Dignity

What Dignity does

DIGNITY - Dansk Institut Mod Tortur (Danish Institute Against Torture) is a self-governing nonprofit institution headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, founded in 1982 by physician Inge Genefke as one of the world's first rehabilitation centres for torture survivors. The organization's core service is interdisciplinary rehabilitation delivered through a Copenhagen clinic recognized by Sundhedsstyrelsen (Danish Health Authority) as a highly specialized national centre for severely traumatized refugees, combining medical, psychological, physiotherapeutic and social interventions with family treatment. Services are provided free of charge to patients and are funded through institutional grants, primarily from the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Danish-Arab Partnership Programme for international work, and from regional/municipal cooperation agreements for the domestic clinic, supplemented by private donations and foundation support.\n\nInternationally, DIGNITY operates in approximately 20 countries through partner organizations, running capacity-building programs for civil society, knowledge institutions and authorities in development and transition contexts. Its second main product surface is documentation and accountability work — most notably the International Accountability Platform for Belarus (IAPB), a DIGNITY-led coalition backed by 20 states that documents serious international crimes including torture. Adjacent offerings include research programs managing the Danish Trauma Database for Refugees (DTD), a Torture Screening Tool co-developed with Danish Red Cross for asylum-seeker intake, advocacy targeting national and intergovernmental bodies, and publications such as a comprehensive Manual on Monitoring Prison Health and the multilingual 'Du er not alone' PTSD self-help film series.

Name

Dignity

Legal name

DIGNITY - Dansk Institut Mod Tortur

Website

https://dignity.dk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

DIGNITY is a Danish nonprofit that provides interdisciplinary rehabilitation to torture survivors and traumatized refugees in Denmark and approximately 20 countries, funds research via the Danish Trauma Database, and leads accountability coalitions such as the International Accountability Platform for Belarus.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian Rehabilitation Services

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Assistance (624), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Human Rights Monitoring, Documentation & Advocacy (BPADAGAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Migrant & Refugee Legal Aid and Documentation Services (BPADAHAE), Asylum & Refugee Status Determination (RSD) Support (BPADAHAB), Rule of Law, Justice & Corrections Support in Conflict Settings (BPADAFAI), Protection Services (GBV, Child Protection, Safeguarding) (BPADAHAF)

Keywords

• Torture rehabilitation services
• Refugee trauma treatment
• Human rights documentation
• International capacity building
• Humanitarian advocacy programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Københoved

HQ country

Denmark

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government Grants: Foreign work supported by Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Danish-Arab Partnership Programme. Rehabilitation clinic funded via cooperation agreements with regions and municipalities.
2. Foundation and Private Donations: Work made possible by generous support from foundations, endowments and private individuals
3. Private Fundraising: Collections through direct response at events, SMS donations, MobilePay, telemarketing, direct mails, collection boxes, social media, online platforms, Facebook Fundraiser, auctions and cooperation agreements with companies

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

DIGNITY - Dansk Institut Mod Tortur provides interdisciplinary rehabilitation for torture survivors and traumatized refugees through its specialized clinic in Copenhagen (recognized by Sundhedsstyrelsen as a national highly specialized center). Beyond clinical treatment, the organization runs international prevention and capacity-building programs in approximately 20 countries, documents human rights violations for accountability (e.g., the International Accountability Platform for Belarus), conducts evidence-based research via the Danish Trauma Database for Refugees, and engages in policy advocacy grounded in international human rights standards.

