Survivors International Events

Join Us for our Annual Celebration ~ November 16th RSVP today!

noreply@blogger.com (Survivors International) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 20:58:00 +0000

RSVP : (415) 437-3073 or info@survivorsintl.org

Trafficking in Moldova-- Film Event and Lecture

noreply@blogger.com (Survivors International) — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 19:26:00 +0000

The San Francisco Chapter of UN WOMEN National Committee will host a fundraiser on Friday January 28th from 6:30-9:30 at the ATA to support the work of Ninel (Neli) Babcinschi, an advocate and defender of trafficked victims in Moldova.

Participants will hear from Kate Transchel, professor of Russian History at California State University, Chico, and an expert in human trafficking in eastern Europe. She has just returned from 3 months in Russia, Ukraine, and Moldova, interviewing victims of trafficking. Dr. Transchel is advocating on behalf of Neli Babcinschi, a Moldovan lawyer in immediate danger of persecution because of her work to free victims of trafficking. Come hear her story and support her work.

Also, we will screen the film Call + Response, and will hear directly from the director about the making of the documentary. For more information on the film: http://www.callandresponse.com/

This event is co-sponsored by the Department on the Status of Women and Survivors International and is open to the public.

Tickets are $15, which covers costs and raises funds for Ms. Babcinschi. If you can't attend please consider making an online donation:

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=9722338

Location: ATA

992 Valencia Street

San Francisco, CA

94110

Panel Discussion with Former Guantanamo Detainee

noreply@blogger.com (Survivors International) — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 22:10:00 +0000

Amnesty International USA would like to invite you to attend an
exceptional panel discussion on Torture and Guantánamo Bay. In
recognition of the two years that have passed since the Presidential
Order to close Guantánamo, the goal of this event is to bring
attention to the human rights violations that have occurred at
Guantánamo Bay and to discuss its intended closure.

This expert speakers' panel will feature Omar Deghayes, a former
Guantánamo detainee, who will participate via video conference from
Brighton, England; Attorney Candace Gorman, whose Civil and
Consitutional Rights work has included representing two Guantánamo
detainees; and Professor Almerindo Ojeda from the UC Davis Center for
the Study of Human Rights in the Americas, which hosts the Guantánamo
Testimonials Project. There will be a short Q&A session after the
panel discussion. Please see articles below about Omar and Deghayes
and Candace Gorman.

The event will be held at the University of California Berkeley on
Wednesday, January 26th from 7:30pm – 9:00pm at 2050 Valley Life
Sciences Building.

The event is co-sponsored by the UC Berkeley Human Rights Center,
Health Professionals Against Torture, Survivors International, United
Nations Association USA East Bay Chapter and the Boalt Alliance
Against Torture. The event is free and open to the public.

For more information about the event please contact William Butkus,
Amnesty International Field Organizer wbutkus@aiusa.org or 415-288-1800.

Articles

How I fought to survive Guantánamo - Omar Deghayes
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jan/21/i-fought-to-survive-guantanamo

Why I am Representing a "Detainee" at Guantanamo - Candace Gorman
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/h-candace-gorman-/why-i-am-representing-a-d_b_29734.html

Week of Healing

noreply@blogger.com (Survivors International) — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 23:39:00 +0000

The International Day in Support of Victims of Torture (June 26), enacted by the United Nations, is a day to observe what is being done and what still needs to be done to help survivors rebuild their lives and to end torture. Join Survivors International for a Week of Healing to commemorate this day!

Friday, June 18, 2010 11:30 AM - 3:00 PM

East Bay Refugee Forum World Refugee Day Celebration - to celebrate and raise awareness about refugees around the world and in the East Bay. There will be great food from around the world, speeches from local officials, games, and cultural performances.

Hosted by the East Bay Refugee Forum

Where: San Antonio Park in Oakland, CA (Foothill Blvd & 16th Ave).

