Toronto Torture Recover Services (TTRS) is dedicated to providing professional and compassionate psychotherapy services to refugees and all individuals in need. Our team of experienced licensed therapists and social workers who are committed to helping victims of torture, systematic abuse, war or forceful displacement navigate through their challenges and achieve mental wellness. We are committed to providing the highest standard of care to those we serve.

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The United Nations Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (UNCAT) defines torture in Article 1. According to this definition, torture is:

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1. Act of Inflicting Pain: Any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person.
    

2. Purpose: This pain or suffering is inflicted for specific purposes such as obtaining information or a confession, punishing the person for an act they or someone else committed or is suspected of committing, intimidating or coercing them or a third person, or for any reason based on discrimination of any kind.
    

3. Involvement of a Public Official: It must be inflicted by or at the instigation of or with the consent or acquiescence of a public official or other person acting in an official capacity.
    

4. Exclusion: It does not include pain or suffering arising only from, inherent in, or incidental to lawful sanctions.

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This comprehensive definition highlights the deliberate and often systematic nature of torture, emphasizing its use by those in positions of authority for specific, usually coercive, purposes​ (OHCHR)​​ (UN Legal)​.

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For more detailed information, you can refer to the full text of the Convention on the OHCHR website here.