Product overview

DIGNITY (Danish Institute Against Torture) is a human rights and development organization offering a portfolio of interconnected services focused on preventing torture, rehabilitating survivors, documenting human rights violations, and advocating for policy changes. The core offering is the Rehabilitation Clinic in Copenhagen, recognized by Sundhedsstyrelsen as a national center for severely traumatized refugees, providing interdisciplinary treatment including medical, psychological, and social support. International programs extend rehabilitation and prevention work through partnerships in approximately 20 countries. Documentation and accountability work supports local partners in gathering evidence for prosecution of perpetrators, including the International Accountability Platform for Belarus. Research programs maintain the Danish Trauma Database for Refugees and develop evidence-based treatments. The organization also produces self-help resources like the 'Du er ikke alene' PTSD film series and publishes specialized manuals on prison health monitoring.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Rehabilitation Clinic (Behandling) Specialized treatment center in Copenhagen for torture survivors and other traumatized refugees, offering interdisciplinary rehabilitation combining medical, psychological, physiotherapeutic, and social interventions with involvement of relatives. Recognized by the Danish Health Authority as a highly specialized national center.
• International Rehabilitation Programs International programs focused on creating sustainable access to rehabilitation for trauma victims through partnerships with organizations in approximately 20 countries, including capacity building, training, and technical assistance.
• Prevention Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 5,000 torture survivors treated since 1982
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• IRCT (International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1985IRCT emerged from DIGNITY's work in 1985 as a global network for rehabilitation centres. Today IRCT is an organization with over 160 member centres in 76 countries. DIGNITY contributed to establishing IRCT as a global movement for torture survivor rights.
• Danish Red CrosscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDIGNITY and Danish Red Cross jointly developed the screening tool used to screen torture survivors upon arrival in Denmark. All asylum seekers are screened for torture using this tool.
• RCT RehabiliteringsCenter for Traumatiserede (Haderslev)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner rehabilitation centre providing treatment services for traumatized refugees. DIGNITY refers patients and provides expertise collaboration.
• Viasna (Belarus)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBelarusian human rights organization collaborating with DIGNITY on International Accountability Platform for Belarus (IAPB) to document torture and human rights violations.
• International Committee for the Investigation of Torture in BelaruscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in IAPB coalition led by DIGNITY to document serious international crimes including torture in Belarus.
• Redress (UK)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK-based anti-torture organization collaborating with DIGNITY in IAPB coalition for Belarus accountability.
• Restart Center (Lebanon)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLebanese rehabilitation centre led by Suzanne Jabbour, treating torture survivors and violence victims. Partner under DAPPS human rights consortium. DIGNITY provides capacity building and technical assistance.
• Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation (CSVR, South Africa)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSouth African NGO working to combat violence and torture, led by Nomfundo Mogapi who joined DIGNITY's board in 2021. Long-term cooperation partner.
• Socialstyrelsen (Danish Social Agency)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDIGNITY became part of VISO nationwide supplier network in August 2020, providing specialized advisory and assessment services for socially vulnerable children and youth with transcultural issues.
• Danish-Arabisk Partnerskabsprogram (DAPP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDanish-Arab Partnership Programme supporting DIGNITY's international work, particularly in Tunisia and Morocco.
• WHO Alliance for Prevention of Violence (VPA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDIGNITY is member of WHO's Alliance for Prevention of Violence.
• Global Campus of Human RightsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization working to advance human rights research and expertise globally, led by Manfred Nowak who joined DIGNITY's board in 2021.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• REDRESS: International human rights NGO that pursues legal cases for torture survivors and partners with DIGNITY in the IAPB Belarus coalition; comparable on the documentation, legal aid, and accountability dimension.
• Freedom from Torture: UK-based charity providing direct rehabilitation, therapy, and documentation services for torture survivors; the closest direct European peer to DIGNITY's clinical and advocacy model.
• Restart Center (Lebanon): Beirut-based rehabilitation centre for torture and violence victims, led by Suzanne Jabbour and partnered with DIGNITY under DAPPS; operates the same survivor-centred clinical model in the MENA region.
• Center for Victims of Torture (CVT): US-based nonprofit that delivers torture rehabilitation, training, and research globally; comparable to DIGNITY in combining clinical care, capacity building, and evidence-based treatment development.

Emerging players

• Victim Support Europe: European umbrella for victim support services including trafficking and violence survivors; thematic overlap with DIGNITY's protection work, particularly on legal aid and advocacy for vulnerable populations in Europe.
• IRCT (International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims): Global network of 160+ torture rehabilitation centres in 76 countries that grew out of DIGNITY's work in 1985; serves as both an extension of DIGNITY's reach and a potential substitute at the global coordination layer.

Broad incumbents

• Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF): Provides medical care to vulnerable populations in conflict and crisis settings, including survivors of violence; comparable on cross-border healthcare delivery but at much larger scale and broader scope.
• Amnesty International: Global human rights movement with torture documentation and advocacy mandates that overlap with DIGNITY's accountability work, but operates at far broader scope rather than specialising in survivor rehabilitation.
• International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC): Mandated to visit detainees and monitor conditions of imprisonment worldwide; overlaps with DIGNITY's National Preventive Mechanism participation and detention-health publications.
• Council of Europe - Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT): Independent treaty body that visits places of detention across Council of Europe member states; comparable to DIGNITY's prison monitoring and health-oversight work, though operating as an intergovernmental body rather than an NGO.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/dignitydk
• Facebookfacebook.com/DignityInstitute
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dignity-danish-institute-against-torture
• Instagraminstagram.com/dignityinstitute

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Dignity