For More Information email eastbayrefugeeforum@gmail.com or call 571-241-2762

Tuesday, June 22, 2010 (Clients Only)

Healing Hike in the East Bay Hills

Wednesday, June 23, 2010 6:00 PM

Film Screening - The Response
A reenactment of a Guantanamo Bay trial, with speakers Dr. Jess Ghannam (Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Global Health Sciences at the University of California, San Francisco and Adjunct Professor of Ethnic Studies at San Francisco State University) and Attorney Kathy Roberts (staff attorney at the Center for Justice and Accountability in San Francisco).

Hosted by Survivors International, Amnesty International, Health Professionals Against Torture, and the Center for Justice & Accountability

Where: Amnesty International, 350 Sansome St, #210, San Francisco, CA
Refreshments will be provided!

Friday, June 25, 2010 (Clients Only)

Client Potluck Dinner

The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Toward Women & Girls.

noreply@blogger.com (Survivors International) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:40:00 +0000

November 25^th is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence towards Women & Girls, and we will use this day to kick off 16 days of activism for the elimination of violence towards women and girls, globally. On this day, a noon press conference will take place on the steps of San Francisco’s City Hall, immediately followed by a healing ceremony from 1:00-3:00 PM for survivors of violence with a multi arts performance in the esplanade across the street, entitled “They are all our Daughters.”

The press conference will include a Cherokee opening benediction by Nanette Bradley Deetz, proclamations by the office of Mayor Gavin Newsom and Emily M. Murase, PhD, of the San Francisco Department of the Status of Women. Speakers will include City Supervisor David Campos along with Alameda poet laureate Mary Rudge, and MamaCoAtl. The MC will be Nina Serrano.

Chief Luisah Teish and the Women’s Spirituality Program of the Institute for Transpersonal Psychology will lead the ritual healing. The arts performance, “They Are All Our Daughters! /!Todas Son Nuestras Hijas!,” will feature

Judy Grahn, a poet, Mama CoAtl, a singer/song writer, Anne Bluethenthal, a choreographer, Diana Gameros, a musician, and other community artists.

DETAILS

WHAT: Press conference & healing ceremony

WHEN: Wednesday, November 25, 2009

12:00 – 1:00 for press conference

1:00 – 3:00 for healing ceremony

WHO: Survivors International, SF Bay Area Activist Coalition on Gender Violence, ABD Productions, The SF Bay Area Chapter of the US National Committee of UNIFEM, and the Women’s Spirituality Program at the Institute for Transpersonal Psychology (ITP).

WHERE: Steps of San Francisco City Hall

October 28, 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Survivors International) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:26:00 +0000

Dr. Uwe Jacobs is a recipient of the 2009 Community Health Leader Award by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation! The award honors 10 individuals who have overcome daunting odds to improve the health and quality of life for disadvantaged or underserved men, women and children across the United States. The Community Health Leaders Award was conferred in a ceremony in Washington D.C. last week, and we are looking forward to celebrating Dr. Jacobs here in San Francisco. We are additionally delighted to announce that Dr. Jacobs is the Executive and Clinical Director of Survivors International as of October 1, 2009.

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Community Health Leader Award

Medical News Today: Improving the Lives of Torture Victims from Around the World

Medical-News.net

Press Release

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Jacobs on the outstanding national recognition as a Community Health Leader. We hope to see you at the reception and we thank you for your continued support of Survivors International.
6-8 pm, Wednesday October 28, 2009
ReedSmith, LLP - 101 Second Street, Suite 1800

San Francisco, CA 94105

Congratulations to the Center for Gender and Refugee Studies: 10th Anniversary

noreply@blogger.com (Survivors International) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 20:26:00 +0000

San Francisco, Thursday October 15, 2009

You are cordially invited to join the Center for Gender & Refugee Studies (CGRS) as we celebrate ten years of advocacy to advance the rights of women

What: CGRS Ten-Year Anniversary Event

When: Thursday, October 15, 2009 from 5:00pm-7:30pm

Where: UC Hastings, College of the Law – Alumni Reception Center – 200 McAllister Street, 2nd Floor, San Francisco, CA 94102

Who: Special guests – speakers, honorees, and other key CGRS supporters

Speakers include Fauziya Kassindja, the young woman from Togo whose groundbreaking case, Matter of Kasinga, established female genital cutting as grounds for asylum.

