20 1 5 A nn u a l R e p o r t

The Program for Torture Victims assists the courageous survivors of state-sponsored torture and persecution who have stood up for freedom, equality and human dignity.

For 35 years, PTV has helped new U.S. refugees, from over 70 countries, heal their physical and psychological wounds, and start a second life here in California.

The first torture rehabilitation center in North America, PTV:• Helpssurvivorshealandfindpurpose• Assistswithbasicneedssuchastransportation,food,clothing,employment,

housing, and language classes • HelpsintegratenewimmigrantsintoAmericanculture• Workstoreuniteandre-acclimatefamiliessothatsurvivorscanonceagain

become parents to their children and spouses to their wives or husbands• HelpsclientsnavigatethecomplexandbureaucraticU.S.asylumprocess• Documentsthewidespreadpracticeoftortureandpersecutionthrough

reports to the United Nations, the United States and international human rights organizations

• HelpstoholdindividualsandgovernmentsaccountablefortortureorpersecutionbyprovidingexpertmedicalandpsychologicaltestimonyinU.S.and international courts.

MISSIONpa in to purpose

CO V E R P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y ma rt i n t h a u l ow

CELEBRATING

OF HEALING

3years5

This year, the unprecedented world refugee crisis spilled into California. More than40,000newpoliticalrefugeesarrivedfromwar-torncountrieslikeSyria,SouthSudanandLibya.OthersarrivedfromUganda,Honduras,IranorRussiawhowerepersecutedbasedontheiractivism,religion,genderorsexualorientation.

Thisyearwesawmen,womenandchildrenparalyzedbydespair.Withouthelp,theywouldnothavebeenabletocopewiththehauntingpainoftheirexperienceand effectively deal with the overwhelming challenge of a new country. Together, we helped them find the courage and strength to move beyond their torture or persecution and create new lives filled with hope, possibility and purpose.

This year, we also launched a new partnership with USC Eisner Family Medical CenterandtheUSCKeckSchoolofMedicinewhichformedtheHumanRightsHealthClinicatUSCEisner. This new clinic doubled the number of medical appointments we provided to survivors with lingering medical issues as a result of torture or other human rights abuses.

As we celebrate 35 years of service, we are proud of the lives we have healed. And our donors and volunteers should be proud of the community of new Americans they helped by providing a second chance.

TORTURETortureisalmostexclusivelycarriedout,orallowedtobecarriedout, by government leaders or their agents — the military, the police, the paramilitary, village mayors, hate groups, drug cartels, or tribal leaders — to intimidate, repress and dehumanize individualswhoarespeakingoutforgovernmentalaccountability,freedom, or equality.

Contrary to popular American TV shows and movies, torture is almostneverusedtoobtaininformation.It’susedtobreakthehumanspirit.It’susedtoinstillfearinpopulations,andkeepregimes in power at any cost.

Torture is prevalent. Although illegal under international law, more than 110 countries participated in the use of torture over the last decade. Torture shatters lives, separates families and destroys whole communities. A devastating violation of human rights, torture is a barrier to the development of democracy, freedom, and the rule of law.

f r e q u e nt ta r g e t s o f t o rt u r e a n d p e r s e c u t i o n i n c l u d e . . .

h u m a n r i g h t s a ct i v i s t s , u n i o n l e a d e r s , j o u r n a l i s t s , t e a c h e r s ,

L G B T a n d wom e n ' s r i g h t s d e f e n d e r s , r e l i g i o u s o r e t h n i c m i n o r i t i e s ,

e n v i r o nm e nta l i s t s , a n d st u d e nt l e a d e r s .

dear friends

Niels Frenzen, JDBoard PresidentTrip Oldfield, MBAExecutive Director

Carol Gomez, LCSWClinical DirectorCynthia Willard, MD, MPHMedical Director

PROGRAMS

MENTA L H E A L T H C A R EAs the pioneer in torture rehabilitation, PTV has developed an integrated and successful approach to healing survivors withPostTraumaticStressDisorder(PTSD)andotherdisorders associated with torture or human rights abuse. PTV offers individual and family psychotherapy, psychological evaluation, psychiatric evaluation and follow-up care.

