REDRESS is an NGO that pursues legal claims on behalf of survivors of torture in the UK and around the world to obtain justice and reparation for the violation of their human rights. We empower survivors to access justice through human rights cases against governments, civil cases against individuals, and criminal cases where we advocate for law enforcement bodies to prosecute perpetrators under the principle of universal jurisdiction. Our approach is strategic, so that as well as representing an individual we target the policy reasons that enabled the torture to take place, by building a campaign that uses advocacy, community engagement, and communications to influence change.
REDRESS is the only international organisation dedicated to bringing legal cases on behalf of survivors of torture, an essential part of their recovery. We partner with national NGOs to develop the campaign, including medics, lawyers, advocates, and activists. We also work collaboratively with other international organisations within the anti-torture movement, including NGOs that provide rehabilitation for survivors, work with States to ratify the Convention against Torture, co-ordinate international advocacy, provide training to judges and prosecutors, prevent torture in detention settings, engage with justice mechanisms, and those who mobilise the general public.
REDRESS operates from offices in London and The Hague, and has dedicated team of lawyers, advocates and program staff who work on our projects, campaigns, events, communications and administration. The work of our staff is supported by our Board of Trustees, our Patrons, and a Legal Advisory Council.REDRESS was founded in 1992 by Keith Carmichael, a survivor of gross human rights violations. Keith was working as a businessman in the Middle East when he was interned from 1981 until 1984 without charge or trial. For three months he was detained in solitary confinement. During 857 days of arbitrary detention, Keith was subjected to gross mistreatment and in an incident of aggravated assault his spine was severely fractured. He suffered other grave bodily injuries and psychiatric trauma, which with ongoing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, will negatively affect him for the rest of his life.
REDRESS was founded in 1992 by Keith Carmichael, a survivor of gross human rights violations. Keith was working as a businessman in the Middle East when he was interned from 1981 until 1984 without charge or trial.
For three months he was detained in solitary confinement. During 857 days of arbitrary detention, Keith was subjected to gross mistreatment and in an incident of aggravated assault his spine was severely fractured. He suffered other grave bodily injuries and psychiatric trauma, which with ongoing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, will negatively affect him for the rest of his life.
