{"title":"Personal reflection.","authors":"Mahmud Sehwail","doi":"10.7146/torture.v32i1-2.131290","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7146/torture.v32i1-2.131290","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The author brings an account of his life trajec-tory as a psychiatrist born and working in Pal-estine. The author dives in his early memories, including those of his brother's death, that shaped his character and the way he lives his rejection of occupation and violence. Besides the early institutional beginnings of the TRC Center in West Bank, the author describes the subtle forms of the daily abuse that a doctor working in Palestine must endure.</p>","PeriodicalId":75230,"journal":{"name":"Torture : quarterly journal on rehabilitation of torture victims and prevention of torture","volume":"32 1,2","pages":"30-42"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"40698008","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Reflections on healing and recovery from the legacies of trauma and violence.","authors":"Inger Agger","doi":"10.7146/torture.v32i1-2.129580","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7146/torture.v32i1-2.129580","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>With the arrival in Denmark of torture sur-vivors from Latin America in the nineteen seventies and eighties, therapists faced the challenge of how best to accompany the sur-vivors in their healing processes. The New Left and Feminism were important political movements which influenced the therapeu-tic approaches discussed at that time. In the author's meeting with Latin American col-leagues a dialogue about therapeutic methods was further developed with emphasis on the connection between \"Human Rights and Mental Health\". The civil war in the Balkans in the nineties brought new challenges: the development of psychosocial community in-terventions as well as an intensification of the debate between the \"medical\" and psycho-social approaches to trauma healing. Coop-eration during the last decade with NGOs in e.g., India, Cambodia, and Honduras brought new and more holistic perspectives on therapy represented by a brief version of Testimonial Therapy that sought to integrate cultural and spiritual traditions as well as \"third wave\" cognitive methods.</p>","PeriodicalId":75230,"journal":{"name":"Torture : quarterly journal on rehabilitation of torture victims and prevention of torture","volume":"32 1,2","pages":"84-86"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"40685118","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"From untried steps to omnipresence.","authors":"Peter Vesti","doi":"10.7146/torture.v32i1-2.132441","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7146/torture.v32i1-2.132441","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The author introduces new ideas - in this case the multidisciplinary treatment of torture sur-vivors - may be understood as the benevo-lent work of altruistic people. It is indeed, but it requires hard work, toughness and cut-through leadership. The formulation of ideas and some of the unexpected troubles in one of the early periods at The Rehabilitation Center for Torture Victimes is portrayed from a personal angle.</p>","PeriodicalId":75230,"journal":{"name":"Torture : quarterly journal on rehabilitation of torture victims and prevention of torture","volume":"32 1,2","pages":"105-107"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"40685122","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Towards a systematic approach for the treatment and rehabilitation of torture and trauma survivors: The experience of STARTTS in Australia.","authors":"Jorge Aroche, Mariano Coello","doi":"10.7146/torture.v32i1-2.132684","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7146/torture.v32i1-2.132684","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This paper recovers a text written in 1994 that explored and discussed the complex interac-tion between the psychological and psychoso-cial sequelae of exposure to highly traumatic situations in the context of organized violence, and the stresses and demands of the exile and re-settlement process of refugees. The effects on the individual, the family and refugee communities were explored, and a model to address these problems from a systemic per-spective, involving action at the individual, family, refugee community, mainstream com-munity and mainstream political structures was put forward. The role of approaches such as individual counselling, group work and community development in this framework, and various issues in the practical application of this model were discussed in the context of STARTTS experience. Looking back, almost 30 years later, the paper has renewed value as it shows the founding theoretical principles and the path to what today is one of the most im-portant anti-torture organizations in the world.</p>","PeriodicalId":75230,"journal":{"name":"Torture : quarterly journal on rehabilitation of torture victims and prevention of torture","volume":"32 1,2","pages":"133-143"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"40685125","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"30 years of solitary confinement: What has changed, and what still needs to happen.","authors":"Sharon Shalev","doi":"10.7146/torture.v32i1-2.131384","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7146/torture.v32i1-2.131384","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Solitary confinement cells are where those considered to be too dangerous to themselves or to others, too troublesome, too mentally unwell, or simply different, will be locked away, spending 22-24 hours a day alone, out of sight and out of mind.Solitary confinement is an extreme and harmful practice on the cusp of prohibited treatment of people deprived of their liberty, with potentially grave consequences for the in-dividuals concerned and the societies to which they eventually return. This article reflects on some of the achieve-ments, and remaining challenges, around the use and regulation of solitary confinement practices internationally in the last 30 years, drawing on recent developments and the au-thor's work in the area.</p>","PeriodicalId":75230,"journal":{"name":"Torture : quarterly journal on rehabilitation of torture victims and prevention of torture","volume":"32 1,2","pages":"148-162"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"40685127","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Committee Against Torture tackles violence against women: A conceptual and political journey.","authors":"Nora Sveaass, Felice Gaer","doi":"10.7146/torture.v32i1-2.132081","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7146/torture.v32i1-2.132081","url":null,"abstract":"In this article, we will examine how the official treaty monitoring body, the Committee against Torture, demonstrated that violenceagainst women was indeed a serious human rights problem that fell squarely within the preview of the Convention against Torture.Because States parties to the Convention are required to report about their compliance with the Convention routinely, the Committee developed a substantial database on national practices and policies. In the course of examining these periodic reports of States parties, and then consolidating findings and conclusionsinto two general comments, the UN Committee Against Torture integrated violence against women in its jurisprudence ontorture and ill-treatment by showing that existing provisions could and did incorporate