[Senate Report 110-194]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



                                                       Calendar No. 416
110th Congress                                                   Report
                                 SENATE
 1st Session                                                    110-194

======================================================================



 
                TORTURE VICTIMS RELIEF REAUTHORIZATION 
                              ACT OF 2007

                                _______
                                

                October 9, 2007.--Ordered to be printed

Filed under the authority of the order of the Senate of October 4, 2007

                                _______
                                

   Mr. Biden, from the Committee on Foreign Relations, submitted the 
                               following

                              R E P O R T

                        [To accompany H.R. 1678]

    The Committee on Foreign Relations, having had under 
consideration H.R. 1678, a bill to amend the Torture Victims 
Relief Act of 1998, to authorize appropriations to provide 
assistance for domestic and foreign programs and centers for 
the treatment of victims of torture, and for other purposes, 
reports favorably thereon and recommends that the bill do pass.

                                CONTENTS

                                                                   Page

  I. Purpose..........................................................1
 II. Legislative History and Committee Action.........................1
III. Discussion.......................................................2
 IV. Cost Estimate....................................................2
  V. Evaluation of Regulatory Impact..................................4
 VI. Changes in Existing Law..........................................4
VII. Appendix.........................................................7

                               I. PURPOSE

    This legislation would authorize appropriations for 
domestic and foreign programs and centers to provide treatment 
and assistance to victims of torture.

              II. LEGISLATIVE HISTORY AND COMMITTEE ACTION

    H.R. 1678 was introduced by Representative Smith of New 
Jersey on March 26, 2007. It was referred to the Committee on 
Foreign Affairs and to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. On 
March 27, the Committee on Foreign Affairs ordered it to be 
reported favorably by voice vote, without amendment. On April 
20, H.R. 1678 was reported by the Committee on Foreign Affairs 
and discharged from the Committee on Energy and Commerce. The 
House approved the legislation on April 25, by a vote of 418-7 
on a motion to suspend the rules.
    H.R. 1678 was subsequently referred to the Senate Committee 
on Foreign Relations. The committee ordered it to be reported 
favorably, by voice vote and without amendment, on September 
11, 2007.

                            III. DISCUSSION

    According to Amnesty International, over 150 countries 
worldwide engage in torture. Estimates indicate that there may 
be up to 100 million torture victims worldwide, with 
approximately 400,000-500,000 foreign victims residing in the 
United States. In 1998, Congress passed the Torture Victims 
Relief Act (P.L. 105-320) to authorize appropriations for 
domestic and foreign programs and centers to provide treatment 
and assistance to victims of torture. H.R. 1678 is a re-
authorization of the 1998 legislation, providing a total of $49 
million for each of fiscal years 2008 and 2009 to support such 
programs through the Office of Refugee Resettlement of the 
Department of Health and Human Services ($25 million), the 
Victims' Torture Fund of the U.S. Agency for International 
Development ($12 million), and the United Nations Voluntary 
Fund for Victims of Torture ($12 million).
    Under the Torture Victims Relief Act, services funded 
include treating physical and psychological effects of torture, 
providing social and legal services, and training health care 
providers. In 2006, the Victims' Torture Fund of the U.S. 
Agency for International Development supported programs in 28 
countries, and the Fund has assisted 63,200 since 1998. Also in 
2006, the United Nations Fund for Victims of Torture assisted 
32,000 victims of torture through 175 projects in 64 countries. 
Within the United States, programs administered by the Office 
of Refugee Resettlement provided direct services to 3,220 
victims of torture through 22 programs during the first six 
months of its current grant period. Additional details about 
the programs funded under this Act may be found in letters from 
executive branch agencies, set forth in the appendix to this 
report.
    With the 1998 authorization of the Torture Victims Relief 
Act, Congress demonstrated its commitment to assist torture 
victims--many of whom are vital voices in their communities: 
journalists, human rights defenders, democracy advocates and 
religious leaders. The committee believes that providing social 
and legal services to victims of torture is a priority, and 
that reauthorization of these programs at the levels contained 
in H.R. 1678 is appropriate.

                           IV. COST ESTIMATE

    In accordance with Rule XXVI, paragraph 11(a) of the 
Standing Rules of the Senate, the committee provides this 
estimate of the costs of this legislation prepared by the 
Congressional Budget Office.


                            United States Congress,
                               Congressional Budget Office,
                                Washington, DC, September 19, 2007.

Hon. Joseph R. Biden, Jr.,
Chairman, Committee on Foreign Relations,
U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.

    Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has 
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 1678, the Torture 
Victims Relief Reauthorization Act of 2007.
    If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be 
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Sunita 
D'Monte.
          Sincerely,
                                           Peter R. Orszag.

                                ------                                


               Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate

                                                September 19, 2007.
    H.R. 1678 would authorize the appropriation of $49 million 
in both 2008 and 2009 for foreign and domestic programs to 
assist victims of torture. CBO estimates that implementing the 
act would cost $22 million in 2008 and $97 million over the 
2008-12 period, assuming that the authorized amounts are 
appropriated and that outlays will follow historical spending 
patterns for those programs.
    Enacting H.R. 1678 would not affect direct spending or 
revenues. H.R. 1678 contains no intergovernmental or private-
sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act 
and would not affect the budgets of state, local, or tribal 
governments.
    The estimated budgetary impact of H.R. 1678 is shown in the 
following table. The costs of this legislation fall within 
budget functions 150 (international affairs) and 550 (health).
    Section 2 would authorize the appropriation of $25 million 
a year in 2008 and 2009 for the Department of Health and Human 
Services (HHS) for domestic treatment of victims of torture. 
Under current law, HHS makes grants to programs in the United 
States that provide psychological and physical rehabilitation, 
social services, and legal services to victims of torture. 
Section 3 would authorize the appropriation of $12 million in 
2008 and $12 million in 2009 for foreign treatment centers for 
victims of torture. Finally, section 4 would authorize the 
appropriation of $12 million in 2008 and $12 million in 2009 
for grants to the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of 
Torture.
    On April 2, 2007, CBO transmitted an estimate for H.R. 1678 
as ordered reported by the House Committee on Foreign Affairs 
on March 27, 2007. The two versions of the legislation are 
similar and their estimated costs are identical.The CBO staff 
contact for this estimate is Sunita D'Monte. This estimate was 
approved by Peter H. Fontaine, Assistant Director for Budget 
Analysis.

