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Treating trauma among refugees and asylum seekers in Sweden
Posted by World Without Torture in Europe, From our members, IRCT Scientific Symposium 2016 on 04/01/2017
In the heart of Sweden's third biggest city, Malmø, lies one of the Swedish Red Cross Treatment Center for persons affected by war and torture. Every day the centre provides specialised treatment to torture survivors from all corners of the world. Since the centre first opened its doors in the late 1980s, it has helped nearly 5,000 traumatised men and women who have escaped violence and persecution, war and armed conflict.
On some occasions, the trauma from torture will not rear its ugly head until decades after the incident, explains Anette Carnemalm, Head of the centre in Malmø, which is a member of the IRCT. She has seen this happening with many of her clients, particularly women victims of torture, who only start to suffer from trauma and depression years later when their children are grown up and their time is no longer filled with caring for them on a daily basis. This shows in the group of clients that the centre treats.
"Of course we have many clients from the Middle East, but there are still many clients from the Balkans, especially women who survived the war," says Anette. "What happens is that when a family arrives, the woman is consumed with looking after the family. When the children move from home the woman will often experience an existential crisis, which can lead to the trauma and depression that was left dormant for so many years."
Knowing this, it is perhaps not surprising that Anette predicts that we will see a similar thing with Syrian women 20 years from now.
While the consequences of torture haven't changed, the refugees coming to Sweden have. Before the war in the Former Yugoslavia, there were the dictatorships in Latin America during the 1970s, which saw an influx of refugees from this part of the world. Today, many of the refugees coming to Sweden are from Syria, Iraq and Lebanon, as well as Somalia and Eritrea.
"It's been a year since Sweden saw a great raise of influx in refugees arriving in the country, but we only started receiving clients much later, which is a natural consequence of refugees trying to integrate and settle. Not until they're beyond the acute crisis will they seek help for trauma symptoms," says Anette and continues: "The real influx in clients will be seen in a year or two from now."
Unlike other Red Cross centres in Sweden that take many asylum seekers waiting for their case to be processed, the centre in Malmø treats a higher number of people with permanent residency. In fact, Malmø is Sweden's most multicultural city and in the inner city there are residential areas, which are home to a large number of families with an immigrant background, as well as students and artists.
Despite this, Sweden at present has the lowest denominating standard in the EU when it comes to asylum seeking law, after just recently having introduced increasingly strict legislation on immigration. For many traumatised asylum seekers, this means they face a great deal of uncertainty, which often hinders their treatment.
"It is important to create a safe environment for a client in order for them to seek treatment, but it's very hard in the present situation to convey that this is not a threatening environment, when it does seem threatening for a refugee who is here alone and doesn't know if he or she will be allowed to stay," says Anette, as she points out that the situation for centres like hers is also uncertain. Even though her centre has so far been protected from any funding cuts, there are no guarantees.
"The political climate has changed and we now see political parties objecting to our funding so we don't know where we're heading in this sense." So far, the centre has managed to expand to meet a growing demand for its services and today it has 22 staff, 19 full-time and three part-time. Their work has made a difference to not only many of their clients, but also to the torture rehabilitation movement.
"We see our efforts make a great difference in our work with the Istanbul Protocol, documenting torture, but also when a patient tells us that they are feeling better. It is immensely rewarding working, or even just sharing a coffee, with a person who has survived such terrible circumstances. See them fighting to get their life back, improving their relationship with their family and regain some of the trust that has been lost."
"It is clear that Anette treasures her work despite the challenges that her and her colleagues face: "From here I don't know where to go. I'm with the Red Cross and I am doing this job, and I don't know where I would want to go that could be any better. It's a very rewarding job, but obviously also very strenuous. As the Head of the centre it is very important to ensure that my staff don't get too overwhelmed or stressed and stay healthy."
Work challenges and strict immigration policies aside, Anette does hope that her centre, as well as the global rehabilitation movement will become better at sharing knowledge and influencing the current political climate.
"I hope that our knowledge will influence the political debates to a larger extent and that we can convey our knowledge about torture and rehabilitation to the rest of the world so we can change people's opinions and understanding. There is this political movement, which is global, but there is also a growing knowledge of trauma, which is a good thing. We do a lot of lectures and people are always taken aback when they hear about our work. They didn't know… so we need to be better at sharing knowledge and raising awareness.
"I hope that we continue to build our scientific knowledge about trauma and how best to help. As an example, there is a lot of research on how to treat PTSD among war veterans, but not much research on how to treat PTSD among people in exile – people who are supposed to integrate in a different country. What is it like to suffer from trauma in a different country, without your family and your social network, not knowing the culture nor the language?"
It is clear that the rehabilitation sector still has work to do in terms of developing and sharing its knowledge about trauma among refugees and asylum seekers and what the best treatment methods are. It is also clear that centres like the one in Malmø have a key role to play in doing so.
Anette Carnemalm was among the presenters at the IRCT 10th International Scientific Symposium, which took place from 4-7 December in Mexico City. The Symposium brought together more than 350 participants from across professions, sectors and countries.
The power of collective memory to heal
Posted by World Without Torture in Latin America & the Caribbean, Rehabilitation, Sharing knowledge, Voices on 30/11/2016
The concept of collective memory can be used to provide psychosocial support to victims of torture, as well as reminding society of past atrocities. Professor Carlos Beristain, who is a physician, specialist in health education and doctor in psychology, believes collective memory can help survivors make sense of the trauma they have experienced.
"The memory of what happened hurts, because it brings torture victims' experience into the present day. Yet it also demands that the victim regain their dignity. The key is the psychosocial support. For victims of torture and other human rights violations, memory can help create a social framework for recognising their experiences, which they often have to keep inside or hide in silence. Memory also contributes to insuring the same trauma never happens again."
This is how Professor Beristain explains the power of victims' memory when it comes to healing. Having worked with victims since 1988, he has seen first-hand how collective memory can help torture victims understand their experiences better.
Beristain started out by focusing on the diagnosis of injuries caused by torture and the analysis of medical reports of cases in the Basque Country and in other countries. "In 1989 I went to El Salvador to train lawyers, doctors, psychologists and social workers on the documentation of cases, medical aspects of psychosocial care for victims and strengthening the community against the risk of arrest and torture, since this was a systematic practice during the war," he explains.
He knows only too well the consequences of torture and how it can affect entire communities. "In 1990 I went to Guatemala for the first time because other human rights organisations were interested in my work, even though there were no survivors in Guatemala because few political prisoners survived. Providing support to the relatives of disappeared persons and those killed in the massacres were the most important issues at the time. In Guatemala we learned about other forms of torture, such as acts of torture against the general public during the massacres and survivors who witnessed these acts, as well as the enormous impact of terror on Mayan communities."
These experiences have reinforced his believe in the importance of collective memory. "It can especially help in expressing their experiences in a positive sense. Because it is not only the pain and what happened that is important, it is also their resistance to it and their fighting spirit.
"Many victims see their experiences reflected in the more global work of collective memory, reaffirming themselves as a person and letting go of the negative image they have of themselves that creates a stigma where they or others feel they deserved to be tortured."
Beristain was part of the Interdisciplinary Group created by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights in 2015 that investigated the case of the 43 missing students of Ayotzinapa in Guerrero. A high profile case that attracted press attention from across the globe. He explains that, "Our work consisted of accompanying the victims, investigating the case and what happened the students, restoring a dialogue with the state and supporting them in analysing the reports and allegations about torture."
Professor Beristain has been working with the relatives of disappeared persons in Mexico for several years. "Some of them have survived kidnapping, and all of them suffered from the impact of the torture of forced disappearances and the lack of a state response to these atrocities. During workshops we ran we made space to share, to cry and to try to understand what had happened, despite the pain of many participants," he says.
"Through our work and support, many relatives have gone on to lead organisations, to have direct contact with the authorities, to review records or to take action, even in situations of repression or intimidation. The psychosocial support my colleagues and I have provided has played an important role in the development of these processes and organisations."
Professor Beristain will speak about survivor participation in research and treatment planning at the upcoming IRCT International Scientific Symposium, which takes place in Mexico from 4 to 7 December. It is closely connected with collective memory and a topic that he feels strongly about. "Survivors should be involved from the start. Firstly, because torture victims are in a process of regaining the control of their lives on their own terms and their ability to make decisions and take an active role is fundamental. Secondly, because of their experiences. Although their memories might be fragmented or limited, they can provide the group with a more positive perspective and act as an example for others," he says.
During a workshop with women survivors in Columbia, one of the survivors, who is also the leader of a women's organisation, said, "It's the first time in ten years that I stopped feeling guilty." This was as a result of speaking with others in the group. We know that guilt can fill the space where the person tries to make sense of what happened and this guilt has a way of trying to take control of the situation, as well as having an enormous psychological impact on the person."
While much progress is being made in the sector, Professor Beristain says more is needed to, "Help survivors face the consequences of their experiences, while reinforcing social ties and strengthening the social fabric of communities. In other words, it is not only a question of reducing suffering, but also contributing to the fight by tackling its causes. It is important to support victims and strengthen their psychological state and ability to integrate in society, as well as helping them to take their case to court and strengthen their ties with other victims so they can play an active role and not be the passive victim."