CGRS will also be honoring four individuals who have been integral to our work and to crucial victories for refugee women and girls:

* Congresswoman and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi
* Denise Abrams, CGRS Advisory Board member, and her law firm, Kazan, McClain, Lyons, Greenwood & Harley, PLC
* Ray Lifchez, husband of the late peace activist, poet, and CGRS supporter, Judith Stronach
* Ana Reyes, CGRS pro bono attorney and partner, Williams & Connolly LLP

In addition, we will recognize the invaluable support of individuals who have made CGRS’s work possible over the last ten years, including pro bono attorneys, former staff, law clerks, interns, and volunteers.

To commemorate this event, we invite you to place an announcement in our program booklet to congratulate our Anniversary Event honorees, or CGRS and its staff.

Gender Based Violence: Our Duty to Protect and Heal

noreply@blogger.com (Survivors International) — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 20:53:00 +0000

Thank you to everyone who attended the Gender Based Violence Conference on September 12, 2009! We had a great turnout of approximately 95 people. The conference was held at the Alumni Reception Center at UC Hastings School of Law. Speakers included Jayne Fleming (Board of Directors, Survivors International), Professor Karen Musalo, Center for Gender & Refugee Studies, Dr. Jorge Bustamante (UN Special Rapporteur on Migrants), Dr. Uwe Jacobs (Survivors International), Professor Rita Maran, PhD (Lecturer on Human Rights, UC Berkeley), Muadi Mukenge (Program Director, Sub-Saharan Africa, Global Fund for Women), Chic Dabby (Director of Asian & Pacific Islander Institute on Domestic Violence), Chris Nugent, Esq (Senior Counsekm Holland & Knight), & Nilofar Aslami, MD (Forensic Physician & Gynecologist). We ended with an artistic and poetic presentation by Anne Bluethenthal of ABD Productions & Vocalist Mama CoAtl.

September 12th Conference: Gender Based Violence - Our Duty to Protect and Heal

noreply@blogger.com (Survivors International) — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 21:59:00 +0000

August 8th

noreply@blogger.com (Survivors International) — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 23:30:00 +0000

DOWNLOAD THE FLYER

SATURDAY
August 8th, 2009
3:30pm-5:30pm

ADDRESS: Oakland Main Library
West Auditorium
125 - 14th Street
Oakland, CA 94612

Co-sponsored by Survivors International and the African Advocacy Network.

(August 13, 2009) OAKLAND TRIBUNE ARTICLE

June 19 -27 : Week of Healing

noreply@blogger.com (Survivors International) — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 23:19:00 +0000

June 26th was International Day in Support of Victims of Torture.
In commemoration of this day, the California Consortium of Torture Treatment Centers made its annual legislative trip to Sacramento this year on Tuesday, June 30, 2009. This concludes the Week of Healing events, which occurred from June 19th through June 26th for the Week of Healing, to acknowledge World Refugee Day and International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. We thank all of the people who gave generously of their time and resource to make the events throughout the past weeks possible.
To see a list of the events that were held this month, please click on our CALENDAR

Read the IRCT Statement for June 26th, 2009

Cross-Cultural Competency Training: April 11, 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Survivors International) — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 23:51:00 +0000

On Saturday April 11, 2009, Survivors International hosted a training on Cross Cultural Competency in the Treatment of Traumatized Immigrants and Survivors of Torture. Held at the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology, in partnership with the Arab Cultural and Community Center and the Friends of Sierra Leone, 30 clinicians were sensitized to the needs and concerns of working with clients of a different culture or religion than one's own.