                                     ESTIMATED BUDGETARY IMPACT OF H.R. 1678
                                     By Fiscal Year, in Millions of Dollars
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              2008       2009       2010       2011       2012
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  CHANGES IN SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION
Domestic Treatment Centers
  Authorization Level....................................         25         25          0          0          0
  Estimated Outlays......................................          8         18         15          7          2
Foreign Treatment Centers
  Authorization Level....................................         12         12          0          0          0
  Estimated Outlays......................................          2          8          8          3          2
Contribution to United Nations' Fund
  Authorization Level....................................         12         12          0          0          0
  Estimated Outlays......................................         12         12          0          0          0
Total Changes
  Authorization Level....................................         49         49          0          0          0
  Estimated Outlays......................................         22         38         23         10          4
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



                   V. EVALUATION OF REGULATORY IMPACT

    Pursuant to Rule XXVI, paragraph 11(b) of the Standing 
Rules of the Senate, the committee has determined that there is 
no regulatory impact as a result of this legislation.

                      VI. CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW

    In compliance with Rule XXVI, paragraph 12 of the Standing 
Rules of the Senate, changes in existing law made by the bill, 
as reported, are shown as follows (existing law proposed to be 
omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new matter is printed in 
italic, existing law in which no change is proposed is shown in 
roman).

Torture Victims Relief Act of 1998

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *



SEC. 4. FOREIGN TREATMENT CENTERS.

    (a) Amendments to the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.--Part 
I of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151 et 
seq.) is amended by adding at the end of chapter 1 the 
following new section: * * *
    (b) Funding.--(1) Authorization of appropriations.--[Of the 
amounts authorized to be appropriated for fiscal years 2006 and 
2007 pursuant to chapter 1 of part I of the Foreign Assistance 
Act of 1961, there are authorized to be appropriated to the 
President to carry out section 130 of such Act $12,000,000 for 
fiscal year 2006 and $13,000,000 for fiscal year 2007.] Of the 
amounts authorized to be appropriated for fiscal years 2008 and 
2009 pursuant to chapter 1 of part I of the Foreign Assistance 
Act of 1961, there are authorized to be appropriated to the 
President to carry out section 130 of such Act $12,000,000 for 
each of the fiscal years 2008 and 2009.
          (2) Availability of funds.--Amounts appropriated 
        pursuant to this subsection shall remain available 
        until expended.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) 
shall take effect October 1, 1998.

SEC. 5. DOMESTIC TREATMENT CENTERS.

    (a) Assistance for Treatment of Torture Victims.--The 
Secretary of Health and Human Services may provide grants to 
programs in the United States to cover the cost of the 
following services:
          (1) Services for the rehabilitation of victims of 
        torture, including treatment of the physical and 
        psychological effects of torture.
          (2) Social and legal services for victims of torture.
          (3) Research and training for health care providers 
        outside of treatment centers, or programs for the 
        purpose of enabling such providers to provide the 
        services described in paragraph (1).
    (b) Funding.--
          [(1) Authorization of appropriations.--Of the amounts 
        authorized to be appropriated for the Department of 
        Health and Human Services for fiscal years 2006 and 
        2007, there are authorized to be appropriated to carry 
        out subsection (a) $25,000,000 for each of the fiscal 
        years 2006 and 2007.]
          (1) Authorization of appropriations.--Of the amounts 
        authorized to be appropriated for the Department of 
        Health and Human Services for fiscal years 2008 and 
        2009, there are authorized to be appropriated to carry 
        out subsection (a) $25,000,000 for each of the fiscal 
        years 2008 and 2009.


                                APPENDIX

                              ----------                              

                                  U.S. Department of State,
                                     Washington, DC, July 19, 2007.
Hon. Joseph R. Biden, Jr.,
Chairman, Committee on Foreign Relations,
U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for your letter of June 22 regarding 
U.S. support to the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of 
Torture.
    Enclosed are the responses to the questions raised in your letter. 
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights is working with us 
to provide further clarification on some of the decision-making 
processes, as well as statistical information, which we will provide to 
you when we receive them.
    We hope this information is helpful. Please do not hesitate to 
contact us if we can be of further assistance on this or any other 
matter.
            Sincerely,
                                        Jeffrey T. Bergner,
                           Assistant Secretary Legislative Affairs.
                                 ______
                                 
      united nations voluntary fund for victims of torture (unvf)
    Question. How many projects are currently supported globally by the 
UNVF? What proportion of funding is provided to entities that offer 
direct services to torture victims versus those that support research 
and provide training to health care providers?

    Answer.

   The UNVF is supporting 165 projects globally for calendar 
        year 2007.
   The UNVF classifies its projects as medical, psychological, 
        psychiatric, social, legal, financial, training, and other. 
        Grants are not provided for research.
   For 2007, the Board approved funding for 165 projects. The 
        majority of organizations received more than one form of 
        assistance. The UNVF focuses on one or more of the following 
        forms of assistance: medical (111 projects), psychological 
        (137), psychiatric (2), social (99), legal (89), financial 
        (31), training (0), and other (10).

    Question. Does the UNVF currently support any projects within the 
United States? If so, where are the projects located and how many 
individuals do they serve?

    Answer. Yes, the UNVF supports 27 projects in the United States.
    The following information was obtained from the websites of the 
organizations supported by the UNVF.
    [Note: Unless otherwise stated, numbers of individuals treated were 
not publicly available.]

   Center for Multicultural Human Services: Falls Church, VA.--
        The program serves over 200 survivors of torture per year.
   Doctors of the World: New York, NY.--The organization has 
        provided evaluative services to 367 survivors of torture and 
        other human rights violations seeking asylum in the United 
        States.
   TASSC--Helping Hands: Washington, DC.
   TASSC International Communities: Washington, DC.
   Arab Community Center for Economic & Social Services 
        (Access): Dearborn, MI.
   El Rescate Legal Services: Los Angeles, CA.
   Gulf Coast Community Care: Clearwater, FL.
   Human Rights Initiative of North Texas: Dallas, Texas 
        International Institute of Boston: Boston, MA.
   Greater Boston Legal Services: Boston, MA.
   Khmer Health Advocates: West Hartford, CT.--Khmer Health 
        Advocates began a torture treatment program in 1984 that has 
        treated more than 1,500 survivors and their families.
   Legal Aid Foundation: Los Angeles, CA.
   Lowell Community Health Center: Lowell, MA.
   Lutheran Children and Family Services: Philadelphia, PA.--
        Offered services to 400 torture victims from 45 countries in 
        2006.
   Center for Victims of Torture: Minneapolis, MN.
   Center for Survivors of Torture: Dallas, TX.
   Survivors of Torture, International: San Diego, CA.--
        Survivors of Torture has helped 650 torture victims from 55 
        countries since 1997.
   Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights: Minneapolis, MN.
   Physicians for Human Rights: Cambridge, MA.
   Program for Torture Victims: Los Angeles, CA.
   Provident Counseling: St. Louis, MO.
   Advocates for Survivors of Trauma and Torture: Baltimore, 
        MD.
   Bellevue Association: Bellevue, WA.
   Utah Health and Human Rights Project: Salt Lake City, UT.
   Center for Justice and Accountability: San Francisco, CA.
   Rocky Mountain Survivors Center: Denver, CO.
   Torture Treatment Center: Portland, OR.--Torture Treatment 
        Center aided 900 torture victims in 2005.