Fighting Torture: Q&A with Jens Modvig
Posted by World Without Torture in Fighting Torture Q&A, Sharing knowledge, Voices on 25/11/2016
In our Fighting Torture series, we speak with people from around the world and from a number of professions who work with and support survivors of torture. What does their work mean to them and what are the biggest challenges they see in the anti-torture and rehabilitation movement?
Jens Modvig was unanimously elected as the Chair of the UN Committee against Torture in April 2016. He has worked in the torture rehabilitation sector for more than 20 years, from his time as a medical doctor to his current role as Director of the Health Department at DIGNITY, the Danish Institute Against Torture. We find out what challenges he has faced in his new role and how the Committee relies on having close relationships with civil society.
Q: How long have you worked in the field of torture rehabilitation and human rights?
I started working for RCT (Rehabilitation and Research Centre) /IRCT (International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims) – RCT is now DIGNITY – in 1994 so it has been more than 20 years. It has been a great privilege for me to use my professional background in such an important field. I do not think that many people are as blessed as I am to have such a meaningful occupation.
Q: Can you describe a typical day in the office/field for you?
When I am in DIGNITY, I mainly work with matters related to medical knowledge of torture. This could be drafting or reviewing research papers or manuals for health professionals. When I am in Geneva for sessions of the Committee against Torture, we are in session all day, considering reports from state parties through an interactive dialogue with a delegation from the country in question.
These sessions are public and webcasted. During this session, which unfortunately prevents me from attending the IRCT Scientific Symposium in Mexico, we consider reports from Sri Lanka, Turkmenistan, Armenia, Monaco, Ecuador, Namibia, Finland and Cabo Verde. In between sessions I have meetings, internal or with ambassadors from countries being considered, or I prepare for the next day.
In the field, I most often engage in training or awareness sessions to build capacity or raise awareness of the problem of torture and the need to prevent torture and rehabilitate victims.
Q: Can you give us an example of how you have seen your work make a difference?
In a recent meeting in Ghana organised by the Convention against Torture initiative, initiated by the governments of Chile, Denmark, Indonesia, Ghana and Morocco, representatives of Kenya and Uganda explained that they had engaged in large legislative processes to have anti-torture legislation in place, and in both instances, this was prompted by recommendations by the Committee against Torture after consideration of these two countries.
Another example is when NGOs have assisted the Committee with a country review, for instance, by submitting a shadow report or having a private meeting with the Committee ahead of the public meeting, in some cases the NGOs fear reprisals once the session is completed. In such cases, I may issue a public warning to the state party delegation that such measures are unacceptable and will be reacted to immediately. In these cases I believe that the NGOs are just a tiny bit more secure, just as they often solicit and appreciate such messages from the Committee.
Q: How has this work changed since you started?
I think the anti-torture movement in general has been much better organised, and the professional level of fighting torture has increased considerably.
Q: What do you think are the biggest challenges facing the torture rehabilitation sector?
The biggest challenge is to get state parties to the Convention against Torture to assume their responsibilities laid down in article 14 of the Convention, i.e. the right to rehabilitation. If they did, we would not have the symptomatic problem of funding difficulties for the rehabilitation centres, and the sector would thrive, to the benefit of the victims.
In this regard, the IRCT Scientific Symposium a unique opportunity for the movement to take stock of its scientific achievements. In my opinion, scientific achievements are of great importance to the movement and give strength and legitimacy to the anti-torture movement as a whole, but are also a way of creating respect and maybe even protection for the individual NGOs that deal with torture victims.
In addition, it is clear that the right to rehabilitation is not enforceable in all state parties to the Convention against Torture and a lot needs to be done in this respect. The Committee is certainly working on this during its dialogue with state parties, but I believe that state representatives who will participate in the Symposium will obtain a much deeper understanding of why rehabilitation is needed and necessary and why states should ensure that the right to rehabilitation is available to all victims of torture.
How important is the CAT's relationship with civil society organisations?
The Committee against Torture relies on close collaboration with civil society, particularly in the field of alternative reporting. If we only had the official government reports available when carrying out our country reviews, we could easily be left with an incomplete or even wrong picture. Civil society organisations like IRCT members often provide crucial information to the Committee, often based on statistics derived from their clinical work with survivors of torture; and the IRCT plays a crucial role in supporting its members and facilitating their dialogue with the Committee.
Q: What are your hopes for the future?
Obviously I hope that the anti-torture movement, both the civil society based and the intergovernmental work gains much more strength and awareness so that we in fact are able to effectively fight torture.
Q: According to various surveys, many people do not think torture is such a big problem; that it is a thing of the past; or some even think that it is necessary. What would you say to them?
Try to imagine yourself in a situation where you were unjustly accused of terrorism. What would be important to you?
Ten years on and the Women of Atenco still seek justice
Posted by World Without Torture in IRCT Scientific Symposium 2016, Latin America & the Caribbean, Rehabilitation, Women/Girls/Gender on 27/10/2016
"When I got out of jail, I stayed in my house for a year," says Claudia. "I cried, and I suffered so much. I had had plans for the future with my partner, but when I got out of jail, he left me. I felt like the whole world had turned its back on me because I was a rape victim. During that time, I began to drink a lot, and I started to go to a lot of bars. I did many things I didn't normally do. And then I realised that the government had tied me up for a moment. They laid the first stone of my destruction. But even with all of this, I said to myself, 'I am still Claudia! I am still Claudia! I was raped, but this does not take away my dignity."
These are the words of Claudia. She is one of the 45 women arrested by police in Mexico one morning in May 2006 at a market square where they sold flowers. Dozens were seriously injured, two people were killed and many of those arrested sexually assaulted. The women have never received justice for what they experienced and continue to fight the impunity of their perpetrators. They have become known around the world because of their fight for justice.
In September this year, a little over 10 years since the event, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) filed an application with the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in relation to their case. The Commission noticed the "existence of severe acts of physical and psychological violence, including diverse forms of sexual violence against the eleven women and rape in the case of seven women".
This development is a milestone in the struggle of the Women of Atenco, as not a single person has been convicted of any crime related to the assaults. In 2013 the state partially admitted responsibility, but the Women of Atenco say it has failed to deliver justice as the federal forces involved in the assaults have never received sanctions.
In addition, after the events of 3 May the state initially prosecuted several of the women rather than the police officers involved. Five were imprisoned for a year or more, on charges such as blocking traffic. Achieving some sense of justice may go some way to helping the women overcome the trauma of their past. "I have not overcome it, not even a little. It is something that haunts me and you don't survive. It stays with you," says Maria Patricia Romero Hernández, one of the women, in a previous interview.
The IACHR had previously recommended that the state arrange full reparation for the victims, including providing them with medical and psychological treatment, continue its investigations effectively to "fully establish what happened, and to identify and punish the different grades of responsibility, from the material authors to other forms of responsibility".
However, the Commission was not satisfied that the Mexican state followed its recommendations and has now stepped up its action by filing the application. A ruling made by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights would be binding, unlike the recommendations, and could create a judicial precedent that could prevent further sexual abuses by federal security forces.
The fact that the case is finally receiving the attention it deserves has not stopped the Women of Atenco from continuing to spread their message and two of them, Italia Mendez and Norma Jimenez, will be keynote speakers at the upcoming IRCT 10th International Scientific Symposium in December in Mexico City. The women will speak in a session on survivor participation in research and treatment planning and will share their experiences.
"We are those who did not surrender to the misogyny of the state, and rejected the place that perpetrators assigned to us. They tried to take our identity, but we responded by shouting our name out loudly and reclaiming our right to be. We are breaking paradigms, taboos and raising awareness about the stigmatisation of survivors," says Italia.
26 June Support Life After Torture – Photo Contest 2016
Posted by World Without Torture in 26 June, Justice, Rehabilitation, Voices on 13/10/2016
In connection with this year's 26 June campaign the IRCT set up a photo competition, encouraging all participants to send in their best pictures from the day. The winning photos will be featured on the front and back covers of the 26 June Global Report 2016. It came down to the following photos, which were chosen among a high number of beautiful images from rehabilitation centres and organisations across the globe.
The Winning Photo
The winner of the 26 June Support Life After Torture – Photo Contest 2016 is from IRCT member centre in Italy, CIR Vi.To. – Hospitality and Care for Victims of Torture, Italian Council of Refugees. Taken by Ferruccio Gibellini, the photo is from the theatre performance Antigone in Exilium, which features refugees who have participated in the psycho-social rehabilitation theatre workshops that are part of CIR Vi.To.'s activities to support torture survivors. The performance and images raised awareness about 26 June and highlighted the need for support for rehabilitation programmes and for activities to support torture victims in general.
First runner-up
The first runner-up is from the centre HRO-Kandy Human Rights Office in Sri Lanka which, to commemorate 26 June, organised a petition calling on the government to prosecute cases under the 1994 Torture Act. As part of their campaign, HRO-Kandy hosted an exhibition that depicted real stories of torture, recent judgments, and posters on human rights, while exploring transitional justice, disappearances and the rights of prisoners. This image, taken by photographer Thilan Samarakoon, portrays law student Anusha Dissanayake speaking to members of the public about the event.
Second runner-up
A special mention goes to second runner-up Mikhail Solounin for his series of portraits from IRCT member centre in Russia, Committee for Prevention of Torture (CPT). The centre, in collaboration with the independent news outlet "Mediazona", published the stories of seven clients from Orenburg and Nizhny Novgorod. You can see the series of portraits and their stories here. In addition, members of CPT conducted a number of other activities to commemorate 26 June including a photo exhibition in Moscow and the screening of the film «286» made by lawyer from the centre.