This training is one of a series of events aimed at building capacity for cross-cultural work amongst local clinicians working with the immigrant, asylee and refugee community. By enhancing the capacity of clinicians and opening a space for discussion and consideration of cross-cultural concerns, Survivors International strives to increase the ability of the community as a whole to respond to the needs of traumatized immigrants and survivors of torture residing in Northern California.

SF Public Library Event on Torture: February 24, 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Survivors International) — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 22:37:00 +0000

San Francisco - At the San Francisco Public Library Koret Auditorium, Survivors International hosted over 45 non-profit partners and members of the public at an event on torture towards the reauthorization of the Torture Victims Relief Act.

Survivors International's founder, Gerald Gray, spoke on torture rehabilitation and current needs for national prioritization and support.

The presentation was followed by a screening of the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims' 2008 film, "My Brother's Keeper.

Horizons Foundation

noreply@blogger.com (Survivors International) — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 20:02:00 +0000

In a ceremony to honor the 2009 grant awardees, the Horizons Foundation conferred a grant of $10,000 to Survivors International for their work with survivors of LGBT persecution through the Gender Asylum and Recovery Project. Survivors International Executive Director, Winnie Chu, was honored alongside the other 2009 grant awardees at a reception held at the Center on December 17th, 2008.

Dr. Uwe Jacobs Speaks at UC Berkeley Panel on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

noreply@blogger.com (Survivors International) — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 19:33:00 +0000

On December 10th, 2008, in commemoration of International Human Rights Day, Dr. Uwe Jacobs spoke at the panel discussion on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights at the International House of the University of California, Berkeley.

Commemorating the day, Dr. Jacobs said,

60 years of the idea of “Human Rights” are, of course, not the same as 60 years of ethics or just 60 years of laws against cruelty, for those ideas are much older. It is significant as 60 years of saying that we, as an international community, are pledging to abide by a common ethic and that, beyond that, we give that ethic the force of law; so that we may enforce it upon each other. This declaration does not just apply to states; it applies to absolutely everyone and to all institutions. That is very fundamental and therefore, if enforced, a life-changing concept for most of humanity on the globe.

In working with survivors of torture, we naturally consider Article 5 of the Universal Declaration as central to the entire concept: “No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.” To treat someone else with cruelty is therefore universally forbidden and the declaration makes it clear in so many different ways that all manner of unfairness, injustice and mistreatment are prohibited. Torture, I believe is mentioned specifically for a number of reasons. For one thing, torture is so obviously abhorrent and yet so common. More than 100 countries still practice it to varying degrees and the United States has just written one of the more famous chapters in torture history by sinking back into barbarism when at the same time American ambassadors and activists are traveling around the world to prevent or document it in other places.

People who suffer torture are persecuted politically and often because of their cultural identity, deprived of their civil rights, and they are economically and socially deprived. The majority of our clients at SI are poor and members of cultural minority groups. Many of them have suffered serious exploitation, apart from torture. People who suffer torture, if they are not persecuted on account of who they are culturally and socially, suffer because of their political opinions. Almost none of them, however, fit the picture you see on TV of people who suffer torture. Those people on TV have valuable information somebody is trying to torture out of them. This is and always has been a very small minority. A case in point: the inmates at Guantanamo Bay are mostly people who were sold to the Americans for no other reason than the bounty of $5000 they fetched. The regime of cruelty that was then inflicted on them had all the typical hallmarks of state-sponsored torture; a sophisticated technology, deliberately aimed at maximizing people’s distress, with crippling psychological consequences.

