The Libertas Center for Human Rights provides survivors of torture and human rights violations in the New York City area with comprehensive medical, mental health, social and legal services to help them regain function and restore humanity in their lives. Libertas was founded as a volunteer program of the Emergency Department (ED) in 2006 by ED physicians, Dr. Lars Beattie and Dr. Rajeev Bais, to provide services to survivors of torture through Elmhurst Hospital’s Emergency Department, with a primary focus on conducting forensic evaluations and providing affidavits in support of client’s asylum applications. As a whole, New York is home to a disproportionate number of torture survivors: at 5,028 cases, the city received by far the most applications for protection under the Convention against Torture of any immigration court in 2014. That same year, NYC had 8,811 asylum case completions and 4,830 applicants were granted asylum, representing 55% of the total asylum grants in the US that year. Located within Elmhurst Hospital in Queens, Libertas is uniquely positioned to identify and serve a large number of torture survivors, as the area surrounding Elmhurst is one of the most diverse in New York City and the entire country, with 71% of residents being foreign born. Libertas has been honored to receive recognitions for service from the New York City Council, the Brooklyn Borough President and Congressman Joseph Crowley, as well as from leading community partners such as Houses on the Moon. Libertas is an active member of the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT), the Queens Borough President's Immigration Task Force, and the National Consortium of Torture Treatment Programs.