Congratulations to the winners. Stay tuned for the launch of the 26 June Global Report 2016 featuring many more images from around the world and #SupportLifeAfterTorture.
International Day of Non-Violence: Surviving life after torture in Palestine
Posted by World Without Torture in From our members, Middle East North Africa, Rehabilitation, Voices on 03/10/2016
UN International Day of Non-Violence is marked every year on 2 October. At World Without Torture we regularly share the stories of those who have experienced acts of violence that have changed their lives forever, so the effects of torture can't be forgotten or ignored. Today, the story of Palestinian AA reminds us that for some, violence is seen as a tool of oppression and fear and torture is seen as an effective means of interrogation. It is because of this that days like the International Day of Non-Violence are important, it is because of people like AA.
In Jerusalem in January 2014, 17-year-old Palestinian AA was walking home from football training with his cousin when they were attacked by soldiers who first shot them in the feet and then told them to get on the ground. As they called for help a dog was unleashed on them. They allege that a group of ten Israeli soldiers beat them with their rifles and stood on their bullet wounds.
AA's cousin describes how they were then blindfolded and dragged to a military camp. "I was put in a room and interrogated violently; my clothes were torn. I had one wound in my hand, three on the right side and seven on my left thigh and area around my knee."
The interrogators refused to believe they had been playing football and tried to force them to admit they had been throwing stones at the soldiers. They were told that if they confessed to these charges, they would not be beaten. They both refused to sign the confession, which was written in Hebrew so they could not understand it, and were continuously beaten for four more hours.
They were eventually brought to a hospital where they received medical care. AA's cousin was operated on and woke up at 2pm the following day to find himself handcuffed in bed and under the supervision of eight soldiers. AA had three infected bullet wounds in his left thigh and was kept in hospital for a week, with his hands and legs handcuffed the entire time aside from when he was brought meals. During this time they were not allowed to have any visitors.
They were then transferred to a court and met by their lawyer who petitioned the court to release them since no indictments had been brought against them. Both were still in need of serious medical care and were transferred to a hospital in Jordan where they received treatment for two months. AA needed stitches on his head and his right thigh bone was fractured, while his cousin also needed stitches, had a fractured hand and torn hamstring. His legs were also badly damaged from the bullet wounds.
When returning from Jordan, they were not allowed to travel via the airport in Tel Aviv so they had to cross the border between Jordan and the West Bank as they both have West Bank identification cards. En route they were arrested by Israeli intelligence officers and brought to a settlement near Jerusalem. They were then interrogated for three hours and allege they were forced to confess to charges stating they had been trying to attack a military camp.
In the presence of their lawyer they were transferred to Ofer Prison, an Israeli facility in the West Bank where they were detained for 18 days until a deal was struck between their lawyer and the military prosecutor to prevent their families from pressing charges against the soldiers. They were both sentenced to 70 days in prison and fined 3,500 shekels and subsequently released in June 2014.
Today, AA and his cousin are receiving treatment from a psychiatrist and psychologist, as well as individual behavioural therapy at IRCT member centre, the Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre for Victims of Torture (TRC Palestine). They still struggle to process what happened and the impact their injuries have had on their lives as AA has not been able to return to school or play football again.
Sadly, the story of AA and his cousin is far from unique. As the Israeli-Palestinian conflict continues so does the violence, which affects thousands of people. TRC Palestine works with many people like AA and his cousin to reduce the devastating physical and psychological consequences of torture and politically motivated violence, as well as the retaliatory behaviour of the victims through its treatment and rehabilitation programme.
With no prospect of peace between the two sides and violence continuing, the work of organisations like TRC Palestine provide invaluable support and a glimmer of hope to the many victims of violence.
CPTRT: Delivering rehabilitation to those in need in Honduras
Posted by World Without Torture in From our members, Latin America & the Caribbean, Rehabilitation, Voices on 29/09/2016
Honduras is one of the poorest countries in Latin America and ongoing human rights violations have forced thousands of people to flee the country. Based in the capital, Tegucigalpa, IRCT member CPTRT offers relief and support to those affected by violence and torture.
For a country of less than 10 million, Honduras faces some big challenges. High rates of poverty and unemployment, as well as a poor human rights record have led to thousands of Hondurans fleeing their country. For those who stay, organised violence, rape and torture are real threats.
This is the harsh context, in which organisations like the Centre for Prevention, Treatment and Rehabilitation of Victims of Torture and their Relatives (CPTRT) operate.
Founded in 1995 by doctor, politician and human rights activist Juan Almendarez, CPTRT has become a leader within its field and a strong voice in the fight against torture. The centre employs a team of doctors, psychologists and social workers, as well as a group of volunteers.
Over the years, this team has successfully treated thousands of victims of torture and violence, but it is often a case of too much demand and not enough supply. CPTRT is one of just a few torture rehabilitation centres in Honduras, and as the national health system does not recognise torture as a health problem, there is little specialised treatment or rehabilitation available.
A paradox perhaps, given the many accounts of torture that CPTRT encounters. Gustavo N. Peña, Psychologist and Project Coordinator at CPTRT says the centre deals with many different types of victims, "from those who speak out against human rights abuses to the families of those in prison, students and those deprived of liberty".
Since the army ousted President Manuel Zelaya in 2009, the country has struggled with violence and unrest. The majority of victims of violence are women, children and the young people as well as activists and political leaders. Women and children in particular are often vulnerable and easy targets for the perpetrators who are usually never punished.
To change this, holding perpetrators responsible is a key issue for the CPTRT. The centre is committed to fighting impunity and by providing technical and legal assistance, it does everything it can to help its clients get access to justice but this is not easy as many victims do not want to speak out.
"Fundamentally, torture contributes to the development of a widespread sense of insecurity and fear that paralyses citizens and stops them from demanding justice. The population prefers to keep silent about the abuses that it is subjected to," says Gustavo N. Peña.
In addition to its legal and technical assistance, CPTRT looks at the physical, cognitive and emotional health of its clients, using medical, alternative and psychological treatment to individuals and their relatives. It also runs capacity building programmes with various community group
Looking at a recent report from the World Health Organization (WHO) on health worker-to-population ratio in Honduras, it is easy to see why CPTRT's services are in demand.
According to the WHO, there is an extreme shortage of physicians, psychologists and psychiatrists in the country with as little as 20.8 physicians per 10,000 population. And to make matters worse for the many Hondurans exposed to torture, most of the physicians do not have the knowledge to recognise torture or carry out rehabilitation of torture victims.
Juan Almendarez, Director of CPTRT has previously spoken about how, "The number of human rights violations by the military is rising, and the threat is greater and growing because military police operate with their faces covered and without visible identification, which fans impunity." Gustavo N. Peña agrees that this culture of impunity is a challenge to eradicating torture in Honduras saying he believes that, "Torture is seen as a mechanism of investigation, as well as punishment".
Today, CPTRT is a key player within the Honduran human rights movement and despite the daily challenges they face, centre staff continue to dedicate their lives to making a difference; as Alba Mejia, Assistant Director at CPTRT says, "Wherever there is injustice, we need to fight it and turn it into a positive change".
On a mission to document torture
Posted by World Without Torture in Forensics - Project Work, Latin America & the Caribbean, Sharing knowledge on 21/09/2016
Across the globe there are many human rights defenders and organisations whose work has made an enormous difference to the fight against torture – yet we know very little about them and what they do. One such group is the Independent Forensic Expert Group (IFEG), which consists of 35 of the world's most eminent experts in the documentation and investigation of torture. Coming from 18 different countries, these experts have varied backgrounds ranging from forensic pathologists to clinical psychologists.
The objective of the IFEG is to use its members' expertise as doctors, psychologist and psychiatrists to document and investigate torture and to secure justice for victims. As part of their work they go on documentation missions around the world, conducting physical and psychological evaluations of alleged torture victims. They also train health and legal professionals in how to document torture and help raise awareness among the public.
Dastan Salehi from the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT) recently spent a week with IFEG members Dr Maximo Alberto Duque Piedrahita and Dr Ana Deutsch on a mission in the Bolivian capital of La Paz. We asked Dastan to document the mission and as his pictures show, the work of the IFEG can take many different forms.
Dr Duque (left) and Dr Deutsch (right) spent one week in La Paz, Bolivia on a documentation mission, conducting physical and psychological evaluation on three people who allege they were subjected to torture in Bolivia.
Documentation missions are the bread and butter of the IFEG's work. In a nutshell, they feature two IFEG experts (one medical doctor and one psychologist or psychiatrist) who travel to a particular country to conduct examinations on people who allege they have been tortured. This examination results in what is known as a 'medico-legal report', which seeks to medically and psychologically assess the correlation of the physical and psychological scars with the allegations of torture.
While in La Paz, the two experts delivered a workshop on the Istanbul Protocol, the key international instrument on the investigation and documentation of torture and ill-treatment. The workshop, which was hosted by local rehabilitation centre Instituto de Terapia y Investigacion (ITEI), looked at ways to improve effective documentation of torture and the obligations of health professionals to document and report cases of torture independently.
During the mission, the IFEG experts spent time with ITEI to share experiences and best practices and to discuss how they can best work together in the future to document torture.