    Question. Approximately how many individuals are served globally 
through current UNVF programs, in total, and disaggregated regionally?

    Answer. Exact figures are not available at this time, however, the 
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights estimates the total 
number of individuals assisted by the UNVF to be 32,000 in the calendar 
year 2006. There will be a better estimate available when the United 
Nations General Assembly report is prepared at the end of July.

    Question. What is the process for deciding to fund a project 
through the UNVF, or deciding to continue funding for a project? Are 
funding decisions made by the Secretary General, or by the UNVF's Board 
of Trustees?

    Answer. During its annual session, the Board of Trustees reviews 
the narrative and, if applicable, financial reports on the use of 
previous grants, adopts recommendations on applications for new grants, 
considers presentations made by project leaders; meets with donors, 
consults with the Special Rapporteur on Torture and the Committee 
against Torture, and then adopts other relevant recommendations for the 
Secretary-General on the activities of the UNVF. The High Commissioner 
for Human Rights, on behalf of the Secretary-General, approves the 
recommendations of the Board each spring.

    Question. Is funding for projects awarded based on a competitive 
process? If not, what process is used to select the recipients?

    Answer. Yes, grants are awarded in a competitive fashion to 
organizations that provide rehabilitation services to victims of 
torture. After vetting, the UNVF is generally able to accommodate most 
funding requests. However, given budget constraints, the UNVF often 
funds only 10-20 percent of the funding request. Additionally, grant 
recipients are required to secure at least two-thirds of their funding 
from other sources.

    Question. Of the 2006 and 2007 recipients of funding, how many 
entities received funding from UNVF in prior years? Which were they?

    Answer. Of the 165 grant recipients for 2007, 142 (about 86 
percent) had received funding from the UNVF in 2006.
    Please refer to enclosed list of 2007 recipients. Those who have 
also received grants in 2006 are noted with an asterisk.

    Question. What oversight mechanisms exist in the U.N. Secretariat 
to evaluate the effectiveness of the programs supported by the UNVF? 
What is the U.N. Secretariat's process for conducting such oversight?

    Answer. Grantees are required to submit financial and programmatic 
reports each year (by April 1) in order to report on the use of the 
funds and the results obtained.
    In accordance with the arrangements adopted by the United Nations 
General Assembly when the UNVF was established, the Secretary-General 
reports annually to the United Nations General Assembly and to the 
Human Rights Council on the activities of the UNVF and its Board of 
Trustees.
    Besides reviewing financial and programmatic reports, Board 
members, Secretariat staff, and other staff members of various. U.N.-
affiliated agencies make onsite visits to grantee organizations to 
verify implementation and monitor the programs' effectiveness.
                                 ______
                                 
   list of organizations receiving grants, by region (25th and 26th 
                               sessions)
 19 March 2007 version
    [Note. The OHCHR has not compiled a complete list of the 
organizations funded by the 25th and 26th sessions. There will be a 
better assessment when the annual report is prepared for the General 
Assembly at the end of July 2007.]

