EMPATHY, founded in 1996, is a non-profit non-governmental organization that provides medical, psycho-social and legal support to victims of torture and their family members in Georgia. It performs a significant role in the field of torture prevention and its persecution in Georgia. When necessary, the Center conducts independent medical expertise conclusions, provides forensic medical and psychological/psychiatric expertise. The Center is accredited with International Rehabilitation Council for Victims of Torture (IRCT) and is an active participant of European Network of Rehabilitation centers. EMPATHY has partnership relations with “Penal Reform International,” with CVT (USA) and collaborates with the World Psychiatric Association (WPA), particularly in research projects.
EMPATHY is the first torture victims’ rehabilitation centre in the South Caucasus region and also the first medical organization able to operate in Georgia’s penitentiary system since 1999.
The majority of EMPATHY’s clients are:
• Detainees and former detainees
• Internally displaced persons (IDPs) from military conflict regions (Abkhazia and South Ossetia)
• Refugees from Chechnya
• Asylum seekers from Chechnya, Sri Lanka, and Uzbekistan etc
• Civilians still living in the military conflict zones (especially women and children)
• Juveniles and children with imprisonment experience
• Political prisoners
• Prisoners with mental health concerns.
Average number of clients assisted by the RCT/EMPATHY per year is 500 persons