The IFEG's visit caught the attention of several local media outlets, which were all keen to interview them. In this one, Dr Duque appears alongside Andres Gautier, Lead Psychologist at ITEI, on the television programme Claroscuro con Angel Careaga to discuss the situation of torture in Bolivia and Latin America.
Dr Duque also met with journalists from Agencia de Noticias Fides Bolivia and was interviewed on Radio PanAmericana Bolivia to share his views on the situation in Bolivia, as well as to discuss the importance of the Istanbul Protocol.
Going on mission with the IFEG experts, Dastan Salehi quickly realised just how important their work is to the anti-torture movement and torture victims around the world.
"It was really inspiring to see Ana and Maximo at work. The way they spoke to and interacted with the victims and their families was just phenomenal. They didn't treat them as just a case. They built rapport, shared and collaborated with them as people, and that was quite special."
Each IFEG mission leaves behind a legacy of learning and inspiration, despite the difficult nature of the expert's work; this was no different in La Paz.
A big thank you to Dastan for sharing his pictures with us. To find out more about the work of the IFEG click here.
Torture and torment in Libya
Posted by World Without Torture in From our members, Middle East North Africa, Voices, Women/Girls/Gender on 13/09/2016
Five and a half years on from the ousting of former Libyan President Muammar Gaddafi, the country remains in an unstable state, facing the threat of IS and political infighting. Gaddafi was killed in February 2011 and on this year's anniversary of his death, interim president Abdul Jalil insisted his government had, "opened our arms to all Libyans, whether they supported the revolution or not". Acknowledging this message of inclusion, let's not forget the many people with links to Gaddafi who were targeted in the aftermath of the dictator's death. One of these people is HH who was tortured by the police.
HH was just 18 when Gaddafi died and her family was one of many to be persecuted because of their connection to his regime. The fact that they also belonged to a minority ethnic group made their situation even more dangerous. Immediately after Gaddafi's death HH and her family were threatened and harassed by the new authorities who wanted them to leave the country.
Her father was captured in 2014 and not released until 2016; she believes he was tortured during this time, though he never spoke about it. Soon after his release he was murdered on the street. After her father was taken away, HH was also arrested by the police and taken to prison. Over the course of a month, she was interrogated, sexually assaulted and beaten. Her head was shaved and she received death threats constantly. She was also forced to witness other family members being beaten.
Sadly, her story is far from unique. A UN High Commissioner for Human Rights report on Libya released in February 2016, found that killings and torture are being committed with impunity by "a multitude of actors – both state and non-state".
HH was released a month later and knew she needed to leave the country if she was to survive. Along with a close relative she made her way to Croatia, but the trauma of what she had experienced made day to day life impossible. HH was referred to the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT) member centre Rehabilitation Center for Stress and Trauma (RCT) in Zagreb by the Red Cross.
When she arrived at the centre she was suffering from depression, insomnia, nightmares and a loss of appetite. She also struggled to form relationships with people as she felt like she couldn't trust anyone. She had physical injuries as a result of the sexual assault but like many victims of sexual violence, refused to speak about what she had experienced.
RCT Zagreb provided social, medical, psychiatric and psychological support to both HH and her relative – also a victim of torture. The centre found accommodation for both of them and staff worked hard to establish trust so they could start the treatment and help HH integrate in Croatia. She was enrolled in a language course and received help to search for a job.
Through her therapy she began to deal with her grief at losing her family and the promising future she once had in Libya, where she was an ambitious student. A year and a half later and thanks to the work of the RCT Zagreb staff life had become more manageable for HH. She left Croatia in 2016, hoping to find a better future in Germany.
While HH escaped the violence and left her life in Libya behind, an article in The Guardian suggests that many people are losing hope in the country. In the article, which was written around the time of the five-year-anniversary, one student who supported the revolution said, "Some people say they want to go back to the time of Gaddafi. I don't. Where I want to go is out, out of the country."
The Alternative Nobel Prize: Rewarding human rights defenders for 36 years
Posted by World Without Torture in Advocacy and Influencing Policy, Europe on 07/09/2016
We've spoken with Ole von Uexküll who is the Executive Director of Swedish organisation the Right Livelihood Award Foundation, which each year supports a number of individuals and organisations through its award.
Established in 1980 by journalist and professional philatelist Jakob von Uexkull, the Right Livelihood Award aims to promote scientific research, education, public understanding and practical activities, which contribute to eliminating poverty and ensuring lasting peace and justice in the world.
The IRCT became a laureate in 1988, when it received the award for helping torture victims restore their lives and regain their health.
As the Executive Director of the organisation, Ole von Uexküll's job is to lead and coordinate the work of the Foundation, which is headquartered in the Swedish capital of Stockholm, with an office in Geneva, Switzerland.
WWT: Can you tell us a bit about the Foundation and what its purpose is?
OvU: The Right Livelihood Award Foundation is a charity registered in Sweden. The Foundation's principal purpose is to bestow the Right Livelihood Awards. Today, there are 162 Laureates from 67 countries. Yet, the support from the Foundation goes far beyond the prize. The Foundation invests a lot in press work and communication on behalf of its recipients – former and current Laureates. It also seeks to help protect and support Award Recipients who are at risk. In 2014, for instance, it organised a solidarity mission to Gaza to protest against the restrictions that 2013 Laureate Raji Sourani and his colleagues at the Palestinian Center for Human Rights face in exercising their fundamental freedoms and human rights in the Gaza Strip.
The Foundation tries to directly strengthen the network of its Laureates, whenever possible, through events, joint statements and petitions. Anniversary meetings, regional conferences and seminars, as well as cooperative events with other institutions, where Laureates are invited to their events, have become an important aspect of the Foundation's network building and outreach work.
With the inauguration of the Right Livelihood College in 2009, the Foundation also furthered its work in capacity building and in making its Laureates' knowledge more accessible.
WWT: What exactly does your role as Executive Director of the Right Livelihood Award Foundation consist of?
OvU: My main tasks are strategy development, representation, financial management and research. I have evaluated candidates for the Right Livelihood Award in more than 35 countries around the globe.
WWT: The IRCT received the award in 1988. Do you think the fight against torture is as relevant today as back then?
OvU: Absolutely. Torture continues to be a global scourge across many parts of the world, particularly in the context of the "war on terror" and other international and national conflicts. There remains a need for institutions dedicated to outlawing torture, monitoring state commitments to renounce torture, and working with torture victims to provide them with legal, medical and psychosocial support.
WWT: You recently organised a seminar/debate at the Swedish political forum Almedalen on 'Life After Torture'. Why did you chose this issue?
OvU: We felt that it was important for Swedish policy-makers to be informed about the unfortunate reality that torture remains a global problem, and together with our Laureate, the IRCT, we wanted to highlight the importance of working with torture victims to rebuild their lives. We wanted to use this forum to make the case that the important and innovative work that the IRCT and its partners are doing should be supported by governments as part of their efforts to promote human rights, development and the rule of law.
WWT: What has been the response so far?
OvU: We had a high number of participants in the seminar and some very good discussions during and after the seminar. In this regard, we are pleased to have put the issue of rehabilitation of torture victims in the realm of public debate in Sweden and will continue to work with the IRCT to inform people about their work.
WWT: What do you look for when finding new laureates?
OvU: We look closely at not only the overall impact of the individual or organisation, but also whether the approach they use is pioneering. It is also important for us to see that the candidate's life and work is a good example of 'Right Livelihood', i.e. living responsibly with a high degree of integrity. The typical Laureate is a courageous individual or organisation who has changed the "rules of the game" in a particular field, and has also demonstrated a practical solution to a global problem. Typical Laureates are role models; their work is transformational and they contribute to securing a just and sustainable world for future generations.
WWT: In addition to the monetary aspect of the prize, the Foundation also seeks to help protect and support those Award Recipients who are at risk. Why do you think this element of the prize is important?
OvU: For us, presenting the Award is the beginning of a life-long relationship we seek to have with Laureates, and we strive to continue to support their work as best as we can. We have estimated that one fifth of all our Laureates have been threatened because their work challenges powerful government and corporate interests. Since 2012, our protection programme, through solidarity visits, UN advocacy and strategic initiatives, has provided a degree of additional protection to our Laureates and strengthened their position in their country.
Additionally, we support our Laureates by giving them opportunities to meet each other at regional conferences, by sharing their achievements through our press and communications work, and by linking them to academic institutions through the Right Livelihood College – our university network with eight campuses on five continents. Several Laureates have observed that the solidarity provided by the Foundation and network of Laureates gives them the strength and confidence to continue persevering with their important work.
You can find out more about the Right Livelihood Award Foundation and its laureates by visiting its website.


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Beijing, June 18 (IANS) As part of the government's efforts to promote integrity among civil servants, a four-book series on moral issues faced by officials was released for sale in Beijing Monday.
The first publication on the topic in China, the series embodies the result of research conducted by experts from the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences, Xinhua reported.
The books speak about the morality of officials through Chinese history as well as the importance of raising officials' moral standards, said an official with the Beijing Commission for Discipline Inspection.
The prologue of the book series says the major difference between good and bad officials simply lies in whether they perform their duty with a conscience.
The books say a moral official in modern China should always serve the people as well as be loyal, pragmatic, fair-minded and incorruptible, while always improving oneself.