                                                     AFRICA
                                                  [18 projects]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                            Type of assistance
                 No.                     Name of organization           Country                  provided
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1....................................  Trauma Centre Cameroun.  Cameroon...............  Medical, psychological,
                                                                                          social and financial.
2....................................  Center for               Cameroon...............  Medical, psychological,
                                        Rehabilitaion and                                 social and financial.
                                        Abolition of Torture
                                        (CART).
3....................................  The Center for Victims   D.R. Congo.............  Medical and
                                        of Torture CVT-DRC.                               psychological.
4....................................  Africa Middle East       Egypt..................  Psychological, social
                                        Refugee Assistance                                and legal.
                                        (AMERA).
5....................................  El Nadim Center for the  Egypt..................  Medical, psychological,
                                        management and                                    social, legal and
                                        rehabilitation of                                 financial.
                                        victims of violence.
6....................................  HIAS Refugee Trust of    Kenya..................  Psychological, social
                                        Kenya.                                            and other.
7....................................  IMLU Independent Medico- Kenya..................  Medical and
                                        Legal Unit (IMLU)/                                psychological.
                                        Nairobi, Kenya.
8....................................  Prisoners Assistance     Liberia................  Medical, psychological
                                        Program, Inc..                                    and other.
9....................................  Center for Victims of    Liberia/Sierra Leone...  Psychological, social
                                        Torture/West Africa                               and other.
                                        (Liberia).
10...................................  Association Medicale de  Morocco................  Medical and
                                        Rehabilitation de                                 psychological.
                                        Victimes de la Torture
                                        (AMRVT).
11...................................  W.A.C.O.L.--Women Aid    Nigeria................  Psychological, social,
                                        Collective.                                       legal and financial.
12...................................  Kanyarwanda A.S.B.L....  Rwanda.................  Medical, psychological
                                                                                          and social.
13...................................  Vivre/Caprec...........  Senegal................  Medical, social and
                                                                                          legal.
14...................................  Community Association    Sierra Leone...........  Psychological.
                                        for Psychosocial
                                        Services (CAPS).
15...................................  C.S.V.R.--Centre for     South Africa...........  Psychological.
                                        the Study of Violence
                                        Reconciliation.
16...................................  The Trauma Centre for    South Africa...........  Medical, psychological,
                                        the Survivors of                                  social and legal.
                                        Violence and Torture.
17...................................  A.C.T.V.--African        Uganda.................  Medical, psychological,
                                        Center for Treatment                              social, legal and
                                        and Rehabilitation of                             financial.
                                        Torture Victims.
18...................................  Refugee Law Project....  Uganda.................  Psychological, social
                                                                                          and legal.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                                                      ASIA
                                                  [20 projects]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                            Type of assistance
                 No.                     Name of organization           Country                  provided
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1....................................  Naogaon Human Rights     Bangladesh.............  Medical, psychological,
                                        Association.                                      social, legal and
                                                                                          financial.
2....................................  Bangladesh               Bangladesh.............  Medical, psychological,
                                        Rehabilitation Centre                             legal and financial.
                                        for Trauma Victims.
3....................................  Top India Trust........  India..................  Medical, psychological
                                                                                          and social.
4....................................  People's Watch Tamil     India..................  Medical and legal.
                                        Nadu.
5....................................  Centre for Care of       India..................  Medical, psychological,
                                        Victims of Torture.                               social and legal.
6....................................  Society for Social       India..................  Medical, psychological
                                        Research, Art and                                 and social.
                                        Culture.
7....................................  International Catholic   Indonesia..............  Medical, psychological
                                        Migration Commission.                             and social.
8....................................  Physicians for Human     Israel.................  Medical, psychological
                                        Rights.                                           and legal.
9....................................  Public Committee         Israel.................  Legal assistance.
                                        Against Torture in
                                        Israel.
10...................................  The Korean               Korea (Republic of)....  Medical, psychological,
                                        Rehabilitation Centre                             legal and financial.
                                        for Torture Victims
                                        and Families.
11...................................  Khiam Rehabilitation     Lebanon................  Medical, psychological
                                        Centre for Victims of                             and social.
                                        Torture.
12...................................  Forum for the            Nepal..................  Medical, psychological,
                                        Protection of People's                            social and legal.
                                        Rights (PPR).
13...................................  Treatment and            Occupied Palestinian     Medical, psychological
                                        Rehabilitation Centre    Territories.             and social.
                                        for Victims of Torture.
14...................................  Sach-Struggle for        Pakistan...............  Medical, psychological,
                                        Change (SACH).                                    social, legal,
                                                                                          financial and other.
15...................................  Medical Action Group,    Philippines............  Medical, psychological,
                                        Inc. (MAG).                                       social, financial and
                                                                                          other.
16...................................  Asian Federation         Philippines............  Psychological.
                                        Against Involuntary
                                        Disappearances.
17...................................  Task Force Detainees of  Philippines............  Legal.
                                        the Philippines.
18...................................  BALAY Rehabilitation     Philippines............  Medical, psychological,
                                        Center, Inc..                                     social, legal and
                                                                                          financial.
19...................................  League of Women Lawyers  Tajikistan.............  Medical, psychological
                                                                                          and legal.
20...................................  Avesto.................  Tajikistan.............  Medical, psychological,
                                                                                          social, legal and
                                                                                          financial.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                                          LATIN AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN
                                                  [22 projects]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                            Type of assistance
                 No.                     Name of organization           Country                  provided
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1....................................  E.A.T.I.P.--Equipo       Argentina..............  Medical, psychological,
                                        Argentino de Trabajo e                            social and legal.
                                        Investigacion
                                        Psicosocial.
2....................................  Asociacion Abuelas de    Argentina..............  Psychological.
                                        Plaza de Mayo.
3....................................  Grupo Tortura Nunca      Brazil.................  Medical, psychological,
                                        Mais/Rio de Janeiro                               social and legal.
                                        (Group Torture Never
                                        More/RJ).
4....................................  A.C.A.T.--Acao dos       Brazil.................  Medical, psychological,
                                        Cristaos para a                                   social and legal.
                                        abolicao da tortura.
5....................................  I.T.E.I.--Instituto de   Bolivia................  Medical, psychological,
                                        Terapia e                                         social and legal.
                                        Investigacion sobre
                                        las Secuelas de la
                                        Tortura y la Violencia
                                        Estatal.
6....................................  Corporacion de           Chile..................  Medical, psychological
                                        Promocion y Defensa de                            and legal.
                                        los Derechos del
                                        Pueblo (CODEPU).
7....................................  F.A.S.I.C.--Fundacion    Chile..................  Medical, psychological,
                                        de Ayuda Social de las                            social, legal and
                                        Iglesias Cristianas.                              financial.
8....................................  C.I.N.T.R.A.S.--Centro   Chile..................  Medical, psychological
                                        de Salud Mental y                                 and social.
                                        Derechos Humanos.
9....................................  Fondazione Terre des     Colombia...............  Medical, psychological
                                        hommes-Italia.                                    and social
10...................................  HIAS...................  Ecuador/USA............  Psychological and
                                                                                          social.
11...................................  Asociacion para la       Guatemala..............  Medical, psychological,
                                        Salud y el Desarrollo                             social, financial.
                                        Integral de
                                        Momostenaugo.
12...................................  U.F.A.D.E.S.C.H.--Union  Haiti..................  Medical and legal.
                                        des Formateurs--
                                        Animateurs du Sud en
                                        Education Civique et
                                        le respect des Droits
                                        Humains.
13...................................  Centro de Estudios       Mexico.................  Medical, psychological,
                                        Fronterizos y de                                  social and legal.
                                        Promocion de los
                                        Derechos Humanos.
