Survivors of Torture, International (SOTI) is an independent, non-profit organization founded in 1997 to care for survivors of politically-motivated torture and their families. San Diego is home to the largest land border crossing in the world. SOTI estimates that there are approximately 11,000 to 14,000 torture survivors living in the San Diego region, based on the number of refugees, immigrants, and asylum-seekers here. Community surveys in the U.S. have found that nearly 25 percent of refugees have experienced some form of torture. There are over 55,000 refugees in San Diego alone from countries that are documented as systematically practicing torture; including those in Africa, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, South and Central America. In the last six months the southern California Political Asylum Office has encountered 5,109 asylum applicants, the majority of which come through the US-Mexican border into San Diego County. SOTI's clients come from all over the world.

The Mission of Survivors of Torture, International is to:

• be a healing resource for survivors of torture and their families;
• raise awareness among the general public and educate the professional communities about torture;
• build communication and cooperation among torture treatment centers throughout the world.

Survivors of Torture, International is an organization composed of people from a variety of backgrounds. Some are native-born Americans. Some were born in foreign countries, and have come to the United States as immigrants or refugees. All, mental health, medical, legal, or other professionals, along with concerned lay people -- share a revulsion for torture and for governments that employ torture as a means of political control over their people.