M E D I C A L & D E NTA L C A R EMostsurvivorscannotaccessgovernmentorworkplacehealth coverage until after asylum has been filed. Through our HumanRightsHealthClinicatUSCEisner, PTV provides outpatient medical care by physicians who are trained in refugeetrauma.Whenspecialistsareneeded,weutilizethenetworkwehavecreatedatUSCEisnerFamilyMedicalCenter and at other local health care organizations at no cost to the client. PTV also offers emergency or trauma-related dental care through our partnership with the Change A Life Foundation.

L E G A L S U P P O R TPTVworkswithanextensivenetworkofattorneysandlegalaid organizations to ensure high-quality legal assistance for our clients. Our staff conducts forensic medical and psychologicalevaluations,servesasexpertwitnessesforasylum cases in federal immigration proceedings, as well as for human rights or war crimes tribunals in international courts. Additionally, we provide training to attorneys, federal immigration officers, and judges.

S O C I A L S E R V I C E S & EM P OW E RM E NT G R O U P SPTV provides basic needs such as emergency cash assistance,food,clothing,aswellaslinkagestopermanenthousing and employment. Our peer support groups create a sense of community for clients, allow them to share experiences,andempowerthemtobecomespokespeopleagainst the use of torture.

C OM P L E M E NTA R Y T H E R A P I E SOur holistic and integrated approach to healing also includes massage therapy, chiropractic care, acupuncture, pet therapy, art therapy, and theatre, which are provided through our innovative partnerships with local teaching institutions or by dedicated volunteer professionals.

P U B L I C E D U C AT I O N & A D V O C A C YPTV initiates public programs to educate the general public about the use of torture worldwide and its consequences forindividualsandsociety.Wealsoengageelectedofficialsandpolicymakersineffortstoidentifyandcombattorture,and advocate for resources to facilitate the healing of torture survivors and to reunite them with their families.

CELEBRATING

OF HEALING

3years5

P T V p r o v i d e s s u r v i v o r s o f t o r t u r e , p e r s e c u t i o n , o r ot h e r

f o r m s o f g o v e r nm e nt v i o l e n c e t h e n e c e s s a r y t o o l s t o

i m p r o v e t h e i r h e a l t h , b u i l d e f f e ct i v e s u p p o r t n e two r k s ,

a n d l e a d p r o d u ct i v e , m e a n i n g f u l l i v e s . . .

U . S . S E N AT O R d i a n e f e i n s t e i n

“ “

assistance

47 em e r g e n c y g r a nts

8 fam i l y r e u n i f i c a t i o n s

174 tran s p o r t at i o n

146 l e g a l

121 fo o d

IMPACTPTV assisted 270 survivors in 2015 who fled from 43 countries. More than half were from Armenia, India,Iran,Russia,Uganda,Cameroon,EthiopiaandMexico.

Shewantedtomakesurethatwhathappenedtoherasachildwould never happen to another girl. “It was so painful. I believed I was going to die,” she told us.

At just 10 years old, Karimeh was the victim of female genital mutilation(FGM).Shebelongedtoatribethatpracticedthishorrible rite of passage for young girls — a myth thought to ensure fidelity to future husbands. These procedures were done without anestheticbytribalelderswithnomedicaltraining.Withpressure

K a r i m e hs u r v i v o r f r om B E n i n

from the United Nations, the Benin government finally banned FGM.However,thepracticecontinuedinhertribe.

As an adult, Karimeh felt compelled to stop the archaic practice and to protect the girls in her community. She became a teacher. She educated the young girls and their mothers about the dangers ofFGMandaboutthenewlawwhichprohibitedit.

Whenoneofherfavoritestudentsadmittedthattheirfamilyforcedher to undergo the painful procedure, Karimeh filed a report with thelocalpolice.Heroutspokennessraisedtheireoftribaleldersandparentsalike.Oneday,infrontofherstudents,shewasgrabbed by a group and dragged to the village center. She was tied andpubliclyflogged—allwhilethepolicelookedon.Wounded,bloodied and terrified, she was left in a heap on the street.