At the end of the day, it isn’t specifically torture as traditionally defined, that we seek to prevent but cruelty in general and this is part of an emerging consciousness against dehumanization. For the longest time, the crime of rape was not recognized as one of the methods of torture inflicted on women around the world. Domestic Violence continues to be very common. Women continue to be seen as chattel in many parts of the world, where men believe that to treat them well may be noble but not always necessary or even wise. Girls are subjected to genital mutilation by the thousands, with all kinds of terrible consequences. Likewise, sexual minorities continue to suffer discrimination and violence everywhere. All this is what we call Gender Based Violence (GBV). Between 2004 and 2006, for example, we took on 100 cases per year, just of people who had fled from GBV, most of them women and some of them gay men.

The radical proposition of the UNDHR is that there are no separate or unequal classes of human beings and that what we afford one, we afford everyone. It is too easy to forget that we are always behind on this idea and just how fundamentally different the world would be if we could really implement it. However, we are making progress, even if it isn’t linear and even though there are setbacks. Torture has been curbed significantly in some parts of the world and violence against women and sexual minorities is becoming increasingly unacceptable everywhere - and Happy Birthday to that!

Survivors International Holiday Party

noreply@blogger.com (Survivors International) — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 22:46:00 +0000

Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

“Reflections on the Past and Thoughts for our Future"
Sunday, December 7, 2009

Speakers : Professor Jiri Toman, Santa Clara University School of Law and Professor Naomi Roht-Arriaza, UC Hastings College of the Law

Featuring playwright and poet Pireeni Sundaralingam, named in 2004 as one of “America’s Emerging Writers”.

Music: Rhythms of Latin Folk and Classical Music by Martha Rodriguez Salazar and Jennifer Peringer

“…In advancing all human rights for all, we will move towards the greatest fulfillment of human potential, a promise which is at the heart of the Universal Declaration." - Louise Arbour, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

December 10th: International Human Rights Day Events

noreply@blogger.com (Survivors International) — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 20:13:00 +0000

On 10 December 2008, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights celebrates its 60th birthday! Survivors International joins with local, national and international partners to commemorate this important milestone. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was adopted in 1948, stating the fundamental human rights and freedoms to which women and men worldwide are entitled, without distinction.

In celebration of this great occasion, Survivors International is organizing and collaborating on three public events, to be hosted on 10 December 2008. We welcome your attendance and participation.

12 – 2 PM Panel Discussion : 60^th Anniversary Universal Declaration of Human Rights

University of California at Berkeley, International House

In partnership with the United Nations Association of the East Bay, Human Rights Center, Human Rights Advocates, Amnesty International USA

View PDF Flier of event here

5- 7 PM Qoöl: Happy Hour to Write Letters around the World, RSVP required

111 Minna Gallery @ 2^nd Street in San Francisco

In partnership with Amnesty International USA

7- 10 PM Gender Based Violence: Film Screening, Speaker and Write-A-Thon

Freedom Archives, 522 Valencia Street @ 16^th street in San Francisco

Documentary Films on Gender Based Asylum: “Dangerous Living: Coming Out in the Developing World” and “Asylum”; Speaker: Kim Seelinger, UC Hastings Center for Gender and Refugee Studies; Write-A-Thon on Gender Based Violence

In partnership with the Center for Gender and Refugee Studies of UC Hastings, Amnesty International USA, United Nations Association of San Francisco, United Nations Association of the East Bay, and the Center for Women’s Global Leadership’s 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence (November 25 – December 10^th)

December 10th is International Human Rights Day

noreply@blogger.com (Survivors International) — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 19:42:00 +0000

FILMS, SPEAKER and WRITE-A-THON

Date: Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Time: 7:00pm - 10:30pm
Location: Freedom Archives
Street: 522 Valencia @ 16th
City/Town: San Francisco, CA

Join us for the screening of two documentary films on Asylum and Gender-Based Violence: “Dangerous Living: Coming out in the Developing World” and “Asylum”. Guest speaker Kim Seelinger of UC Hastings Center for Gender and Refugee Studies will discuss their important work on Gender-Based Asylum in San Francisco. Screenings and Presentation will be followed by a Write-A-Thon to take action on these important issues for women worldwide.

