Survivor story

Ava* is a young woman who came to the UK at an early age having fled Iran. Having arrived at the age of 12 speaking no English and with serious health problems she says that "I felt like a stranger (when I arrived). I could not speak the language or understand the culture".

Eva* was 15 when she first arrived in the UK with her family. She did not know she was coming to England, she just knew they were fleeing Albania where some members of her family, including Eva, had been tortured. Eva herself was raped.

"These stories in The Refugee Diary Series need to be told and we, and the rest of the world, need to listen' ~ Armadillo Magazine. The MF (now Freedom from Torture) has collaborated on a series of books aimed at eight year olds which highlight the plight of refugee children who are forced to flee their homes. The Refugee Diaries are a beautifully illustrated and highly acclaimed series of four books, each telling the true story of a child who has sought and found sanctuary in the UK."

Torturers would rather the voices of their victims remained unheard. Used as a weapon of oppression, fear and repressive control, torture claims the lives of thousands of people across the globe. Recounting the personal testimonies of those who manage to survive is a vital step in countering the damage inflicted by torturing regimes that would prefer to remain unaccountable. Here, to mark UN International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, on June 26 2008, we urge you to read the stories of three MF clients who escaped the brutality of their persecutors.