the obligation to protect against and provideredress for torture and ill-treatment directed against women. Initiatives to raise these issues show how the Committee “placed the range of gender violence—from public to private – squarely within the frame of the Torture Convention” (Copelon, 2008, 242). The article will recall how the adoption of two general commentsto the Convention firmly integrated gender-based violence as a subject of concern under the Convention: General comment no2 (2008) addressed Article 2 on the State obligation to prevent torture and ill-treatment and General comment no 3 (2012) focusedon Article 14 which concerns the obligation to provide redress to victims of torture. Both authors have been members of the Committee during these important years, and it is our aim to provide an overview of the significant processes and decisions taken by the CAT that resulted in the strengthening of the Committee’s inclusiveness and comprehensiveness in the struggle to prevent torture. Finally, we will reflect on some future challengesfaced by main anti-torture body/ies as part of global efforts to fight violence against women.","PeriodicalId":75230,"journal":{"name":"Torture : quarterly journal on rehabilitation of torture victims and prevention of torture","volume":"32 1,2","pages":"177-192"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"40686013","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Visions from the past: Reflecting on the history of epidemiological research in the refugee and post-conflict mental health field.","authors":"Derrick Silove","doi":"10.7146/torture.v32i1-2.131998","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7146/torture.v32i1-2.131998","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Epidemiological research has made a major contribution to the knowledge-base in the field of refugee and post-conflict mental health in the last 30 years. There is a tendency however to question the cultural validity of study findings, or, alternatively, to argue that we have sufficient data to predict the mental health and psychosocial (MHPSS) needs of future populations exposed to mass conflict. This paper attempts to address both issues. Specifically, it is argued that, rather than an indicator of cultural inaccuracy in measure-ment, the large variation in symptom preva-lence rates observed across studies may reflect a genuine difference given the unique profile of risk and protective factors that characterize refugee populations based on their individual histories of conflict and current conditions of resettlement. There are compelling reasons therefore, where feasible, to include epide-miological studies in the comprehensive ap-proach of data gathering in assessing MHPSS needs - and to monitor changes over time - in current and future populations exposed to mass conflict.</p>","PeriodicalId":75230,"journal":{"name":"Torture : quarterly journal on rehabilitation of torture victims and prevention of torture","volume":"32 1,2","pages":"219-226"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"40686016","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Reflections on an international engagement in the fight against torture.","authors":"Henrik Døcker","doi":"10.7146/torture.v32i1-2.132012","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7146/torture.v32i1-2.132012","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The author describes some of the early begin-ning of the RCT and Torture Journal.</p>","PeriodicalId":75230,"journal":{"name":"Torture : quarterly journal on rehabilitation of torture victims and prevention of torture","volume":"32 1,2","pages":"95-97"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"40685120","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The military coup in Chile in 1973, the immediate reaction of international organisations, and the founding of the first rehabilitation program for torture victims in 1977.","authors":"José Quiroga, Elizabeth Lira","doi":"10.7146/torture.v32i1-2.131916","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7146/torture.v32i1-2.131916","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This paper documents the historical steps of the immediate reactions of the United Nations, Amnesty International, the World Council of Churches (WCC), the Inter-American Com-mission on Human Rights, and lawyers' or-ganisations in support of the victims of torture and others suffering gross violations of their human rights, as perpetrated by the Chilean military from 1973 to 1990. This article is also the history of the founding of the first rehabili-tation programs for torture victims in Chile in 1977 and the other care programs for victims under local and international churches' pro-tection during the worst period of the military dictatorship. The actions of denunciation and defense of the victims were possible through national and international networks sustained in collaborative work from inside and outside Chile, which lasted for 17 years. The results and lessons learned projected the creation of new commissions, funds, and international networks that continue today in the inter-national arena. The rehabilitation programs under the dictatorship began as a solidarity response to the needs of victims The reha-bilitation programs, born during the dictator-ship, projected their practice and experience to create a comprehensive health program as part of the State's reparation measures. The testimonies of the victims made it possible to understand the consequences of human rights violations on individuals and society. State policies and civil society actions have sought to contribute to the reparation of victims through rehabilitation actions directly. This paper is part of the memory of that past by reconstructing the solidarity actions of denunciation and rehabilitation, and the details of which are often unknown.</p>","PeriodicalId":75230,"journal":{"name":"Torture : quarterly journal on rehabilitation of torture victims and prevention of torture","volume":"32 1,2","pages":"113-132"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"40685124","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Rehabilitation for torture survivors: Six evidence myths and their implications for future research.","authors":"Nimisha Patel, Amanda Williams","doi":"10.7146/torture.v32i1-2.131776","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7146/torture.v32i1-2.131776","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Whilst it is established that torture survivors suffer from complex, multiple and often severe and enduring physical, psychological, social, welfare and many other difficulties; and that rehabilitation as reparation should be holistic, interdisciplinary and specialist, majority of the research on rehabilitation focuses increasingly and almost exclusively on psychological interventions. Further, as-sumptions that this research provides evi-dence of which are effective psychological interventions may underpin and skew ser-vices funded and provided to torture sur-vivors. In this paper we challenge some of those assumptions, and discuss the concep-tual, theoretical, epistemological and meth-odological limitations of this research and implications for future research.</p>","PeriodicalId":75230,"journal":{"name":"Torture : quarterly journal on rehabilitation of torture victims and prevention of torture","volume":"32 1,2","pages":"227-250"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"40686017","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}