The UN International Day in Support of the Victims of Torture, yesterday was highlighted by a Dublin-based agency which reported that the number of survivors of torture referred to it has increased seven-fold over the last 18 months.
In January 2002, 84 clients had been referred to the Centre for the Care of Survivors of Torture (CCST) but now 590 from over 45 countries had accessed the services, it stated.
Mr Mike Walker, the CCST strategy and development officer, said one reason for the rise in numbers was the increase in the centre's capacity.
"We are now in a position to receive more clients," he said.
It was estimated that between 10 per cent and 35 per cent of all asylum-seekers in western Europe had been tortured in their countries of origin. In the State in 2001, there were 10,235 asylum- seekers and last year 11,634.
Mr Walker said: "This year the number is predicted to be somewhere in between. If that is the case, then the number of asylum- seekers to the State who are survivors of torture would be at least 1,100."
The majority of torture survivors were referred to the centre by the refugee legal services. Others were sent by the health boards and GPs. Mr Walker said CCST also wanted to raise awareness of the work it did and the referral procedures.
The centre, founded in 2001, has four full-time administrators, 17 sessional clinicians, including doctors, physiotherapists, psychotherapists, and a number of interpreters. It is funded by the European Refugee Fund and the Northern Area Health Board, together with fund-raisers.
Amnesty International's Irish section yesterday called on the Irish Government to play its part in the fight against torture.
It said modern-day torture took on new forms. The draft EU trade regulation to ban the trade in torture and death penalty equipment was stuck in the labyrinth of Brussels.
Secretary general of the Irish section, Mr Colm Ó Cuanacháin said: "The Irish Government must use all its influence to ensure that this regulation becomes effective as quickly as possible. This trade regulation would significantly improve existing levels of control and scrutiny."
The Minister of State with Special Responsibility for Overseas Development and Human Rights, Mr Tom Kitt, said Ireland was committed to working for the prevention and eradication of torture. He called on all governments to speak out against torture, investigate allegations of torture, prosecute torturers and support programmes to help victims of torture.
In 2002, Ireland donated over €70,000 to the UN Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture. This year, the State's contribution to the fund had been increased to €100,000, Mr Kitt said.