subset: commoncrawl


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The Monte Paraiso Apartments are in Puerto Rico, which has a busy marina, beaches with watersports and plenty of shops, bars and restaurants. The area has lively nightlife and a traffic-free promenade and the views from the hillside properties around Puerto Rico are unrivalled.
Distance from Airport:
25 miles
Apartments have twin bedroom
All have * terrace * bathroom/shower * WC * kitchenette * (certain amenities may be payable locally)
Transfer time:
40 minutes
Location and Resort:
These apartments are 2 miles from the resort centre, with regular local bus and taxi services, and just across the road from the `Europa` centre which has a selection of bars, restaurants and entertainment.
Eating and Drinking:
The apartments have a poolside bar serving snacks.
Swimming pools:
The apartments have a pool with sun terrace, and a splash pool for the children.
Right choice:
The Monte Paraiso Apartments in Gran Canaria will appeal to families and couples looking for a quiet location within a lively resort.
Suitable for:
Couples and Families


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Project DescriptionIntroduction
The new Quintans Pharmacy project in Lourinhã, Portugal, was an intervention made on a existing building with poor quality of construction, presenting several structural and conservation problems. Existing beams and pilars were in high number, with different shapes and dimensions and the existing facade had already been adulterated.
Therefore, our intervention focused on the standardization of the overall area ensuring at the same time the new functional program.
Ground Floor (Public Area)
On the ground floor we find the main pharmacy areas, General Costumer Area; Costumer Office; WC and Drugs/Medicine Storage area.The staircase linking to the first floor, was relocated by the new layout allowing additional natural light in the overall area.
The store has two different entrances, one public entrance and one staff/service entrance.
First Floor (Service Area)
On the first floor we find a more private area giving support the general Pharmacy services; two multifunctional offices (with the possibility of joining in one room only); Administration Office; Laboratory; Staff Area; Storage and WC.
Second Floor (Technical Area)
On the second floor, part of an outdoor pateo was transformed in a infra-structure ventilated area. The access to this area, for maintenance purposes only, is made by a hatch on the ceiling of the storage area on the first floor.
Small existing walls were demolished on the "window shopping" area, bringing the translucent glass plan to the ground. The upper area of the "window shopping" was also lowered to meet new interior ceiling heights. On the first floor, the original facade design was re-implemented, (folowing the existing second and third floors) allowing an overall standardization to the building facade design.
Gross Area 496m2


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Re: John BROGDEN, Wayne Co. etc., NC
In reply to:
John BROGDEN, Wayne Co. etc., NC
Howard Denney 1/23/99
Any sign of a Peterson Gideon Brogden/on in that group in Fayette Co.?All the Brogden's that I have put my finger on in Georgia are from the group out of Gwinnett Co.My Peterson was in Butts Co., GA in 1830 and had married Talitha/Teletha/Tabitha D. Turner in 1826 in Butts Co.They moved to Jasper Co., GA and then to Tallapoosa Co., AL.He died in Elmore Co., AL between 1876-1880.I have not been able to establish parentage, however, according to all the census records they say he was born in NC. There was a Peterson Brogden deed in Edgecomb County 1751.Don't know if that was his grandfather or not.Can't put my finger on him.
More Replies:
Re: John BROGDEN, Wayne Co. etc., NC
Howard Denney 2/06/99


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Since the invention of inflation, prices for groceries have skyrocketed and rivers have become traversable. Enjoy the scenic side of economics with today's Groupon: for $35, you get a half-day raft trip through Brown's Canyon and gear rental from KODI Rafting in Buena Vista (up to a $66 total value).
KODI Rafting guides paddlers through roiling rapids, splashing and thrashing riders until faces are covered with both water and enthusiastic smiles. Half-day Brown's Canyon trips depart at 8:45 a.m., 12:45 p.m., and 1:45 p.m., leading aquatic expeditions through the tree-lined cliff faces of the Arkansas River ($56 for adults; $49 for children age 7–12). Vessels row and float through tranquil stretches of current and notorious whitewater runs such as Pinball, Zoom Flume, and Widowmaker. KODI's Arkansas River Outpost acts as a base camp where rafters check out essential safety equipment including life preservers and helmets, as well as a supplementary rental package of a wetsuit, splash jacket, booties, and an Audubon Society pamphlet on spotting rare water molecules (a $10 value). Guides chauffeur parties to their put-in points up river and provide transportation back to the outpost from the end of the run, saving guests the effort of rowing home along winding mountain roads.
Though KODI Rafting sometimes offers discounted pricing online, this Groupon is still the best deal available.


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Students Review
What a great turnout we had at our most recent Virtual Open Day. Michael Betts, our company director, explained to the group the process of becoming a personal trainer with TRAINFITNESS covering the various course options available. Michael then went on to talk about the support offered both during the course and after.
We conduct our VODs once a month and anyone can attend. All you need to do is register here and we'll send you all the details. It only goes for 30 minutes and you'll have a chance to chat to our enrolments team and tutors.
Our next one is on the 15th August. We look foward to seeing you then.
Here's what happend at our most recent one:
You've just finished your course and you are now a fully qualified PT, but how do you start making real money?
But, before we dive in and explore some of the secrets of success you should be aware that being successful and making money will first and foremost take a lot of grind. It won't come easily and you will have to work hard, but apply our tips and you will be on your way to financial success.
Communicate - Talk to people
How on earth are you going to expand your client base if you aren't going to talk to people. You may have all the knowledge, wisdom and skills in the world, but who's going to know just by looking at you? By talking to people, they get to see how friendly and approachable you are as well as knowledgeable. Think of it this way, assume most people in the gym do want a personal trainer but don't know where to start or are too nervous to ask or approach you. You can burst through that barrier by breaking the ice and saying hello. You might not gain a client that day, but they will come to you when they are ready.
Related Material: Interview with Charlie King
Consider group training
Walking up to people in the gym is one way to talk to potential new clients. But running a group exercise session is another way of getting in front of a captive audience. Now this could take a few forms. Firstly, you can go bootcamp style, gathering lots of people together for a pretty grueling session. This can take some planning as you will need an appropriate space and equipment. But it is an attractive option as it puts you in front of multiple people who might be open to 1-1 sessions as well.
Secondly you could take a group fitness class in a gym. If you have the qualifications you could run a HIIT class, indoor cycling or a circuit training session. While the pay may not be as great as a PT session, anyone who attends your class could be looking for 1-1 options at some point. This is a great way to get some exposure, add a bit of variety to your schedule and meet potential new clients.
Related Material: Our Personal Training Diploma includes HIIT, Indoor Cycling & Circuit Instruction courses
Keep Learning New Skills
We say it all the time; as a PT you should always be looking to learn more skills and techniques. Put yourself in the client's shoes for a second; would you rather train with a PT who has learnt many skills by attending lots of courses such as kettlebell, Pilates, massage, Olympic lifting, suspension training (the list goes on) or with a PT who has their basic qualification and not much else? We thought the first one looked more attractive too. It isn't just a case of seeming knowledgeable either. Knowledge will enable you to work with the widest range of clients possible, good times!
Related Material: Check out our range of fitness courses
Be Flexible with your Pricing and Packages
Tight budgets or short on time, 'no problem' we hear you say. Develop packages that appeal to everyone. Only have 45 minutes to spare, more than enough time to put a good session in. Can't afford the standard hourly rate, offer a cheaper bulk package. Don't want to do 12 weeks but would like a 4-week plan, no problem. Of course, we want clients to sign up for the longer term and to pay full whack, but offering lots of differently priced and sized packages is a great way to stay busy, bring in money and spread the word about just how adaptable you are. It will keep you busy.
Get reviews, referrals and testimonials
At this point it's probably a good idea to seriously consider setting up your website, or to at least have somewhere for reviews to be left. Think like Amazon, customers leave reviews and those reviews will shape another customer's buying practices. If you have a page of 5 star reviews and a couple of positive testimonials you are more likely to win business than if you don't. You are not the only PT looking to attract more business. Stand out from the crowd with some lovely feedback from your clients.
Find out why athletes like Dwain Chambers choose to become personal trainers with us
Avoid training plateaus with progressive overload
Read our interview with Personal Trainer Courtney Pruce
Hello summer! A time for sizzling sausages on the BBQ, dropping a cube or two of ice in a glass of Pimm's and passing factor 50 all round. Or will it be a complete wash-out? Who knows, it literally is a lottery. While the weather might sometimes be unpredictable in the UK summer months, the food isn't.
Broad Beans – Once you have dealt with the minor annoyance of de-shelling them (you can always buy them prepared) you will be treated to a nutritional delight. Broad beans are an excellent source of protein and fibre as well as being rich in folate and B vitamins, which are vital to nerve and blood cell development as well as cognitive function and energy levels. Why not try them in your next salad or with some quinoa and protein of your choice
Beetroot- Beetroot isn't for everyone, but if you can stomach the unique earthy taste then you absolutely should add it to your shopping list. What makes beetroot so nutritionally sound? Well to start it's a fantastic source of nitrates. When eaten, these nitrates convert to nitric oxide, this can help widen arteries and lower blood pressure. Beetroot has also been found to reduce 'bad cholesterol' as it contains high levels of soluble fibre, flavonoids and betacyanin, these help protect the heart from heart attack and stroke. For the athletes, beetroot can improve stamina, thanks to those handy nitrates. As well as a host of anti-cancer properties, being rich in vitamin C and potassium, beetroot also comes packed with vitamin A, C, calcium, B6, magnesium, copper, iron, zinc, phosphorus. But you will find these in the leafy tops, do not throw them away!