14...................................  L.I.M.E.D.D.H.--Liga     Mexico.................  Legal, medical,
                                        Mexicana Para la                                  psychological and
                                        Defensa de los Derech.                            financial.
15...................................  C.C.T.I.--Colectivo      Mexico.................  Medical and
                                        contra la Tortura la                              psychological.
                                        Impunidad, A.C..
16...................................  COMISEDH--Comision de    Peru...................  Medical, psychological,
                                        Derechos Humanos.                                 social, legal, and
                                                                                          financial.
17...................................  F.E.D.E.P.A.Z.--Fundaci  Peru...................  Medical, psychological,
                                        on Ecumenica para el                              social and legal.
                                        Desarrollo y la Paz.
18...................................  Fundacion Richmond       Peru...................  Training.
                                        Fellowship del Peru.
19...................................  C.A.P.S.--Centro de      Peru...................  Social and
                                        Atencion Psicosocial.                             psychological.
20...................................  C.D.H.E.S.--Comision de  El Salvador............  Medical and
                                        Derechos Humanos de El                            psychological.
                                        Salvador.
21...................................  S.E.R.S.O.C.--Servicio   Uruguay................  Medical, psychological
                                        de Rehabilitacion                                 and social.
                                        Social.
22...................................  Red de Apoyo por la      Venezuuela.............  Medical, psychological,
                                        Justicia y la Paz.                                social and legal.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                                                 EASTERN EUROPE
                                                  [22 projects]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                            Type of assistance
                 No.                     Name of organization           Country                  provided
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1....................................  Fund Against Violation   Armenia................  Medical, psychological,
                                        of Law.                                           social and legal.
2....................................  Centre for Torture       Bosnia and Herzegovina.  Medical, psychological
                                        Victims.                                          and social.
3....................................  Centre for Torture       Bosnia and Herzegovina,  Medical, psychological
                                        Victims--International   Serbia and Montenegro.   and social.
                                        Aid Network--Medica
                                        Zenica.
4....................................  Association Vive Zene..  Bosnia and Herzegovina.  Medical, psychological
                                                                                          and social.
5....................................  Assistance Centre for    Bulgaria...............  Medical, psychological,
                                        Torture Survivors.                                social and legal.
6....................................  International            Croatia................  Medical, legal and
                                        Rehabilitation Centre                             financial.
                                        for Torture Victims.
7....................................  Society of Citizens      Czech Republic.........  Psychological and
                                        Assisting Migrants                                legal.
                                        (SOZE).
8....................................  Georgian Centre for      Georgia................  Medical, psychological,
                                        Psychosocial and                                  social and legal.
                                        Medical Rehabilitation
                                        of Torture Victims.
9....................................  Empathy................  Georgia................  Medical, psychological
                                                                                          and social.
10...................................  Cordelia Foundation....  Hungary................  Medical and
                                                                                          pyschological.
11...................................  ERRC--European Roma      Hungary................  Legal.
                                        Rights Centre.
12...................................  Helsinki Committee for   Macedonia (Former        Legal.
                                        Human Rights Macedonia.  Yugoslavian Republic
                                                                 of).
13...................................  Medical Rehabilitation   Moldova (Republic of)..  Medical, psychological,
                                        Centre for Torture                                social and legal.
                                        Victims ``Memoria''.
14...................................  Centre for Victims of    Poland.................  Medical, psychological
                                        Political Persecutions.                           and legal.
15...................................  ICAR Foundation........  Romania................  Medical, psychological,
                                                                                          social and legal.
16...................................  Romanian Independent     Romania................  Legal.
                                        Society of Human
                                        Rights (SIRDO).
17...................................  Stichting Russian        Russian Federation.....  Legal.
                                        Justice Initiative.
18...................................  Nizhniy Novgorod Non-    Russian Federation.....  Medical, psychological,
                                        Governmental                                      social and legal.
                                        Organization Committee
                                        Against Torture.
19...................................  Public Verdict           Russian Federation.....  Psychological, social,
                                        Foundation.                                       legal and other.
20...................................  Human Rights Public      Russian Federation/      Medical, psychological,
                                        Organization (NISO).     Chechen Republic.        social and legal.
21...................................  International Aid        Serbia and Montenegro..  Medical, psychological,
                                        Network (IAN)/Belgrade.                           social, legal,
                                                                                          financial and other.
22...................................  Committee for Human      Serbia.................  Psychological and
                                        Rights, Leskovac.                                 legal.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                                        WESTERN EUROPEAN AND OTHERS GROUP
                                                  [83 projects]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                            Type of assistance
                 No.                     Name of organization           Country                  provided
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1....................................  Association for          Australia..............  Psychological and
                                        Services to Torture                               social.
                                        and Trauma Survivors.
2....................................  The Treatment and        Australia..............  Medical, psychological,
                                        Rehabilitation Unit                               social and financial.
                                        for Survivors of
                                        Torture and Trauma.
3....................................  Centre for Advocacy      Australia..............  Legal.
                                        Support and Education
                                        for Refugees (CASE for
                                        Refugees).
4....................................  Verein ZEBRA...........  Austria................  Medical, psychological,
                                                                                          social and legal.
5....................................  OMEGA Health Care        Austria................  Medical, psychological
                                        Centre.                                           and social.
6....................................  HEMAYAT................  Austria................  Medical and
                                                                                          psychological.
7....................................  Centre medico-psycho-    Belgium................  Medical, psychological,
                                        social pour refugies                              social, legal,
                                        et victimes de torture                            financial and other.
                                        (EXIL).
8....................................  Medecins sans            Belgium................  Psychological and
                                        Frontieres--Les                                   social.
                                        projets belges.
                                        (MPORE).
9....................................  O.C.I.S.O.--Ottawa       Canada.................  Psychological.
                                        Community Immigrant
                                        Services Organization.
10...................................  Calgary Catholic         Canada.................  Medical and
                                        Immigration Society.                              psychological.
11...................................  Canadian Centre for      Canada.................  Psychological.
                                        Victims of Torture.
12...................................  Edmonton Centre for      Canada.................  Psychological.
                                        Survivors of Torture
                                        and Trauma.
13...................................  Reseau d'intervention    Canada.................  Medical, psychological
                                        aupres des personnes                              and social.
                                        ayant subi la violence
                                        organisee.
14...................................  Vancouver Association    Canada.................  Psychological and
                                        for Survivors of                                  social.
                                        Torture.
15...................................  Service d'aide           Canada.................  Psychological.
                                        psychologique
                                        specialisee aux
                                        immigrants et refugies.
16...................................  Federation               France.................  Legal.
                                        internationale des
                                        ligues des droits de
                                        l'homme.
17...................................  Centre d'accueil et de   France.................  Medical, psychological,
                                        soins Primo Levi.                                 social and legal.
18...................................  Comite medical pour les  France.................  Medical, psychological
                                        exiles.                                           and social.
19...................................  OSIRIS.................  France.................  Medical and
                                                                                          psychological.
20...................................  Parcours de jeunes.....  France.................  Medical and
                                                                                          psychological.
21...................................  Exilio Hilfe fur         Germany................  Medical, psychological,
                                        Fluchtlinge und                                   social and legal.
                                        Folteruberlebende e.V.
22...................................  Caritas-Koln...........  Germany................  Psychological.
23...................................  Centre for the           Germany................  Medical, psychological
                                        Treatment of Torture                              and social.
                                        Victims
                                        (Behandlungszentrum
                                        fur Folteropfer
                                        Berlin).
24...................................  Xenion Psychosoziale     Germany................  Medical and
                                        Hilfen fur politisch                              psychological.
                                        Verfolgte e.V..
25...................................  P.S.Z.--Psychosoziales   Germany................  Psychological and
                                        Zentrum fuer                                      social.
                                        Fluechtlinge
                                        Duesseldor.
26...................................  Refugio, Bremen........  Germany................  Psychological.
