Who We Serve - Survivors of Torture

Survivors of Torture which occurred outside the U.S. are eligible for rehabilitative, social, and legal services under the ORR Survivors of Torture Program, regardless of their immigration status.

Services are provided to Survivors of Torture in accordance with the TVRA authorizing legislation, which uses the following definition of torture:

1. “Torture” means an act committed by a person acting under the color of law specifically intended to inflict severe physical or mental pain or suffering (other than pain or suffering incidental to lawful sanctions) upon another person within his custody or physical control;

2. Severe mental pain or suffering” means the prolonged mental harm caused by or resulting from:

• intentional infliction or threatened infliction of severe physical pain or suffering;
• administration or application, or threatened administration or application, of mind-altering substances or other procedures calculated to disrupt profoundly the senses or the personality;
• threat of imminent death;
• threat that another person will imminently be subjected to death, severe physical pain or suffering, or the administration or application of mind-altering substances or other procedures calculated to disrupt profoundly the senses or personality

As used in the TVRA, this definition also includes the use of rape and other forms of sexual violence by a person acting under the color of law upon another person under his custody or physical control.