It’snosurprisethatKarimehsuffersfrombackpainthatkeepsherfrombeingabletosleeponherback.Shespenteverythingherfellow teachers gave her just to get to safety in Los Angeles. PTV provided prompt medical care and helped her with the monumental taskofapplyingforpoliticalasylum.ShealsoattendsaPTVwriting group, where she has made friends and has decided to explorejournalismasanewcareer.

appo intments

904 menta l h e a l t h

781 l i f e c o a c h i n g

469 me d i c a l

F R OM 43 c o u nt r i e s

75%asyl um s e e k e r s

SURVIVORS

Reason for Torture/Persecution

38% Po l i t i c s

18% LG BT

17% et hn i c i t y/t r i b e

16% re l i g i o n

11% gen d e r/ f gm

at t i m e o f f i r s t a p p o i n tm e nt

Dr.MukadiPapywasafirst-yearphysicianataclinicintheDemocraticRepublicofCongo(DRC),whenhediscoveredatleast30casesofwomenwhohadallbeenrapedandbrutalizedbyDRCsoldiers. All these women sought treatment for pelvic pain and displayedsimilarsymptoms,andwhenhespoketothemabouttheirmedicalhistoryhelearnedaboutthesexualviolence.

Againsttheadviceoffellowphysicians,Dr.Papycollectedevidence to support his letter of complaint. Though aware of

M u k a d is u r v i v o r f r om T H E D R C

theconsequencesofspeakingoutagainstDRC’ssoldiers,Dr.Papywasdeterminedtoendthecycleofabuse,andexposehisevidence in order to create public outrage and political change. Instead,hewassummonedbytheDepartmentofPublicHealth,and was told to surrender all original medical files so that theycouldbedestroyed.Whenherefusedtocomply,thelocalauthoritiesarrestedhim.Indetention,hewaschainedtoapipe,beaten,andshockedwithadeviceattachedtoacarbattery.Helostconsciousnessandawokethenextmorninginahospitalbed.

TodayDr.PapylivesinLosAngelesafteradditionalgovernmentthreatsforcedhimtofinallyfleehishomecountryofDRC.PTVassistedDr.Papybylinkinghimwithapro-bonoattorney,assisting him in finding low-income housing and providing him with medical care, counseling, and food. This year, he was granted asylum by the U.S. government.

Dr.PapyiscurrentlyworkingasasecurityguardtosupporthimselfwhilehestudiesfortheU.S.MedicalLicenseExam.Weare proud to announce that a generous local foundation partnered withPTVtounderwritethecostofasixmonthexamprep-courseforDr.Papy.Thisstudycourseisthefirststepinhisthree-yearplan to practice medicine again.

i n c om e b e l ow p o v e r t y

n o h e a l t h i n s u r a n c e

82% dia gn o s e d w i t h P T S D

91%

95%

unem p l o y e d60%

$100,000 OR MOREU.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services/

Office of Refugee Resettlement

$50,000 OR MORECalifornia Community Foundation Ralph M. Parsons Foundation The Weingart FoundationUSC Eisner Family Medical Center

$25,000 OR MOREUnited NationsVenice Family Clinic

$10,000 OR MOREChange A Life FoundationKaiser Permanente, Southern California

RegionSiderman Foundation for Human RightsS. Mark Taper FoundationTeamsters Local 572

$5,000 OR MOREGrowald Family FundSidney Stern Memorial TrustLaila Al MarayatiJosé Quiroga

$2,500 OR MOREAmalgamated Transit Union Local 1277Sharon Rose CrowleyTomás Deutsch

Niels Frenzen and Robyn SmithGrace Helen Spearman Charitable

FoundationDaytra HanselAdam LevineO`Melveny & MyersPainters & Allied Trades DC 36Ricardo RestrepoSamantha StewartMark TsaiAlberto Vasquez

$1,000 OR MOREAhdoot & WolfsonRuth ArevaloHector AristizabalArun Baheti and Victoria ScarbroughBarbara Bilson and Bert WoodruffSuzanne BlauNancy BoosBush Gottlieb Singer Lopez Kohanski