27...................................  Refugio, Munich........  Germany................  Medical, psychological,
                                                                                          social and financial.
28...................................  Medical Rehabilitation   Greece.................  Medical, psychological,
                                        Centre for Torture                                social and legal.
                                        Victims.
29...................................  SPIRASI Centre for the   Ireland................  Medical, psychological,
                                        Care of Survivors of                              social, legal and
                                        Torture.                                          training.
30...................................  Associazione Volontaria  Italy..................  Medical, psychological,
                                        di Assistenza Socio-                              social and legal.
                                        Sanitaria e per i
                                        Diritti di Stranieri e
                                        Nomadi.
31...................................  Casa del Diritti         Italy..................  Psychological, social
                                        Sociali--Focus, Rome.                             and legal.
32...................................  JRC--Assoc Centro        Italy..................  Social, legal and
                                        Astalli.                                          financial.
33...................................  Medici contro la         Italy..................  Medical, psychological,
                                        tortura.                                          social, legal and
                                                                                          financial.
34...................................  Italian Refugee Council  Italy..................  Medical, psychological,
                                                                                          social and legal.
35...................................  Exil Espana............  Spain..................  Medical, psychological
                                                                                          and social.
36...................................  Red Cross                Sweden.................  Medical, psychological
                                        Rehabilitation Centre                             and social.
                                        for Torture and War
                                        Victims in Goteborg.
37...................................  Red Cross                Sweden.................  Psychological and
                                        Rehabilitation Centre                             social.
                                        in Uppsala.
38...................................  Croix-Rouge Suisse.....  Switzerland............  Medical, psychological
                                                                                          and social.
39...................................  Appartenances..........  Switzerland............  Psychological.
40...................................  Unite de medecine des    Switzerland............  Medical and
                                        voyages et des                                    psychological.
                                        migrations.
41...................................  Organisation mondiale    Switzerland............  Medical, social and
                                        contre la torture.                                legal.
42...................................  Human Rights Foundation  Turkey.................  Medical, psychological
                                        of Turkey.                                        and social.
43...................................  Legal Aid for Women      Turkey.................  Medical, psychological,
                                        Raped or Sexually                                 social, legal and
                                        Assaulted by State                                financial.
                                        Security Forces,
                                        Istanbul, Turkey
                                        (Toplum ve Hukuk
                                        Arastirmalari Vakfi--
                                        TOHAV.
44...................................  TOHAV..................  Turkey.................  Medical, psychological,
                                                                                          social, legal and
                                                                                          financial.
45...................................  Helsinki Citizen's       Turkey.................  Psychological and
                                        Assembly.                                         legal.
46...................................  Prisoners of Conscience  United Kingdom of Great  Financial.
                                        Appeal Fund.             Britain and Northern
                                                                 Ireland.
47...................................  The Death Penalty        United Kingdom of Great  Legal.
                                        Project.                 Britain and Northern
                                                                 Ireland.
48...................................  Women Against Rape.....  United Kingdom of Great  Psychological, social,
                                                                 Britain and Northern     financial and legal.
                                                                 Ireland.
49...................................  Kurdish Human Rights     United Kingdom of Great  Legal.
                                        Project.                 Britain and Northern
                                                                 Ireland.
50...................................  Medical Foundation for   United Kingdom of Great  Medical, psychological,
                                        the Care of Victims of   Britain and Northern     social, legal and
                                        Torture.                 Ireland.                 financial.
51...................................  Redress Trust..........  United Kingdom of Great  Legal.
                                                                 Britain and Northern
                                                                 Ireland.
52...................................  Ctre MULTICULT H. Serv.  United States of         Medical, psychological,
                                                                 America.                 social, legal,
                                                                                          financial (emergency
                                                                                          fund) and other.
53...................................  Doctors of the WORLD...  United States of         Medical, psychological,
                                                                 America.                 social and legal.
54...................................  TASSC--Helping Hand      United States of         Medical, psychological,
                                        Hands.                   America.                 social, legal,
                                                                                          financial.
55...................................  TASSC- Internat.         United States of         Psychological, social
                                        Communities.             America.                 and financial
56...................................  Acces ArabCom.Ctr......  United States of         Medical, psychological,
                                                                 America.                 psychiatric, social
                                                                                          and other.
57...................................  Asian Americans........  United States of         Medical, psychological,
                                                                 America.                 psychiatric, social
                                                                                          and legal assistance.
58...................................  El Rescate Legal         United States of         Legal.
                                        Services.                America.
59...................................  Gulf Coast Community     United States of         Medical, psychological,
                                        Care.                    America.                 social and legal.
60...................................  Human Rights Initiative  United States of         Medical and
                                        of North Texas.          America.                 psychological.
61...................................  International Institute  United States of         Psychological and
                                        of Boston.               America.                 social.
62...................................  Greater Boston Legal     United States of         Psychological and
                                        Services.                America.                 legal.
63...................................  Khmer Health Advocates.  United States of         Psychological.
                                                                 America.
64...................................  Legal Aid Foundation...  United States of         Legal.
                                                                 America.
65...................................  Lowell Community Health  United States of         Medical, psychological,
                                        Center.                  America.                 social and financial.
66...................................  Lutheran Children......  United States of         Medical, psychological
                                                                 America.                 and social.
67...................................  KHA--Khmer Health        United States of         Medical, psychological
                                        Advocates.               America.                 and social.
68...................................  Centre for Victims of    United States of         Medical, psychological
                                        Torture.                 America.                 and social.
69...................................  Centre for               United States of         Medical, psychological,
                                        Multicultural Human      America.                 social and legal.
                                        Services.
70...................................  Centre for Survivors of  United States of         Medical, psychological
                                        Torture.                 America.                 and legal.
71...................................  SOTI--Surv. San Diego..  United States of         Medical, psychological,
                                                                 America.                 social and legal.
72...................................  Minnesota Advocates for  United States of         Legal.
                                        Human Rights.            America.
73...................................  Physicians for Human     United States of         Medical, psychological
                                        Rights.                  America.                 and legal.
74...................................  Programme for Torture    United States of         Medical and
                                        Victims.                 America.                 psychological.
75...................................  Provident Counselling..  United States of         Medical.
                                                                 America.
76...................................  Advocates for Survivors  United States of         Medical, psychological,
                                        of Trauma and Torture,   America.                 social and legal.
                                        Baltimore.
77...................................  Bellevue Association...  United States of         Medical, psychological,
                                                                 America.                 social and legal.
78...................................  Boston Medical Centre..  United States of         Medical, psychological,
                                                                 America.                 social and legal.
79...................................  Utah Health............  United States of         Medical, psychological,
                                                                 America.                 social and legal.
80...................................  Survivors of Torture,    United States of         Medical, psychological,
                                        International.           America.                 social, legal and
                                                                                          other.
81...................................  The Centre for Justice   United States of         Legal.
                                        and Accountability.      America.
82...................................  Rocky Mountain           United States of         Medical, psychological
                                        Survivors Centre.        America.                 and legal.
83...................................  Torture Treatment        United States of         Medical, psychological,
                                        Centre (Oregon).         America.                 social and legal.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In total, 165 projects.
                                                     USAID,
                                     Washington, DC, July 27, 2007.
Hon. Joseph R. Biden, Jr.,
Chairman, Committee on Foreign Relations, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for your letter of June 22, 2007, 
requesting detailed information about the U.S. Agency for International 
Development's support for international treatment centers, their 
programs, and recent grant assistance. Responses to your detailed 
questions are enclosed.
    If I can be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to let me 
know.
            Sincerely,
                                           James R. Kunder,
                                       Acting Deputy Administrator.
                                 ______
                                 