Co-sponsored by: Survivors International, Amnesty International USA Western Region, UC Hastings Center for Gender and Refugee Studies, United Nations Association of San Francisco, and United Nations Association of the East Bay.

We're On Facebook!

noreply@blogger.com (Survivors International) — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 19:29:00 +0000

Please come join us in being thankful for life and for having an opportunity to come together to share.

noreply@blogger.com (Survivors International) — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 20:07:00 +0000

Friday, November 21

5:30 – 8 p.m.

Survivors International

703 Market Street, Suite 301

San Francisco, CA 94103

Corner of 3^rd Street

Between Powell & Montgomery BART Stations

RSVP to Katie Hymans at 415.546.2080 x106

Bring food to share!

Steven Mils, Lecture

noreply@blogger.com (Survivors International) — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 19:20:00 +0000

Steven Miles, author of the book Oath Betrayed: Torture, Medical Complicity, and the War on Terror, will give a lecture at the ACLU Building on May 10th, 2008 sponsored by Survivors International. Following the interview will be a reception and interview with Steve Miles. We hope you will consider attending. Click 'read more' for event details.

Lecture:

Torture and Ill Treatment: Ethical Responsibilities of Healthcare Providers

Featuring: Steven Miles, MD, Author of the book Oath Betrayed and a Professor of Bioethics at the University of Minnesota.

Date: May 10th

Time: 2pm-5pm lecture

Place: ACLU Offices

Number of CE Credits: 3

Tuition: $85

Level: Post-Doctoral

Educational Objectives:

1. Understand the history of medical and psychological abuses.

2. Understand the history of ethical codes in the healing professions.

3. Understand medical and psychological ethics violations during the 'War on Terror.'

To download a registration form for the continuing education workshop, please click here. You can email the form to the address below.

If you have questions about enrollment, special needs, CE credits or disability access, please contact Morgan Kerchner at (415)546-2080 or mkerchner@survivorsintl.org.

Survivors International is approved by the American Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. Survivors International maintains responsibility for this program.

Reception:

Following the lecture will be a reception at the same location during which time Steven Miles will be interviewed by Survivors International board member and documentary filmmaker Marc Shaffer. Food and drink will be served.

location: ACLU Offices, 39 Drumm Street, 2nd floor, San Francisco

time: 5 pm to 6:30 pm

RSVP: (by May 1st) email mkerchner@survivorsintl.org or call (415)546-2080

We hope to see you there!

Thank you PsySR

noreply@blogger.com (Survivors International) — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 20:23:00 +0000

Many Thanks to Psychologists for Social Responsibility

for being a generous sponsor of our event Two Sides of Torture

A special thanks to Colleen Cordes, PsySR Executive Director, whose care and persistence helped make this an exceptional event.

Psychologists for Social Responsibility (PsySR) have pooled their resources to give all who attend Two Sides of Torture the special opportunity to see a performance by Hector Aristizabal. Please check out the fascinating and peace-bound work of PsySR, whose members come together from around the world. We are grateful for their generosity and camaraderie and look forward to long and empowering collaboration with them.

A Question of Torture: Psychology and the CIA with Prof Alfred McCoy

noreply@blogger.com (Survivors International) — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 20:14:00 +0000

On Saturday, March 10, 2007 over 50 Bay Area psychologists attended a lecture and debate about the history of psychologists' and psychiatrists' collaboration with the CIA to develop modern torture techniques. Alfred McCoy, expert historian on torture and author of A Question of Torture: CIA Interrogation from the Cold War to the War on Terror, gave a stellar lecture. Following the lecture the audience entered into a lively debate with Prof. Alfred McCoy and Dr. Stephen Behnke, Director of the Ethics Office at the American Psychological Association, about the controversy over the APA's response to US torture practices. The event was an incredible success and we plan to have more educational events in the future.