Cherry – The cherry, we love cherries here at TRAINFITNESS, not only do they taste great, but they also come with a whole host of nutritional benefits. Cherries are a great sauce of anthocyanins and cyanidin, powerful antioxidants. Cherries are also packed full of fibre, vitamin C, carotenoids each of which have great benefits to cancer prevention. As well as keeping you ticking over while you are awake, Cherries come with good levels of melatonin which can help improve sleep quality. Great, we could all do with better quality sleep! Cherries have also been found to improve arthritis pain, help to reduce fat, reduce post exercise muscle pain and lower the risk of stroke. With so many benefits we aren't sure why you aren't already stuffing your face with them.
Fennel – Yes, like marmite you either love or hate fennel, there doesn't seem to be a middle ground. But if you can stomach it you will reap the rewards as fennel is no slouch when it comes to providing us with the good stuff. Take ageing, no one likes getting old or looking old before their time. Step forward fennel, mother nature's natural face lift. Packed full of B vitamins and vitamin C, fennel provides the body with what it needs for good skin health. Now your face is looking younger than ever, fennel can also help protect against cancer, can help relieve menstrual cramps and plays a role in fighting off obesity with its fibre content.
Raspberry – Sharp, somewhat sweet – summer is the time for the raspberry. These little red nuggets are a nutritional powerhouse and should be making it onto your porridge or into your Eton Mess! The raspberry is full of antioxidants (one of the highest concentrations out there) as well as having good volumes of potassium, vitamin C, magnesium and vitamin A. They are an allrounder helping to combat cancer, dementia and infertility whilst boosting mood, immunity and eye health. We are nipping off to the shop to pick some up…..
Mackerel – We love all things fishy at HQ, and a good mackerel fillet is hard to beat (salmon comes very close). It's adaptable, tasty and nutritionally has so much to offer. The fish is brimming with omega 3 fatty acids, these have long been known to help prevent heart disease. Mackerel happens to be a great natural source of vitamin D too. This vitamin is important for calcium and phosphorus absorption, maintenance of bones and teeth and can help protect against multiple diseases- think cancer and diabetes. All in, mackerel is not to be sniffed at and should definitely be on your next shopping list. Have it grilled with pepper and a drizzle of fresh lemon, yum.
Summer doesn't just have to be about burgers and hot dogs, there's so much on offer that it would be a shame to ignore the options. Go explore July's food offering and get creative in the kitchen.
Other foods to think about-
With so much information and so many providers to choose from it is very easy to become quickly overwhelmed when looking at where to start your personal training career. Starting on the path to becoming a PT shouldn't be complicated and it certainly shouldn't leave you confused and frustrated.
Avoiding frustration and confusion is why we run a monthly Virtual Open Day or VOD. The VOD is an opportunity for you to plug in, from the comfort of your own home and meet our team. In thirty minutes, we go over how we work, what you can expect from your time at TRAINFITNESS, what we offer, how we support you during the course and how we continue that support long after you have finished with us. We also answer any questions you might have.
We feel this is a far more digestible way of finding out the facts and the information that is important to you than reading through hundreds of search results, mind boggling amounts of sales talk and conflicting information. At the end of the VOD you are free to make up your mind about training with us; there is no pressure and no obligation. If you have further questions our team are on hand to answer questions, be it on the phone or through email
If you want to join us in our next VOD on the 18th July 2017, then all you need to do is click here to book your free place.
If you want to see how a VOD works, feel free to watch the video below. If you still have questions, give us a call or send us an email, we're a friendly bunch and we love to talk.
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SMART or- Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time Bound, is a way of focusing your efforts and using your time wisely to achieve whatever it is you hope to achieve, be it improving performance, nailing exams or making improvements to your general health and wellbeing.
If you are currently working towards a fitness goal or a study goal, SMART might be a great way to focus your efforts and help you achieve your goals. Let's take a deeper look into what it means to have SMART goals.
Learn more about SMART goals on our personal training course
We have mentioned that 'specific' means having a clear goal, but what does clear mean? Most people's motivation when hitting the gym is to 'get fit', this is a broad term and not specific enough. Instead, think of what it is that will make you fit. Is it "I want to lose body fat", or "I want to build muscle". These are more specific goals. If you are a student, your goal might be to "study hard". A nice ambition but again too broad, what do you mean by study hard? Be more specific and the goal becomes "I plan to study hard to get a certain grade or to pass my assessment".
Now you have your specific goal you can turn to how you will measure your work and determine whether you have accomplished your goal. Take losing weight, this is relatively easy to measure; you want to lose X number of kilograms. When it comes to your study, how do you measure "studying hard"? Perhaps "I will study X hours per week" is your measure or "I will practice delivering sessions with X number of friends and family ahead of assessment day". These are more clearly trackable and hence measurable.
You have your specific goals and you have your means of measuring your success, but are your goals achievable. A big mistake when setting goals is to set them so high you make them unattainable. Take weight loss, is the amount you intend to lose in the time you have set manageable and healthy? The same with study or session practice, do you have enough spare hours to do that additional study, are your friends and family readily available to help you out? Have ambitious goals, just make sure they are safe and attainable.
Is this a change you want to make or one someone thinks you should make? Are you motivated by your own desire to do well and to achieve, or are you being bullied/peer pressured into making changes? If it's the former, you have relevant goals. If it's the latter, you are setting yourself up for an almighty failure because you didn't set the terms. Think again and come back with goals you want to achieve.
Learn more about motivating clients for success in our Neuro Linguistic Programming course.
Time Bound
Each of your goals, whatever they are, need to have a defined timeframe. If you want to put the hours of study in, your time frame would be shaped by when the assessment is, so "I want to study for 30hrs per week for the next 6 weeks before my assessment date" is a time bound goal. With weight loss, "I want to lose 5kg in 12 weeks" is a time bound and safe goal.
SMART goal setting is not the only way to create and then stick to goals, but it is a very efficient way to reach your end result and most importantly stick at it.
Quick fixes to make you a better personal trainer
Five tips to boost your clients motivation
What makes a good leader ?
You've spent hours poring over job specs; you've looked at graduate roles; you don't know what you want to do but you know for certain that you don't want to be sat behind a desk pushing papers for the rest of your life. Perhaps, you already are wondering how the hell you got there?
If this sounds like you, perhaps it's time to reassess. Ask yourself, do you like working with people? Do you like the gym environment? Do you like the world of health and fitness? Do you like being on your feet, teaching, training, coaching, communicating?
If the answer is yes, then perhaps it's time to get the trainers on and consider a career as a personal trainer.
Now is a fantastic time to be taking those first steps. The industry is booming and the growth of 2017 is set to continue well. With the total market value estimated at around £4.7 billion and with over a 5.1% rise in gym memberships (that equates to 1 in every 7 people in the UK being a gym member), there are plenty of potential clients for personal trainers to be working with.
If you're still uncertain, have a look at some other reasons why a career as a PT could be your future.
Do something you love
If you spend your spare time training, love sport, love exercise and are ready to hand out tips to random strangers in the gym, then clearly you need to think about training to become a PT. You get to do what you love doing every day and you get paid to do it. What could be better than that? Turning your passion into your career will make work less like work and more like fun.
Related Content: How to prepare for your personal training interview
Chance to make positive changes in people's lives
What can be more rewarding than helping others create and then achieve goals? As a PT you have the chance to change lives by helping people achieve a happier and healthier existence. You provide the knowledge, guidance and support to help clients transform their lives. The reward? Being there every step of the way, watching, encouraging and helping clients achieve those physical and mental changes.
Challenging and diverse - daily
No two days need ever be the same. Yes, lots of the movements you might teach will be the same, but the people you train won't be. Variety is, after all, the spice of life. Not only will the people you train be different, but so will the motivations they each have for training; rehab, prehab, transformation challenges, sports-specific training, lifesaving changes. Each client will have unique needs and you'll have to come up with approaches to meet them.
Related Content: How to write a good personal trainer CV
PTs are in demand
Here's a straightforward one for you - PTs are in demand. As a nation, we 're now much more in tune with what a healthy lifestyle is and isn't. We're also much more conscious of making the right choices as well as being prepared to spend money making those choices. PTs help individuals maximise their training, help get results and help to make positive changes in people's lives. Those changes are what people value and that's why as a PT you could be busy, busy, busy doing what you love doing.
Financial reward
Do it right and you could earn an extremely good income as a PT. As more individuals are becoming aware of the dangers of a sedentary lifestyle, demand for personal training has grown. Getting yourself onto the best course, getting hired by a gym, or taking the freelance route can put you in a great position to take on clients and enjoy a very attractive income. The more you put in, the more you could be earning. The only thing holding back your earning potential is you.
Build a regular and solid client base, get plenty of experience under your belt and you could be on your way to financial gain.
Switching careers, or taking your first step into the working world might be daunting for you, but the resources are there to help you get the necessary foundation training, as is the support for ongoing and continued learning. If you love the world of health and fitness, if you like working with people, and you like diversity, a career as a PT may well be right for you.
