International Day in Support of Victims of Torture - Ami's Story

Connected Voice Advocacy often supports victims of torture with various matters. To mark International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, taking place on Thursday 26 June 2025, we want to highlight how our Advocacy service has made a real difference to the lives of people who have been victims of torture.

This is the story of Ami, who was recently supported through our Advocacy service. His name and any other names in this story have been changed to protect the privacy of those involved.

Ami is a 31 year-old Afghan man who is a survivor of physical torture in Afghanistan. Due to these sad circumstances, Ami now lives with physical mobility issues and complex mental health issues. Physically, he has no sensation in his right leg, has to use crutches, and needs full time care. On top of this, Ami battles with PTSD, depression, and anxiety, and is also unable to retain information to independently navigate the support systems available. Ami heard about Connected Voice Advocacy through a friend and decided to reach out for support.

An advocate was assigned to Ami's case to help with ongoing health and housing issues. Ami's property was damaged due to mould and damp issues, which caused the plasterboard to come away from the walls, which affected the bedrooms, living area and kitchen. In addition to the obvious problems this was causing in Ami's home environment, it was also having a negative impact on both his physical and mental health. Ami had contacted the repair team multiple times but, due to the communication barrier, he wasn't able to get the work done and therefore required advocacy support.

The advocate worked in partnership with Ami to contact the repair team in Gateshead via Gateshead Council. They also empowered him to place an official complaint voicing his concerns, requesting that a team visit the property as soon as possible. As a result of this, the repair team visited the property and fixed the damages - this included washing the mould off the walls and re-plastering them. This had a significant positive impact on Ami's everyday life. The improvement to his living environment has also improved his overall physical and mental health. This has made Ami feel valued, heard, and that his rights have been upheld.