    Question. How many programs globally are currently supported 
through the Victims of Torture Fund (VTF)? What proportion of funding 
is provided to entities which offer direct services to torture victims 
versus those which support research and provide training to health care 
providers?

    Answer. The Fund supports activities in 23 countries and regions:

   Africa: Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, 
        Kenya, Namibia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Uganda, and Zimbabwe (9).
   Asia and Near Fast (ANE): Cambodia, Bangladesh, Indonesia, 
        Nepal, Pakistan, West Bank Gaza, Sri Lanka, Tibet (through 
        mission in India), and Timor Leste (9).
   Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC): Guatemala, Haiti, 
        Peru, and a regional program based in Costa Rica (4).
   Europe and Eurasia (E&E): Kosovo (1).

    Approximately 60 percent of our funds are for direct services to 
torture victims, 35 percent for training health care providers, and 5 
percent for research.

    Question. Approximately how many individuals currently are served, 
in total and disaggregated regionally, through programs funded by VTF?

    Answer. The fund supports 191 local organizations through our main 
partners in the form of sub-grants. The approximate number of 
individuals who have received direct services and been trained through 
our main partners and local organizations is broken down by region.


------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   Direct
                    Region                        services     Training
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Africa........................................       42,200          430
Latin America and Caribbean...................       12,900          300
Asia, Near East...............................        7,600          670
Europe and Eurasia............................          500           70
  Total.......................................       63,200        1,470
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Question. What is the process for awarding a grant through the VTF? 
In fiscal years 2006 and 2007, how many entities received grants 
through the VTS, who were the recipients, and what was the funding 
level awarded to each?

    Answer. The Victims of Torture Fund awards grants through 
competition or unsolicited proposals with most grants competed and 
awarded by USAID Missions in specific countries. Each year the Fund 
sends a statement to USAID Missions which provides solicitation 
guidelines and a description of programs and desired outcomes. The Fund 
works with USAID's regional bureaus in Washington to identify Missions 
and programs that are most suitable for meeting the Victim of Torture 
Fund mandate. Often Victims of Torture programs are included in broader 
mission solicitations or ongoing efforts. (Burundi, Uganda are 
examples). All solicitations are awarded in consultation with the USAID 
Mission.
    Those countries where awards were not competed must provide 
justification to USAID/Washington. Most often the justification for the 
exception to competition is the unique capability of a single 
organization to provide in-country support to victims of torture. 
Sometimes the cover of a grant's broader range of activities provides a 
measure of security for local NGOs that seek to support this cause but 
may be operating in an environment that is more restrictive with regard 
to this issue.
    Solicitation for competitive awards by country may be found at 
www.grants.gov. Organizations interested in submitting unsolicited 
proposals should first submit a concept paper to the appropriate USAID 
Mission and to the USAID program manager, Mr. Lloyd Feinberg, Bureau of 
Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance, Office of Democracy 
and Governance (email: [email protected]).
    In keeping with its legislative mandate, the Fund gives priority to 
programs that treat and rehabilitate torture-affected individuals. 
Proposals for training and research are also considered. Program 
activities eligible for funding should aim to:

   Increase access to services that improve the status and 
        function of torture-affected individuals, their families, and 
        communities and that promote healing.
   Improve the quality of interventions for torture-affected 
        individuals and communities through the study of the impact of 
        interventions.
   Increase the capacity of organizations and individuals 
        involved in delivering services to torture-affected 
        individuals, their families and communities.
   Increase knowledge and dissemination of findings related to 
        long-term improvements in function and healing.

    In 2006, VTF provided the following amounts to entities listed 
below:


------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Amount (in
             Country                     Entity             dollars)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DemocraticRepublic of the Congo   International               1,218,000.
 (DRC).                            RescueCommittee:
                                   includes sub-
                                   grants to 17 local
                                   organizations.
DemocraticRepublic of the Congo   Cooperazione                  335,000.
 (DRC).                            Internationale.
Zimbabwe........................  Pact, Inc.:                 1,225,000.
                                   includes sub-
                                   grants to 4 local
                                   organizations.
LAC Regional....................  Inter-American                600,000.
                                   Institute forHuman
                                   Rights: includes
                                   sub-grants to 23
                                   local
                                   organizations.
Global..........................  Center for Victims          1,200,000.
                                   of Torture:
                                   includes sub-
                                   grants to 23 local
                                   organizations.
U.S.............................  Boston University..           457,782.
Guatemala.......................  United Nations                540,000.
                                   Development
                                   Program: includes
                                   sub-grants to 16
                                   local
                                   organizations.
Indonesia.......................  International                 896,218.
                                   Catholic Migration
                                   Commission:include
                                   s sub-grants to 7
                                   local
                                   organizations.
Peru............................  Center for                    477,000.
                                   Psychosocial
                                   Attention:
                                   includes sub-
                                   grants to 6 local
                                   organizations.
Peru............................  Institute for Legal           123,000.
                                   Defense.
Tibet (through mission in India)  Tibetan Voluntary             250,000.
                                   Health.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Final funding figures for 2007 are not yet available.

    Question. Are grants awarded based on a competitive process? If 
not, what process was used to select grantees?

    Answer. Grants are awarded based on the process described in 
response to question three. In 2006, for example, the Minnesota-based 
Center for Victims of Torture (CVT) submitted an unsolicited proposal 
requesting an extension of an ongoing grant. In Haiti, a Request for 
Application (RFA) was issued for a competitive award.
    Of the 14 agreements within the existing portfolio, it is estimated 
that 10 of them (71 percent) were originally competitively awarded 
(Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Timor Leste, 
Indonesia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Latin America Regional, and Haiti).

    Question. Of the 2006 and 2007 grantees, how many entities had 
received funding in prior years? Which were they?

    Answer. For 2006, all grantees listed in the table under question 
three received prior awards. A new activity was planned in Haiti. A new 
award was made to the International Catholic Migration Commission in 
Indonesia, although they had received funding previously. Most awards 
are for 2-3 years and are incrementally funded each year. Decisions on 
awards in 2007 are pending receipt of final budget figures.

    Question. What oversight mechanisms exist to evaluate the 
effectiveness of the programs? What is USAID's process for conducting 
such oversight?

