BHRAC - Brown Human Rights Asylum Clinic

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BHRAC - Brown Human Rights Asylum Clinic BHRAC At the heart of BHRAC is a clinician-student teaching paradigm that mutually benefits medical students, clinicians, and survivors.

BHRAC provides space for asylum clinicians to conduct the physical and psychological evaluations of asylum seekers. Two asylum-trained medical students join the clinician in the examination room and assist in the evaluation. The students then write the preliminary draft of the affidavit, which the physician then edits and finalizes. BHRAC sends the affidavit to the client's attorney and the national PHR office for review and submission. Students gain the invaluable opportunity to learn from asylum evaluators. Clinicians are relieved of the administrative burden of coordination and writing the initial draft. Asylum seekers benefit from including a medicolegal affidavit in their application for asylum. The written medical testimony that physician evaluators submit to courts on behalf of asylum seekers is frequently the determining factor when judges grant asylum or other relief from deportation for survivors of torture, domestic abuse, trafficking, and other forms of persecution who present with physical and psychological sequelae of abuse. Through a partnership with Physicians for Human Rights and the Roger Williams Immigration Law Clinic, BHRAC is committed to helping victims of torture and abuse gain the support they need to receive refuge in the United States.

come join us at our spring training next friday May 15 at 4:30 PM!!! once trained, you can scribe for any future cases w...
05/09/2026

come join us at our spring training next friday May 15 at 4:30 PM!!! once trained, you can scribe for any future cases with BHRAC! we will provide snacks ☺️🤸🏻💻

We loved presenting at the PHR Annual Conference! We were very inspired by all the people who have dedicated their time ...
03/18/2025

We loved presenting at the PHR Annual Conference! We were very inspired by all the people who have dedicated their time to promote human rights. This experience has further motivated us to continue our work!

We are honored to have the opportunity to present our research at the annual PHR Conference. We hope you see you there!
03/04/2025

We are honored to have the opportunity to present our research at the annual PHR Conference. We hope you see you there!

“When the fundamental principles of human rights are not protected, the center of our institution no longer holds. It is...
12/10/2022

“When the fundamental principles of human rights are not protected, the center of our institution no longer holds. It is they that promote development that is sustainable; peace that is secure; and lives of dignity.”
– Former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein

Today is international Human Rights Day - the 74th anniversity of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights!

https://www.un.org/en/observances/human-rights-day
You can read the UDHR here -
https://www.un.org/en/about-us/universal-declaration-of-human-rights

A milestone document in the history of human rights, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights set out, for the first time, fundamental human rights to be universally protected. It has been translated into over 500 languages.

HELLO ALL - Don't forget to submit your applications to join the 2023 BHRAC board, and be sure to have a happy Thanksgi...
11/22/2022

HELLO ALL - Don't forget to submit your applications to join the 2023 BHRAC board, and be sure to have a happy Thanksgiving!!

BHRAC wishes everyone a safe and happy holiday and gives thanks for all our volunteers' wonderful unceasing work. It is so very appreciated!

As always, here are some more helpful resources:
https://doctorsforimmigrants.com
https://www.ilrc.org/community-resources
https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights/immigrants-rights

No one should be afraid to seek medical care.

We had an amazing time at the medical school activities fair! Our amazing co-director of operations Jade is pictured her...
08/06/2022

We had an amazing time at the medical school activities fair! Our amazing co-director of operations Jade is pictured here talking with some prospective BHRAC volunteers - we're so excited for MD26 students to join our team!

If you're interested in getting involved with BHRAC, be sure to sign up for our one-time annual fall training happening on September 10th!

Sign up here: https://airtable.com/shrVl63bbgbgdEGQt

08/05/2022

"As long as there is conflict, human rights abuses, and forced displacement, there will be vulnerable individuals who seek asylum in countries other than their own. Physicians are respected witnesses in immigration proceedings and their expert opinion can increase the likelihood that a person will be able to prove their claim for asylum."
--Mackenzie, et al (2018)

READ MORE about the role of physicians within asylum medicine:

"Torture is used in an attempt to destroy an individual’s dignity and sense of trust. Our programme and other treatment ...
08/04/2022

"Torture is used in an attempt to destroy an individual’s dignity and sense of trust. Our programme and other treatment centres try to restore trust and dignity to torture survivors and help them to get on with their lives."
-Dr Alan Keller, Founder of NYU Program for Survivors of Torture

READ MORE about caring and advocating for victims of torture:

Allen S Keller is an assistant professor of clinical medicine at New York University School of Medicine and Director of the Bellevue/NYU Program for Survivors of Torture. His work is supported by a Soros advocacy fellowship from the Medicine as a Profession Program of the Open Society Institute.

08/03/2022

“It’s not that I understand what the specific DSM sections are or what these tests are; I don’t. In fact, that’s why I need your evaluation. But I like seeing the bones, I like seeing why the doctor came to the conclusion that he or she came to.”

-- Immigration Judges’ Perceptions of Telephonic and In-Person Forensic Mental Health Evaluations, a qualitative study by Green et al (2022)

READ MORE about the perspectives of former immigration judges on what makes for a strong forensic evaluation:

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Providence, RI

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