Adelstein & DickinsonCalifornia Dental AssociationEstela ChungDordi Williams CohenDavid B. GardnerCathrine IrelandLaborers International Union of North

America Local 300Love and ErskineBeth E. Meyerowitz, Ph.D.Franck Morineau

Trip OldfieldSempra Employee Giving NetworkTeamsters Local 986Marc Williams and Erica DeutschBruce Wright

ANNUAL GIFTSDanny and Lauren AhkiamEmily AlmendarezVictoria AlmendarezBan Al-WardiAltaMedKathy AlvarezElizabeth AminiJames AngletonCarolina AparicioHector AristizabalEd AsnerCalifornia Medical AssociationRaymond BakaitisBert BallBank of AmericaBeverly Baz and Darrell CostaSharon BeerlingJoel Bellman and Hope SingerRoger BergPat BergerSue BianGary Blasi and Kit KollenbergAlly BolourPatrick BonnerCarly Boos

Jennifer BoydJulie BoydSusan BradnerMonica BraunsteinMary BroderickDoug BrownMeredith BrownJohn R CadaretteAmerican Immigration Lawyers Association,

S. CaliforniaClaire CannonJuan and Jean CappelloCasa De La FamiliaBrandon CastilloRichard ChackerHelen ChenDiane ChoSusan Nora ClarkHannah H. CohenIsidoro ColodroMary Anna ColwellJustin ConnollyPatricia and Richard CunhaLeonor Dargoltz and Alejandro TerrenoAlison DavisHoward Robert DavisChrista DemekeDermalogicaAna DeutschElsa Deutsch and Francisco RomeroRoni DeutschHoward DicklerCombined Federal Campaign - San DiegoRon DoctorMichael DonkisAnonymousRajesh and Varsha DonthiRobert Dowdell

Rose Marie Durocher and Allen PeaseDeb DutilhChristine DuvalDeborah DworkRay and Margareta EricksenMike Farrell and Shelley FabaresWesley FarrowVirginia and Mike FawcettGaithri FernandoDavid James FisherEdward and Marianne FisherThomas and Paula FisherJoseph FranklErrol FrazierDaniel F FreedmanLeo and Sherry FrumkinSergio and Rose FuenzalidaLidia GamulinDavid L. GangseiLourdes GarciaKelvin Garvanne and Nanci IsaacsJill GasparacNikki GlassKelvin B. GoldenJerrold GoldsteinRalph GoldsteinGreg Good and Alicia HancockMarta Gordon-MartinezJanet GreyMarcia GreyDoug GroveHarrington GroupBrigitte HerzogHill & PiibeSusan Hill, Esq.Elizabeth HirschMarilyn HoAkosua K. Hobert

PTV would like to thank the individuals, families, and institutions who,

through gifts or contributions, made our important work possible. . . .

Holden Family Foundation FundSally HowardKelly HukillLisa HuynhVahit IbrahimJohn Bermudes and Colleen CrosbyJames A. Johnson

Christy KeenyRob KelleyBrian T. KerrScott KimRegina and Nick KolesnikowDi Mare, Brown, Hicks & KesslerPeter and Suzy Landay

Janice LarkDanna LarsonJoyce LeanseGeorge LefcoeDiane LeferDiana Ray LetourneauAlita Letwin

George LewisLili LiewAlex LitelEdythe LondonJudith and Hank LouriaKen and Meredith LouriaRey and Adrienne LuceCheline LundinElsa MartinSusan MatrangaMorgan McCombTom McMaster

Ashfaq MehrSilvia MejlszenkierElizabeth MichelLinnea MielcarekRick MiddletonCinnamon MuhlbauerJoanne MuhlfrieddNisha NagdevAmina NakiyagaMarilyn NelsonElizabeth NettoPatricia Norwine

