The UN General Assembly
adopts the resolution on
the Declaration on the
Protection of All Persons
from Being Subjected to
Torture and Other Cruel,
Inhumane or Degrading
Treatment or Punishment.

Canada
incorporates a
legal definition
of refugees in its
Immigration Act
of 1976.

The Canadian Centre for Victims of Torture (CCVT) is
founded by a group of doctors, lawyers and service providers, (many
associated with Amnesty International), making it only one of two such organizations globally.

CCVT is legally
incorporated as the
Canadian Center for the
Investigation and
Prevention of Torture,
and is governed by it's
new Board of Directors.

CCVT establishes an English as a Second Language (ESL)
program that continues
to be a major part of the
center's activities and has
since expanded to include
basic skills and computer training.

For the first time, CCVT
offers professional support services at it’s Jarvis location to victims
of torture, with the hiring of a crisis counselor and a group support program.

CCVT’s mandate is
amended to include
supporting victim's
families, and the
Children's Program commences.

The CCVT becomes a member of the United Way; June 26th is established as the UN International Day in
Support of Victims of Torture, - CCVT holds its first commemorative event; and completes two fact-finding missions in Nigeria and Chile, investigating torture and forced disappearances.

CCVT at 25 years, honours the work of two of its veterans - Trevor Bartram and Amina Malko - by establishing two annual awards acknowledging
exceptional contributions to the community of survivors of torture and war.

The CCVT is accredited to
the International
Rehabilitation Council for
Torture Victims (IRCT).

CCVT's Scarborough
branch opens up to better
serve clients in Toronto’s
East End.

Supported with federal
funding, CCVT becomes a
consortium member agency of the Toronto South Local Immigration Partnership (TSLP) - focused on developing and implementing
community-based settlement strategies to enhance service delivery to newcomers.

CCVT's opens up at The
Victoria Park Hub, a multi-agency
space providing
collaborative service to
clients.

Through collaboration
and specialized
workshops delivered
among service sector
providers, CCVT meets
the unprecedented
challenge to provide
effective service and
support to the 25,000
Syrian Refugees
arriving in Canada
between November 2015 and February 2016.