Don't be that PT- Quick fixes to make you a better personal trainer
How to become a personal trainer
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Mitochondria (pronounced might-o-con-dria) have recently undergone extensive research and are proving to be extremely interesting. What's been discovered is that they are crucial to our overall health as they moderate the disease and aging process. However, their primary role is to produce energy (ATP) for each cell they reside within.
The most fascinating aspect of Mitochondria is how they came to be part of human physiology. Many lines of evidence support the idea that mitochondria were originally 'free-living cells', meaning that they weren't part of other more advanced cells.
Then, likely more than a billion years ago, an 'endo-symbiotic' event occurred where a free-living mitochondria was taken in by another primitive cell (or maybe it was trying to invade the cell – we don't know! This would suggest that this new super-charged cell gave rise to the original eukaryotic cell – a cell with greater complexity that has a nucleus which houses the cell's DNA and directs the synthesis of proteins, the very tissues which make us!
Why is this so interesting and important? Well it could just be that without this chance endo-symbiotic event, the evolutionary lines to the modern human may never have occurred!
As Lee Know ND puts it "The acquisition of mitochondria seems to have been the decisive moment in history of life as we know it… if not for mitochondria, the world would not have evolved beyond single cell bacteria".
From a natural selection perspective, organisms which can tough it out and survive in their environment are much more likely to pass on their genes to the next generation. Therefore, any survival or reproductive advantage can help prevent extinction! By joining forces with the mitochondria the cell had obtained an energy producing piece of machinery. As the host-mitochondria relationship developed, so did an entire life form!
We now know that our mitochondria are inherited through our maternal line, passed down from the mother's egg. Mitochondria even have their own DNA, separate from that of our own cells and there are many hundreds to several thousands of mitochondria in each human cell. Examples being tissues that are very energy hungry, such as the brain and liver which have greater numbers of mitochondria to support the extensive and continuous work they do.
Day-to-day, the job of the mitochondria is to produce energy for the cell – we call this energy ATP. Many people have heard of aerobic (with sufficient oxygen) or anaerobic (insufficient oxygen) energy production and it is the site of the mitochondria where aerobic energy production occurs. Aerobic ATP productivity is much greater than anaerobic. For example, for every molecule of glucose the anaerobic system creates x4 ATP, whereas complete breakdown of that same glucose molecule within the aerobic system provides 36-38 ATP!
The fact that mitochondria really are the 'power-houses' of our cells is both a blessing and potentially a curse (using the word 'curse' is a bit OTT, mind). And this ties in with the 'mitochondrial theory of aging'. Simply, the theory states that aging and many diseases which accompany it are caused by a slow degeneration in the quality of the mitochondria.
Mitochondrial function is important because, during the aerobic production of ATP, reactive molecules known as 'free radicals' are produced – this is a completely normal process. However, over time, it has been suggested that free radical generation may cause some damage to near-by cell machinery, in particular the DNA of the mitochondria and the nucleus of the cell.
Whilst each cell in the body is equipped to deal with free radical 'leakage' and can repair damage caused, long term oxidative stress can breach a threshold for the health and function of the cell. This deterioration eventually leads to the cell dying. If the cell cannot produce the energy it requires, then it cannot do its job properly, that is, to be an important part of the 'tissue family' within which it resides. Indeed, the tissue those cells are part of (for example the heart, skin or muscle) also deteriorate – one of the hall-marks of aging.
One important factor which regulates the amount of damage which might be caused by the oxidative stress of free radical leakage from the energy production line is the rate at which we use up ATP. If there is too much fuel relative to demand, then a spill-over effect occurs and free radicals are lost/escape.
The job of anti-oxidants within each cell is to convert the mischievous free radical into good-old H2O – yes, each cell actually produces its own metabolic water as a result of making energy and mopping up free radicals (quite a useful by-product).
It is important not to take the leap of faith however and assume that 'cellular vitality' can be restored and optimised so that we can live forever. Taking in lots of exogenous (external) antioxidants in the form of supplements – has been shown, through research, not to work!
So, from a practical stand-point, the key message here is this: in order for the antioxidant systems of the cell not to become overpowered by too great a buildup of free radicals, we need to be conscious of energy balance:
From this we can deduce that keeping one's weight in check is not just a means of staving off diabetes and cardiovascular diseases but offers a means to act against diseases of aging. This also provides a rationale for the use of dietary strategies such as intermittent fasting, which is a form of calorie restriction. Some research in animals provides support that chronic calorie restriction may extend life expectancy (but a leap of faith is needed to extrapolate this to humans).
In addition, regular moderate-intensity exercise is important for wider health and indeed, mitochondria. Even though exercise requires more oxygen and energy, which produce more free radicals, it also serves to keep the energy production line moving and stimulates 'mitochondrial biogenesis', defined as the growth and division of pre-existing mitochondria, which increases the cells ability to make adequate energy for itself.
Finally, a nutrient-dense and diverse diet which supports energy production and mitochondrial health is another piece of the anti-aging puzzle. Nutrients such as B-vitamins, iron, magnesium, coenzyme Q10 and copper should feature in foods eaten regularly:
Salmon, asparagus, red peppers
Chicken liver, spinach,
Pumpkin seeds, quinoa, yoghurt
Coenzyme Q10
Oils from nuts, fish and meat
Cashew nuts, lentils, walnuts
So you're thinking about becoming a personal trainer, fantastic news! Being a personal trainer is a fantastic career choice that will see you working with people on a daily basis, helping them on their journey to a healthier and fitter lifestyle.
You're taking an exciting first step and we are here to help you take the next one. Deciding on a PT course provider takes a lot of time and careful research. There is a lot of information to digest and we know it can be an awful lot to take on in one go. You have to be certain that the company you will be working with is reputable and is able to deliver the quality service you deserve.
Because we know how tough a decision it is and because we know how much information there is to digest, TRAINFITNESS runs a monthly Virtual Open Day or VoD. These webinars are a fantastic opportunity to get to know us, meet the team, find out more about what we do and how we do it and have your questions answered.
Rather than sift through thousands of words and sales talk, come and join us in our next VoD.on 20 June. All it takes is thirty minutes and can be done from the comfort of your own home. Sign up, login, have your questions answered
To give you an idea of what to expect, here is our last VoD : https://youtu.be/8WJSLRPAFzs
Best of all, it's free to sign up! http://trai.nu/VgDA30bFrn2
Oh May, what a delicious month. The sun is shining, the days are lighter for longer, and the fare is pretty damn good. If you thought April was a treat, then May is a delicious morsel of food heaven. But what is actually in season, what can we get our hands on and what should we be eating as we edge ever closer to the long-awaited summer months? Read on for our pick of the seasonal foodstuffs you should be looking out for.
Asparagus - The only negative we can think of is how it makes your pee smell after eating. Let's face it, we can all put up with a bit of a bad smell when something tastes so delicious and is so good for you. Asparagus is full to the brim with vitamin and mineral goodness such as vitamins A, C, E, K and B6. It also comes with healthy doses of folate, iron, copper and calcium as well as protein. It's packed with soluble and insoluble fibre, making it slow digesting and helping you to fill full for longer. It also comes with antioxidants. What a super food asparagus is! If that wasn't enough, the B6 and folate make the veggie a natural aphrodisiac. Enjoy the benefits in and out of the bedroom J
Keep the cooking simple. We would recommend grilling and serving with a poached egg or two for a light bite. Yum
Related Content: The diet you've never heard of is the best of 2017
Chicory - We think this is a slightly underused and underappreciated leaf. Long has lettuce reigned supreme in the salad stakes, but maybe it's time to give chicory a go. Nutritionally, the leaf comes with small amounts of just about all the essential vitamins and comes rich with selenium and manganese. These help the immune system and the formation of healthy bones. While chicory might not have huge amounts of vitamins and minerals, the fact that it comes with a drop of all of them makes this a worthy May eat and a great addition to your meals.
We like to throw this into a salad with some seeds and tomatoes and a smattering of feta. Maybe even a soft-boiled egg and some peppers. But you could easily caramelise it or make a gratin. Adaptable and tasty.
Related Content: Seasonal Eats – What to eat in April
Gooseberry - This is another example of a food item we don't eat enough. We should be championing it more. Sure, it's possibly the not-so-fond memory of the force-feeding at the hands of grandparents that's holding us back. We all remember the sharp and tangy gooseberry fool, right? It's ok, we all suffered, but don't let it stop you trying again because nutritionally, Gooseberries are loaded with the good stuff. Tart and wild, gooseberries are packed full of antioxidants and vitamins. They can help protect the body from infections, whilst also slow down the ageing process, improving skin, protect the eyes and prevent hair loss. For anyone, these are huge bonus points.
Why not try a gooseberry jam recipe courtesy of the BBC
Samphire – Once hailed the next superfood, samphire, while still popular, did somewhat slip into obscurity. This can happen when something is promoted so hard, people end up bored of the subject. However, we think you should circle back and add it to the menu. Why? Because samphire, nutritionally speaking, is a bazooka to your plate. Packed with magnesium, potassium, calcium and sodium, it boasts healthy amounts of fibre, vitamins A, B and C. It also has good levels of the compound fucoidan which has an anti-inflammatory effect. If that wasn't enough, it comes with virtually no fat and is low in calories. This makes it a more than worthy addition to your dishes. Of course, it's high-ish in sodium, just don't go adding any more seasoning to the cooking process.