Michael Nutkiewicz and Joan Weissman

Steve Nutter and Heather SzerlagFernando and Heidi OlguinJean PalamarLazaros PapademetropoulosDavid PeerRossana PerezSusan PerezWilliam PerkinsBrigitte PerreaultElizabeth PhanMadhu PochaAJ and Nina PopoffNora QuinnWes Rau & Dennis SnappJoseph ReiszLoretta ReyesDick and Sally RobertsMatt RobisonTracy RodriguezRoll Law GroupDeirdre RoneyCarolyn and Richard RosensteinJennifer RothmanSarah RubinsteinEileen ScahillLaura SchaeferJosh SchechterPerty SchoeppnerDon SchollMaya and Igor SegalDaliah SetarehNora ShamFreddy and Carolina SheinfeldAnn SiegelJoseph and Monica SimpsonAjit SinghAbe Skaletzky

Tait SkifstromAdolfo SotoNancy SpearAddy SpillerSilvia SpillerKathryn St JohnCindy SteffenNaomi SteinfeldAlice StekShelly and Jay StelzerSheri SuttonAnn SwansonThomas and Teressa SytaTRE Los AngelesTeamsters Joint Council 42Teamsters Local 396Teamsters Local 896Teamsters Local 2010TelefloraPhiroze TitinaSabrina TsayPerrine Vaillant and Jerome LeroySara Van HofwegenKatie VerhulstMarc WahrhaftigAbdul WaliArleen WeinstockVera Alicia WeiszSophie WestacottCynthia WillardEmily WilliamsRandy & Vicky WinterNaomi WolmanWonderful GivingCandice YablanSteven YablokBarbara Yaroslavsky

Ayana was determined not to become one of 40% of Kyrgyz womenwhoareforcedtomarrythemenwhokidnapthem.Ayanawashomeforaholidaybreakfromboardingschoolwhenshefellvictimtothebrutaltraditionofbridekidnapping.

“Kyrgyz women are told not to protest, told they can’t ask the police for help, told they have no right to say no. They are voiceless”saysPTVTherapist,Dr.RosemarieDurocher.

AY ANAs u r v i v o r f r om Ky r gyzstan

Ayanawaswalkingdownasmallstreetduringtheday,whenacarpulled up and two men jumped out, grabbed her and threw her in thebackseat. “I screamed as loud as I could,” said Ayana.

Herkidnappersgrewfrustratedwithherscreamingandkickinginself-defense.Whilethecarwastravellingathighspeed,herabductors opened the car door and pushed her out onto a paved road.Ayanawokeupinhospitalafterhavingbeenunconsciousforseveralhours,shesufferedthreebrokenribs,afracturedwristandextensivebruises.Herparentsfearedthatshewouldbekidnappedagainsotheydecidedthatsheshouldflee.

Today, Ayana is a community college student here in Los Angeles. PTV assisted her with access to English classes and helped her get an internship at a local printing company. She has her mind set on being a graphic designer.

“I arrived in Los Angeles alone and overwhelmed by the asylum process. PTV made me like family and referred me to a free lawyer. They arranged for me to see a female doctor and talk to a female therapist. PTV helped me like myself again, I am proud that I am a women and that I have a voice and that I have rights in this country,” she adds.

AlbertoVazquez,alicensedmassagetherapist,waslookingtovolunteerhisservicestohelppeoplewhowereexperiencingpain but could not afford care. “My wife came across PTV on the internet and suggested that I volunteer there,” he said.

Alberto provides 5 hours of free massage therapy to survivors atourWilshireofficeeveryWednesday.“Massage therapy is a powerful tool to assist torture survivors with chronic pain, sleep issues, and stress. Alberto plays a key role in making our clients feel whole again,”saysPTVMedicalDirector,Dr.CynthiaWillard.

