A victim of torture can be defined as someone who has been physically or psychologically tortured, has witnessed torture, discovered tortured bodies, was forced to engage in torture, had friends or loved ones tortured, or lived in an environment where torture was a real danger. Torture is used to intimidate, to silence dissent. It can be employed because of political affiliation, ethnicity, religious beliefs, or because of who you know or are related to. Their heads are put in plastic bags or submerged in liquid usually contaminated with vomit or feces. Their bodies are burned with cigarettes.
Men frequently have electrodes attached to their penises.
Up to 35 percent of the world's refugees have been tortured if they come from a country that practices torture. Therefore, it is estimated that 20 percent of the refugee and immigrant population here n the Bay Are have been victims of torture. Of the Salvadorean refugees in the Bay Area, it's said that 15 percent have undergone torture, while up to 90 percent have been exposed to it. Other Bay Area torture survivors come from the countries listed above. It should go without saying, then, that a substantial number of our students are survivors of torture.