Professor Pounder appointed to UN post

Professor Derrick Pounder, Head of the Department of Forensic Medicine, has been appointed a member of the Board of Trustees of the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture.

Professor Pounder will hold the position for a period of three years.

"I am very much looking forward to helping support the many wonderful organisations providing assistance to victims of the crime of torture," said Professor Pounder.

The Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture was established by the UN in 1981 with the purpose of receiving voluntary contributions for distribution, through established channels, of psychological, medical, social, legal and financial assistance to victims of torture and their relatives.

The objective of the fund is to provide support to organisations which assist in rehabilitation of torture victims.

Every year the fund allocates nearly US$7 million to around 170 organisations in 60 countries. Victims of torture and their families benefit directly from the funded projects. The United Nations recently highlighted the fund's positive impact on thousands of victims of torture who are assisted by the fund annually.

The Fund is administered in accordance with the financial rules of the UN by the Secrtary-General, with the advice of a Board of Trustees composed of a chairman and four members with wide experience in the field of human rights.

Professor Pounder is closely associated with Amnesty International and was a founding member of Physicians for Human Rights. He has served as an expert to the Committee for the Prevention of Torture of the Council of Europe in its visits to several European countries including Turkey and Chechnya.