    Answer. VTF is working with staff from the Center for International 
Health and Development at the Boston University School of Public Health 
and the Center for Victims of Torture (CVT) in Minnesota, to evaluate 
promising interventions in order to strengthen the quality of services 
for survivors of torture. By understanding their impact, we are bitter 
able to identify best practices and lessons learned .and sustain 
ongoing efforts.
    With Boston University staff, the Fund has conducted qualitative 
studies with our partners in Indonesia, Mexico, Haiti, and the DRC. 
These assessments were conducted as the first phase of a larger program 
of technical assistance supporting VTF grantees. They included 
workshops on the design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of 
programs in Guatemala, Uganda, Indonesia, DRC, Kenya, Cambodia, 
Pakistan, Peru, Sri Lanka, and Sierra Leone. The purpose is to help 
grantees design psychosocial programs to treat survivors of torture and 
to develop more rigorous systems of monitoring and evaluation of 
programs. As a follow-up to initial qualitative studies and workshops, 
Boston University and CVT will be working closely with partners in DRC, 
Indonesia, Peru, Sierra Leone and Cambodia to design and implement 
impact studies in the coming year.
    USAID is conducting oversight through a program manager, who is 
assisted by contractor staff to review progress reports, maintain 
contact with the field, and conduct monitoring visits.
        U.S. Department of Health & Human Services,
                  Administration For Children And Families,
                                     Washington, DC, July 20, 2007.
Hon. Joseph R. Biden, Jr.,
U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations,
Washington, DC.
    Dear Senator Biden: Secretary Leavitt has asked me to thank you for 
your letter requesting information about the Department of Health and 
Human Services' (HHS) support for domestic centers and programs 
specializing in the treatment of victims of torture and to respond to 
you directly. I am pleased to provide you with the following 
information in response to the questions included in your letter.


    Question. How many domestic programs are currently supported by the 
appropriated funding? What proportion of funding is provided to 
entities which offer direct services to torture victims versus those 
which support research and provide training to health care providers?

    Answer. A total of 22 programs are currently supported by the 
appropriated funding administered by the Administration for Children 
and Families' (ACF) Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). Of these 22 
programs, 20 are funded as Assistance to Torture Survivors Through 
Direct Services. Two programs are funded as Technical Assistance to 
Organizations and Institutions Providing Direct Services to Torture 
Survivors.
    The 20 programs that provide direct services to torture victims 
receive 91.5 percent of the total grant funding. The two grantees 
providing technical assistance receive the remaining 8.5 percent of 
grant funding.


    Question. Approximately how many individuals are currently served 
through the domestic programs, and what are the primary countries of 
origin of the individuals who are served?

    Answer. During the first six months of the current grant period (9/
30/06-3/31/07), the 20 grantees providing direct services to torture 
survivors reported serving 3,220 individuals.
    The primary countries of origin as reported by program grantees 
are: Cameroon, Ethiopia, Iran, Congo, Iraq, Sudan, and Togo.


    Question. What is the process for awarding a grant under this 
program? In fiscal years 2006 and 2007, how many entities received 
grants, who were the recipients, and what was the funding level awarded 
to each entity?

    Answer. ORR issues a Funding Opportunity Announcement inviting 
applications for Services for Survivors of Torture. The most recent 
Funding Opportunity Announcement was issued in the Spring of 2006 for 
project periods of up to 3 years. In accordance with HHS grants policy, 
applications are evaluated and rated by an independent review panel on 
the basis of specific evaluation review criteria, as stated in the 
published announcement.
    The attached chart (see below) provides a listing of the 22 
entities funded under the fiscal year (FY) 2006 appropriation for 3-
year project periods, beginning September 30, 2006. At this time, 
continuation applications are being reviewed for award with FY 2007 
appropriated funding, subject to satisfactory progress by the grantee 
in the first year of the project period. It is expected that the 
continuation funding will be commensurate with FY 2006 funding levels.


    Question.  Are grants awarded based on a competitive process? If 
not, what process was used to select grants?

    Answer. Grants are awarded for the Services for Survivors of 
Torture Program based on a competitive process, as described above.


    Question. Of the 2006 and 2007 grantees, how many entities had 
received funding in prior years? Which were they?

    Answer. All of the 22 programs that were funded in FY 2006 and are 
being funded in FY 2007 for the 3-year project period that began 
September 30, 2006, had received funding in prior years.

    Question. What oversight mechanisms exist to evaluate the 
effectiveness of the programs? What is O's process for conducting such 
oversight?

    Answer. ORR has implemented the following oversight mechanisms to 
evaluate the effectiveness of the programs:

   On-site Monitoring: ORR has dedicated staff who administer 
        and oversee the Services for Survivors of Torture Program. 
        Staff regularly conduct on-site monitoring visits to review 
        performance, client outcome evaluation and reporting, data 
        collection processes and instruments, and financial management.

   Progress Reporting: All grantees are required to submit 
        semi-annual Program Progress Reports and Financial Status 
        Reports to ORR. In their applications for funding, programs 
        identify specific client-based outcomes that show how persons 
        who have been tortured will benefit from their services. 
        Grantees report their success in achieving their projected 
        outcomes in their semi-annual progress reports. These reports 
        are reviewed against the original applications for funding to 
        determine progress and accomplishments. ORR staff conduct 
        follow-up with grantees on an ongoing basis to discuss their 
        performance, challenges, and promising practices.

    I hope this information is helpful to you. Please call me if I can 
be of any further assistance.
        Sincerely,
                                       Daniel C. Schneider,
              Acting Assistant Secretary for Children and Families.


Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR)--Funded Torture Treatment Programs,
                                 FY 2006
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                Grant
                     ORR funded program                       amount (in
                                                               dollars)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
National Technical Assistance
  Center for Victims of Torture--National Capacity Building      470,000
   Project.................................................
  Gulf Coast Jewish Family Services--National Partnership        335,000
   for Community Training..................................
California
  Survivors of Torture, International......................      475,000
  Asian Americans for Community Involvement................      380,000
  Program for Torture Victims..............................      475,000
  Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles......................      265,000
Colorado
  Rocky Mountain Survivors Center..........................      535,000
Florida
  Florida Center for Survivors of Torture, Gulf Coast
   Jewish Family Services475,000...........................
Georgia
  Center for Torture and Trauma Survivors, DeKalb County         385,000
   Board of Health.........................................
Illinois
  The Marjorie Kovler Center for the Treatment of Survivors      535,000
   of Torture, Heartland Alliance for Human Needs and Human
   Rights..................................................
Maryland
  Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service.................      380,000
  Advocates for Survivors of Torture and Trauma............      395,000
Massachusetts
  Boston Center for Refugee Health and Human Rights, Boston      475,000
   Medical Center Corporation..............................
  Harvard Program in Refugee Trauma/Massachusetts General        375,000
   Hospital................................................
Michigan
  Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services...      475,000
Minnesota
  Center for Victims of Torture............................      535,000
Missouri
  Comprehensive Services for Torture Survivors Program,          475,000
   City of St. Louis Mental Health Board of Trustees.......
New York
  Bellevue/NYU Program for Survivors of Torture, NYC-Health      535,000
   & Hospitals Corporation.................................
Oregon
  Torture Treatment Center of Oregon, Oregon Health &            400,000
   Science University......................................
Texas
  Center for Survivors of Torture..........................      415,000
Utah
  Utah Health and Human Rights Project, TIDES Center.......      285,000
Virginia
  Center for Multicultural Human Services..................      415,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                  
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