The United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture aims to provide direct assistance to victims of torture and their families globally. Established in 1981, it seeks to focus global attention on the needs of torture victims, aiding in their recovery and the pursuit of redress for the human rights violations they have endured.
The grant program of the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture awards grants to civil society organizations worldwide. These grants support the provision of a comprehensive range of services to torture survivors, including medical, psychological, legal, and social assistance. The program prioritizes support for vulnerable groups such as children, youth, persons deprived of liberty, individuals with disabilities, indigenous peoples, migrants, LGBTI persons, and victims of sexual violence in conflict, among others. The aim is to facilitate rehabilitation, reparation, empowerment, and access to remedies, touching the lives of nearly 50,000 torture survivors annually.