We suggest steaming, or raw in a salad or this tasty treat from the BBC
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According to The State of the UK Fitness Industry Report 2016, there are now over 9 million members of health clubs and leisure centres in the UK, equivalent to 14.3% of the population. This places us in third position globally behind the United States and Germany. With a market value of £4.4 billion and growing, now is a great time to become a part of the exciting and dynamic fitness industry.
Whether you're thinking of changing careers and getting into the fitness industry, or are already working in it and want to further your career, we have the right fitness course for you.
We've delivered fitness courses for over 17 years and have built a strong reputation by offering the highest quality training at the best price. We make learning affordable, convenient and enjoyable. And we're often first.
We were the first fitness training provider to offer payment plans, including 0% interest and zero charges in some cases. We also offer up to 20% off the regular price of some courses with prompt payment.
We were also the first training provider to offer online learning in the UK fitness industry and created our own purpose-built Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) to deliver course material online, whether as part of one of our distance study fitness courses or to accompany face-to-face training in one of our part time or full time fitness courses. And whatever study option you choose, you can access your online course material on your desktop, laptop, mobile or tablet thanks to our app – another first for the fitness industry. Together, our VLE and app make learning so straight forward and convenient that we won the award for Best Use of Technology in the Active Training Awards 2016.
Thousands of people just like you have enjoyed studying with us and you can see what they say here.
Yes – nationally and internationally. As well as our accreditation with YMCA Awards and Active IQ, all of our courses are endorsed by the Register of Exercise Professionals (UK). In addition, all of our courses are accredited by the American Council of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and many are also accredited by the American Council on Exercise (ACE).
Our fitness courses could help you travel the world as a fitness professional.
We offer support by phone, email, help desk and online chat. And we offer more hours of learner support per week than any other training provider: 8am - 8pm Monday to Friday, and 11am – 4pm on Saturday and Sunday.
The help you need, when you need it.
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TRAINFITNESS is registered in England and Wales under company number 04078230 | Registered Office: White Hart House, High Street, Limpsfield, Surrey, RH8 0DT | VAT Number: 798696040 | Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority under registration number 628699.


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In one scene of the film, the 39-year-old actor is seen dragging the chimpanzee named Chance through an office party, Metro.co.uk reported.
According to PETA, the chimp was provided by the Rosaire family, notorious for operating a traveling circus that forces chimpanzees to perform cruel and unnatural acts.
PETA's primatologist Julia Gallucci wrote in an online petition that someone as committed to environmental concerns, as DiCaprio should know better than to support the well-documented cruelty involved in using great apes for entertainment.
She added that PETA is hopes that the next time DiCaprio gets a script with an ape in it, he will remember that the apes are stolen from their mothers at birth and subjected to physical abuse - and he'll demand a rewrite.


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Tiger Woods said Thursday his left Achilles tendon injury will not keep him from playing in the Masters in April.
"I'll be there. Don't worry about it," Woods said during an appearance on Good Morning America. "I took a few days off. I'll start hitting balls tomorrow. The stiffness is gone. Hopefully, I'll be ready next week."
PHOTO GALLERY: The life of Tiger Woods
Woods had scheduled to play in next week's Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando, which would be his final start before the Masters. He has won four green jackets, the last in 2005.
The former world No. 1 withdrew on the 12th hole in the final round of last week's World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship at Doral Resort & Spa north of Miami. He issued a statement later saying his Achilles was sore. On Tuesday, he tweeted that doctors told him it was a mild strain.
Appearing later on The Scott Van Pelt Show on ESPN Radio, Woods said he withdrew from the Cadillac Championship mostly as a precaution, because he did not want to miss the Masters.
Reid Cherner has been with USA TODAY since 1982 and written Game On! since March 2008.
He has covered everything from high schools to horse racing to the college and the pros. The only thing he likes more than his own voice is the sound of readers telling him when he's right and wrong.
Michael Hiestand has covered sports media and marketing for USA TODAY, tackling the sports biz ranging from what's behind mega-events such as the Olympics and Super Bowl to the sometimes-hidden numbers behind the sports world's bottom line.


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mcdumas replied to mcdumas's topic in Unattended Windows 2000/XP/2003Key - thanks for the recommendation. From what I can tell imaging technology is the means to deliver the image of the sysprep'd baseline to target systems. Is that right? What about imaging solutions that have a restore to any hardware functionality? Are they worth investigation? rickj
mcdumas started following XP Install Build - Recommendations Needed
mcdumas posted a topic in Unattended Windows 2000/XP/2003I'm involved in a project that requires an XP configuration to be installed on 5 different models of Dell laptops. A specific set of security settings must be the same with each install as well some applications. Tools which might achieve this include: Sysprep and nLite. There are perhaps others. The high level process I'd like to pursue is: - Build a baseline system with applications, security settings, etc. - Use tools and processes to create an installation CD/DVD with drivers for the 5 models of laptops - Install on laptops I'm looking for recommendations that I have not considered. So far, I've considered Sysprep and nLite and ruled out imaging because I don't have the expensive versions that support disparate hardware. Open to ideas and suggestions. Thanks, rickj


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About the Book
This is a photo essay that takes you from the museum, to the taxidermist. It shows the process of hard work, art, and dedication that go into the making the still lives and taxidermied animals we run into everyday.
Features & Details
- Category Arts & Photography
Standard Landscape, 10×8 in, 25×20 cm
42 Pages
- Publish Date Mar 17, 2014
- Language English
- Tags Still life, photography, Taxidermy
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Manufacturer's Limited Lifetime Warranty on Ceramic Coating
Return Address:
Copper Chef
277 Humberline Drive
Toronto Ontario Canada
The manufacturer warrants that your Copper Chef™ is free of defects in materials and workmanship. The Copper Chef™ non-stick ceramic coating is warranted not to peel, chip, or blister with normal home use for the lifetime of the original purchaser, and all other parts and components are warranted for 60 days from the date of the purchaser's receipt of the product. This warranty is valid only in accordance with the conditions set forth below:
1. Except for the ceramic coating, normal wear and tear are not covered by this warranty. This warranty applies to consumer use only, and is void when the product is used in a commercial or institutional setting.
2. The warranty extends only to the original consumer purchaser and is not transferable. In addition, proof of purchase must be demonstrated. This warranty is void if the product has been subject to accident, misuse, abuse, improper maintenance or repair, or unauthorized modification.
3. This limited warranty is the only written or express warranty given by the manufacturer. Any implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose on this product is limited in duration to the duration of this warranty. Some states do not allow limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts, so the above limitation may not apply to you.
4. Repair or replacement of the product (or, if repair or replacement is not feasible, a refund of the purchase price less any shipping, handling or processing fees that you paid) is the exclusive remedy of the consumer under this warranty. The manufacturer shall not be liable for any incidental or consequential damages for breach of this warranty or any implied warranty on this product. Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitation or exclusion may not apply to you.
5. This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights which vary from state to state.


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Mumbai: Spinners Harbhajan Singh and Murali Kartik make a comeback into the India team for the first two Test matches against Pakistan to be played at Delhi and Kolkata.
The 27-year-old Punjab offie Harbhajan was dropped from the Test and one-day teams after the ICC World Cup held in Caribbean Isles in Apr due to the indifferent form and missed the Test series win in England in August.
However he forced his way thro' to the Test squad with a string of fine performances in Twenty20 World Cup and in the ongoing ODIs against Pak.
Left-arm spinner Murli Kartik, who made a fine comeback in the recently concluded ODI series against Australia, was also handed a Test recall. Kartik was chosen as back up veterens Jumbo and Bhajji.
Delhi swashbuckler Virender Sehwag failed to make the cut. Dinesh Karthik, who partnered opener Wasim Jaffer with some success during the 1-0 Test series win in England, was chosen ahead of Delhi batsmen Viru and in-form Gambhir.
Wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni was appointed vice captain, an indication the one-day and Twenty20 skipper will take over as Test captain in the future.
The players to miss out will be Gambhir, Ranadeb Bose, Ishant Sharma and Ramesh Powar.
The Squad: Anil Kumble (Capt), Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Saurav Ganguly, V V S Laxman, M S Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Wasim Jaffer, R P Singh, S Sreesanth, Murali Kartik and Dinesh Karthik. Lalchand Rajput: Coach-cum-Manager, Venkatesh Prasad: Bowling coach, Robin Singh: Fielding coach.


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Choosing whether to tell your employer or colleagues about your mental health condition is a personal decision that's different for everyone. You don't have to let your employer know, but it can be useful if you need some support at work or changes to your role.
If you're considering telling others at work, we can help you weigh up the pros and cons. It can sometimes be hard to know what to do, especially if it already seems like there's too much going on. This three-step tool is designed to help you weigh up all the issues.
Planning what you're going to say with someone you trust can be really useful. How much detail you share with your employer is up to you – they only need enough information to be able to support you.
is contagious
One of the most powerful things you can do is to speak openly about your condition. You might be surprised by how many of your colleagues have also experienced depression or anxiety at some point in their life, or supported a loved one. Courage is contagious, and talking about mental health conditions helps to break down prejudice and increase understanding.
Watch people from a range of backgrounds talk about their experiences of mental health conditions in the workplace, and share their stories of recovery, support and resilience.