About DIGNITY
Our vision and mission
DIGNITY’s mission is to be a leading actor in the global fight against torture. Together with our partners, we develop, promote, and apply research-based knowledge to prevent torture and violence, rehabilitate survivors, and promote justice and accountability. This is how we help protect human dignity around the world.
Who we are
DIGNITY is a learning organization, where direct interventions, international development programmes, advocacy, and research support and reinforce each other. Our research creates a solid knowledge and evidence base for our interventions and capacity development with partners and strengthens our advocacy to enhance human rights compliance and international norm-setting. The results of our advocacy then feed into our programme work on the ground and translate into practice.
Founded in 1982, DIGNITY has approximately app. 150 staff members at its Copenhagen headquarters and around the world, including doctors, lawyers, psychologists, physiotherapists, social workers, anthropologists, public health experts, and development specialists. Our annual turnover is approximately app. EUR 30 million with major contributions from the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Danish health authorities, several other European governments, the European Union, the US government, and international foundations.
DIGNITY is a WHO collaborating centere and has consultative status with ECOSOC. Selected staff are members of international treaty bodies within the United Nations and Council of Europe as well as members of the National Preventive Mechanism of Denmark
Acknowledgements
DIGNITY has consultative status under the UN Economic and Social Council, ECOSOC, and is a member of the WHO Alliance for the Prevention of Violence (VPA).
The rehabilitation clinic is recognized by the National Board of Health as a national center specializing in the treatment of severely traumatized refugees.
In 2017, DIGNITY received the Danish Crown Prince Couple’s Social Award for the work to combat torture and rehabilitate torture victims in Denmark and internationally.
DIGNITY is a member of the CHS Alliance. Becoming a member of the CHS alliance reflects DIGNITY’s commitment to safeguard our beneficiaries, deliver quality programmes, and be accountable to the people we serve: survivors and people at risk of torture and other forms of organized violence.
UN Human Rights
DIGNITY’s work is based on human rights as laid down in declarations and conventions of the United Nations, including the recognition of the dignity of the individual and the universal prohibition of torture, created to ensure freedom, justice. and peace in the world.
Leaving No One Behind
The United Nations’ 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development contain a cross-cutting principle »Leaving No One Behind«. This principle forms the very core of DIGNITY’s work for a world free of torture and violence, where all people should be able to live their lives in freedom from fear and need.
Funding
DIGNITY is a self-governing institution, independent of party politics.
DIGNITY’s international work is supported by, among others, the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the European Commission, the Swedish, Swiss, and Dutch MFAs, and a longer list of foundations, including the Open Society Foundation.
The rehabilitation clinic in Copenhagen is financed through Danish Regions. In addition, DIGNITY’s work is made possible thanks to foundations, scholarships, and support from private individuals.
Annual reports
Documents
- DIGNITY Partnership Policy
Country Offices
- DIGNITY Tunisia
- DIGNITY Jordan