On june 28 the Trinidad and Tobago Association of Psychologists will launch its Trauma Treatment Program to media outlets in Trinidad/Tobago (T&T) at a presentation and reception at the Advanced School of Nursing at the medical school here in T&T. So far, we have been interviewed by two of the three major newspapers in T&T. The program consists of nineteen practitioners who are pledged to donate 35 pro bono hours of direct services to individuals and groups referred through our contact number. Continue reading ‘Trauma Treatment Program in Trinidad’

We are pleased to offer you this year’s first publishing of the CMHW bulletin!

Even as the Zimbabwe crisis worsens, an extraordinary solidarity movement
has taken hold across Southern Africa–sparked by a South African dock
workers’ union that refused to unload a Chinese shipment of
Zimbabwe-bound weapons.[1]

Continue reading ‘Update on Zimbabwe Crisis’

As the Program Director for ITTP, I thank you for your patience with the laxidasical updating of our website. Several things have occured since the graduation ceremony, and there are many things to inform you about!

Continue reading ‘What’s New at the ITTP?’

By Judith Norman and Alistair Welchman
Jewish Voice for Peace

There have been new revelations about the extent to which torture is permitted in both Israel and the US.  In the first set of reports below, the Public Committee against Torture in Israel (PCATI) has revealed that the Israeli security service (Shin Bet) harms or threatens to harm the relatives of prisoners in order to extract confessions from the prisoners themselves.  In some cases, the relatives are physically tortured. The accusations of torture are bad enough, but harming or threatening to harm uninvolved noncombatants for the political end of extracting a confession appears to fall under standard definitions of terrorism. The details are given in the first two pieces below, an article from Ha’aretz and a press release from the PCATI. Continue reading ‘New reports shed light on extent torture is used by Israel and U.S.’

By Shahar Ilan
Haaretz Correspondent

The Public Committee Against Torture in Israel has accused the Shin Bet security service of using relatives of individuals under interrogation to extract confessions.

In a report to be submitted Sunday to the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee, the organization says the Shin Bet makes unjustified arrests of family members, or creates the pretense of such arrests to pressure suspects. Continue reading ‘Rights group: Shin Bet uses relatives to extract prisoners’ confessions’

New Report by the Public Committee Against torture in Israel (PCATI) to be launched today in the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee: The GSS illegally exploits family members causing severe harm to detainees and their families

The Public Committee Against Torture in Israel’s report published today reveals that Israel’s General Security Service (GSS) exploits family members of Palestinian detainees in order to apply illegal psychological pressure on them and to force them to confess. Demonstrating a heightened level of concern surrounding the findings of the report, which show the continued use of interrogation methods that have been condemned as torture or ill treatment under international law, Knesset Constitution Law and Justice Committee Chairperson, Professor Menachem Ben Sasson, has agreed to PCATI’s request to discuss the report in a special committee session, today at 13:30 in the Knesset. The extraordinary nature of this act is further demonstrated by Professor Ben Sasson’s calling on the GSS to respond to the report during the hearing. Continue reading ‘Family Matters: Israeli use of family members to pressure detainees’

Reported by the ACLU

WASHINGTON – In a stunning admission to ABC news Friday night, President Bush declared that he knew his top national security advisers discussed and approved specific details of the CIA’s use of torture. Bush reportedly told ABC, “I’m aware our national security team met on this issue. And I approved.” Bush also defended the use of waterboarding. Continue reading ‘ACLU Calls for Independent Counsel to Investigate Administration’s Approval of Torture and Abuse’

President Says He Knew His Senior Advisers Discussed Tough Interrogation Methods
By JAN CRAWFORD GREENBURG, HOWARD L. ROSENBERG and ARIANE de VOGUE
April 11, 2008

President Bush says he knew his top national security advisers discussed and approved specific details about how high-value al Qaeda suspects would be interrogated by the Central Intelligence Agency, according to an exclusive interview with ABC News Friday. Continue reading ‘ABC News: Bush Aware of Advisers’ Interrogation Talks’

The ITTP welcomes you to join us for our Graduation ceremony celebrating the completion of the 2007 training program. We have been honored to host and work with two practitioners from Uganda, Osborn Omoding and Rita Ennu for the past three months. Please join with us as we celebrate their success, raise funds for ITTP, and have a lot of fun doing it.

At our celebration, we will be offering a selection of fine wines from local Olympic Wine Merchant, a dessert auction, silent auction, and Live Auction!

We will be gathering together Sunday Dec. 2nd at 5:30pm at the Phoenix Inn, Olympia, WA. For registration information, please contact Keylee at (360)352-2974 or email at ittpolympia@gmail.com