impact on reproductive health among the community members of Cyangugu province.

Resources about or by FACT:

• 2004 Annual Activity Report, [view]
  

• Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Report on Training and Sensitization Workshops for the National Police Force of Rwanda: 2002 [view]
  

• Community Dialogues get everyone talking, featured in the May 2006 issue of Perspectives on Prevention. [view]
  

• 16 Days of Activism 2005 campaign report [view]
  

CONTACT INFORMATION:
Address: P.O. Box 4580, Kigali, Rwanda
Telephone: +250  2511830
Website: www.fact.org.rw
Email: fact@rwanda1.com
Focal contact: Dr Davis Kashaka Karegeya

{ back }