Torture and other kinds of human rights violations aim at frightening the population and suppressing opposition.
Some states even conduct war against parts of their own civilian population.
Mass expulsions and genocide are no rarity in many theaters of war around the world. Many survivors are forced to leave their home countries under atrocious circumstances. In contrast to victims of other forms of traumatization, most survivors of state-sponsored violence experienced not only a single stressful event but a whole series of severe traumas over an extended period of time. Such experiences can cause serious psychological and somatic distress. Thus, in addition to diverse medical diseases, a substantial proportion of the survivors suffers from chronic psychological disorders like Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Depression, which can persist for years or even decades.