Finally, for those survivors who do decide that as part of their rehabilitation they will
engage in these approaches, it is important that they are able to see the results of what
they have contributed and the influence they have achieved by sharing with them the
outcomes of their intervention. In this regard, the service provider would want to be
accountable for how they use the survivor’s stories – whether shared directly by the
survivor themselves – or as part of a book, art show or event and most importantly if
these stories are used to raise funds.
There are a number of rehabilitation service providers with structured group work
programs that are public facing in writing, art, drama, and activism but as this is a
developing area of work there is a need to share more of our approaches and to develop
best practice. For further information on capacity building in this area or to contribute
your approach that we can share via the web please contact Leanne MacMillan at
lm@irct.org.
Suggested reading:
Holistic Rehabilitation and Findings of the IRCT NSA Project (Power point presentation,
100Kb)
IRCT, Brussels
http://tinyurl.com/puywtcj
Restart: Review of Holistic Rehabilitation and IRCT NSA Project and Developments
(Power point presentation, 374kb)
Restart, Lebanon
http://tinyurl.com/qbj7f6x
5.2
Communicating
awareness
torture
survivors’
stories
to
raise
There are some risks in collecting the stories of survivors of torture, the most significant
perhaps is that of re-traumatisation as a survivor recalls painful memories. Other risks
include having ones torture legacy shared and the stigma that can come with this.
However these risks can be significantly reduced in the interest of the many benefits of
bringing to light the torture that people have survived and their need for rehabilitation.
If the story gathering process is implemented sensitively with regard for confidentiality,
informed consent and security - the stories and experiences gathered from survivors of
torture not only allow the survivor a platform to share their experience, but can play a
wider part in tackling torture across the globe. In many instances, survivors have stated
that sharing their story has been beneficial to them.
Some of the benefits of collecting and disseminating stories are as follows:
To show the positive impact rehabilitation has on a person, their community
and their life through their personal story which encapsulates their journey
through torture to rehabilitation.
To provide evidence to other NGOs, governments and a multitude of political,
social and economic forums that the work carried out by centres across the
globe is meaningful, important and beneficial.
Other members, upon reading survivor stories from elsewhere, may gain
ideas for their services or wish to collaborate with the practices of
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