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITIONas of Sept 30, 2015

Cash & Equivilents 198,928 Grants Receivable 2,203Pledges Receivable 12,200 Fixed Assets 4,931 Prepaid Expenses 10.221 Total Assets $ 228,483 Current Liabilities 41,348 Long-Term Liabilities 1,851Total Liabilities 43,199 Unrestricted Net Assets 177,384 Temporarily Restricted Net Assets 7,900 Total Liabilities & Net Assets $ 228,483

STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIESfor the year ended Sept 30, 2015

Government Grants 436,032Foundation Grants 123,400 In-Kind Contributions 163,158 Events (net) 63,092 Individuals 24,037 Fees/Misc 4,211 Total Income $ 813,930

Programs & Services 656,298Management & General 83,406 Fund Development Investments 97,041 Total Expenses $ 836,745

Net Change in Assets $ -22,815

I N C OM E

a l b e r t ov o l u nt e e r massag e t h e r a p i st

One thing Alberto has noticed is that PTV clients tend to do more oftheirhomework,whichusuallyinvolvesmuscleexercisesorstretching, than his paid clients. “PTV clients really want to heal. They are aware that something is going on in their bodies and want to feel better” says Vazquez.

Alberto remembers a survivor that he feels he really helped particularly. She had significant body pain and was referred by her psychotherapist. She had never received a massage from a man before,sosheaskedforherpsychotherapisttobeintheroom,andfor the door to remain open. She also did not want her feet to be touched.

Duringherfirstappointment,AlbertousedtheGoogletranslatorapptocommunicate,andtheawkwardtranslationsmadeherlaugh.Onthe second appointment she allowed her psychotherapist to step out, and halfway through the massage she pointed to her feet. “I knew that she trusted me if she asked me to massage her feet,” said Alberto. After the massage, the survivor hugged PTV staff, which she had never done before, as she was usually shy and reserved.

Improvementssuchasthesemayseemlikebabysteps,buttheyaremonumental in helping survivors feel reconnected and begin to trust others again. Alberto proves that the human touch can change lives.

Programs & Services

78%

Management& General

9%

Fund Development

13%

Government Grants

54%

Foundation Grants

18%

In-Kind Contributions

18%

Events (net)8%

Individuals3%

E X P E N S E S

Laila Al Marayati, MD OB-GynecologistEmily and Victoria AlmendarezOutreach Interns Hector AristizabalTheatre DirectorEstela ChungCommunications InternAna Deutsch, MFTTherapist/Co-Founder Lisa HuynhGraphic DesignerCheline LundinEvent Volunteer José Quiroga, MDPhysician/Co-FounderRicardo Restrepo, MDPsychiatristSarah RubinsteinCommunications InternSamantha Stewart, MDPsychiatrist Alberto VazquezMassage Therapist

KEY VOLUNTEERS PROGRAM TEAMNouri AlmashatFarsi Interpreter Geeta and Jay BraraHindi and Punjabi InterpretersMarcelo CoronadoSpanish InterpreterRosemarie Durocher, PhDTherapistCecilia GelpiMindfulness InstructorDiane LeferGroup FacilitatorLili LiewMandarin/Cantonese Interpreter Ken Louria, MFTTherapistStephanie OganesianRussian InterpreterMaggie Shackelford, MAProgram ManagerClaudia VargasProgram AssistantLeah VincentSpanish Interpreter

ADMINISTRATIONCarly BoosAdministrative AssistantSophie WestacottDirector of External AffairsDean VenderourisBookkeeper

Carol Gomez, LCSWClinical DirectorTrip Oldfield, MBAExecutive Director Cynthia Willard, MD, MPHMedical Director

EXECUTIVE TEAM

BOARD OF DIRECTORSNiels Frenzen, (President)University of Southern California Adam Levine (Secretary)O’Melveny & Myers Andrew Atkin (Treasurer)Rodriguez, Horii, Choi & CafferataArun BahetiBluebook InternationalJennifer FisherBoeing Greg GoodOffice of the Mayor of Los AngelesKim Luu-NgCassiaTrip OldfieldPTV Executive Director Molly WeednCalifornia Medical Assoc Marc WilliamsDordi Williams Cohen

ADVOCATES COUNCILJulie Gutman DickinsonBush GottliebPeggy FarrellPotter & HandyStella MaloyanLAANE

*The name, image or other identifying characteristics of some survivors may be changed to protect client confidentiality and the safety of family and friends that still live in the survivor’s country of origin.

Program for Torture Victims 3550WilshireBlvd,Suite1906LosAngeles,CA90010213-384-4PTV(4788)ptvla.org