project status & progress (in three pilot)

8/14/2019 Project Status & Progress (in Three Pilot)

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A collaborative project

of

Rehabilitation and ResearchCentre for Torture Victims(RCT), Copenhagen

&

Peoples Vigilance Committeeon Human Rights (PVCHR),Varanasi


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PVCHR/JMN & RCT

collaborationPVCHR/JMN collaborate in three pilot project i.e.

First pilot: 1 May, 2008 30th May, 2008

Second pilot: 1st August, 2008 to 30th April,2009

Third pilot: 1st

July, 2009 till now


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Objectives of the

projectTo develop context specific manuals for using

the Testimony Method developed among a

number of NGOs from developing countriesTo build capacity built in using the Testimony

Method among staff of these NGOs.To enhance psychosocial wellbeing of survivors

(clients of these NGOs) enhancedTo analyze Impact and outcomes analyzed

through an M&E system


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Use of testimony(private pain into political voice through

healing & empowerment)

Psychological support

Legal InterventionMeta Legal initiativeUrgent appeal Public debate Policy intervention Innovation as community healing and

empowerment through testimony toindividual survivor.


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Mile stone (three pilot phase)

Capacity Building

Psychological support

Advocacya. web advocacy

b. meta - legal & legal

Campaign

Documentation

Professional Consultation &

National Consultation.


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Capacity Building(milestone)

Workshop on Testimonial Therapy (TOT):51human rights defenders/community workerstrained on testimonial therapy in four Training of

Trainer (TOT) workshop. The Participants were drawnfrom eight states, namely Uttar Pradesh,Uttarakhand, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand,

Manipur, West Bengal and Chhattisgarh. Workshop on writing skills:12 participants from

member organization ofNational Alliance onTestimonial Therapy (NATT) were trained.


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(milestone)

123 survivors of torture and organized violence (TOV) werepsychologically supported through testimonial therapy andquick testimony of many survivors.

Manual Giving Voice developed & published in two locallanguage i.e. Hindi & Manipurian based on the culturaldiversity.

Honor Ceremony as campaign and turning point.

Three wall newspapers titled Awaaz-E- Bajardiha,

Dastan-E-Bunkar and Dakhin TolaTimes weredesigned with eye-catching masthead, headlines, featuresand photos to amplified the voice of survivors.


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Testimony Workshops

Four two-week training-of-trainers workshops

conducted:1. May 2008: 12 human rights defenders from PVCHR

2. January 2009: 14 Human rights defenders from four states: Uttar

Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh.

3. February-March 2009: 14 Human rights defenders from four states:

Jharkhand, Manipur, West Bengal and Chattisgarh

4. August 2009: 11 Human rights defender from 8 organization were

trained.


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Mindful Meditation

Mindfulness meditation component to

the testimony method, in order tofurther reduce stress, anxiety thoughts.For e.g. Vinod Kumar Gupta says, Itried to concentrate on my breath and I

feel good, my body seem lighter nowand cool mind.


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Justice an entry point; animpact of testimony in

judicial system.Usually the justice process in India takes more than

ten years, and many plainfiffs who are survivors oftorture became discouraged and give up. However

our interview with the survivors who had gonethrough testimonial therapy suggested that they feltmore confident in perusing the claim.The therapy appeared to have created new dynamics

in the justice process. In many cases the pain and theagony expressed in the testimonies helped convince

the judiciary and Human Rights Institutions of theinjustice committed against the plantiff. Thetestimonial therapy observed that it was easier toelict a coherent story from them and it seemed lesspainful for painful for them to narrate the torturestory. Such as:


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FIR lodge against 14 police officers involved in the fake encounter ofMr. Sanjay Singh after a legal battle of three years.

Rabri Devi received compensation and cross examined asProsecution Witness (PWI) in her case.

The accused police official summon to face the trial in the court inthe case of Bhageran Mahto.

Two survivors of police torture Mr. Dudh nath Pal and Mr. Kaju aliasKaria were released with charges of the Gunda Control Act

Others survivors they felt more confident in perusing the claim,such as Sobhnath, Mohan Seth and Bhageran Mahto


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Meta - Legal Mr. P. Chitambaram, Minister of Home Affair took

cognizance on the Bazardiha police firing case. Mr.Mukhtar Ahmad received compensation of 25,000 Rupeesfrom district administration.

Alleged police station incharge faced punishment astransfer in the case of Harish Chandra Sonker.

Seven cases were seriously consider by National HumanRights Commission (NHRC), New Delhi such as Ram Lal,Guddu Vanwasi, Harish Chandra Sonkar, Chote Lal andRam Prasad Bharti etc.

Nine bonded labour received compensation of 20,000 eachfor their rehabilitation.


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Impact of quick

testimony Immediate release of five children in Manipur:

Five children immediately released after immediate intervention on thequick testimony of their mothers. The office of the High Commissionerfor Human Rights, Secretariat Working Group on arbitrary detention, anindependent group of experts mandated to investigate cases of allegedarbitrary deprivation of liberty, and other mandate holders of theSpecial Procedures of the Human Rights Council.

Thirteen homeless families of Dharkar Basti received thehouses under Kansiram Ji Shahri Samgra Vikas Yojna:

Special Rapporteur Torture Communications, Office of the UN High

Commissioner for Human Rights took the case of police atrocities donein Dharkar Basti, Hukulganj, asked the survivors to give their consentand correspondence related to the case will be published in a publicreport. Prime Minister of India office considers the case and forwardedletter to Chief Secretary of U.P for immediate and appropriate action.


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Right to Information: aninstrument for Meta-

Legal AdvocacyRight to Information Act is took to know the updatestatus of the case and its proceeding. RTI wasused in many cases as well as also to boostcurrent information related to the torture andorganized violence (TOV). The RTI used ascampaign tool such as Anti death Penaltyinitiative of Amnesty International andinvestigation of cases of custodial death under176 (1) (A) Cr.P.C through Judicial Magistrate inplace of Executive Magistrate.

It is mandatory to officer to provide theinformation required within fifteen days afterfilling the petition.


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INNOVATION AS COMMUNITY HEALINGTHROUGH TESTIMONY TO INDIVIDUAL

SURVIVOR

Bazardiha

The survivors of the Bazardiha police firing were psychologicallysupported and honored by Dr. Sayeda Hameed, Member of PlanningCommission, Government of India, we observed and witness thecollective healing process at high profile honor ceremony in the form ofPeoples tribunal. Other parents received Jan Mitra Award foreducating their children in the nastiest economic condition without anyimplementation of any Government Scheme and facing such as policefiring and organized violence.

Apart from the psychological support medical & legalsupport were given to the survivors and scholarship given to Mukhtarsdaughter (Naziya Tabassum) and other 19 girls with support from Rotary

Vallingby, Swedan through Ms. Parul Sharma.The survivors actively participated in the follow up visit

of Dr. Sayeda Hameed to Bazardeeha on 19 November, 09, which showsthe community healing process and empowerment of participatory andinclusive democracy at grass root level.


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RaupOne survivor was psychologically supported but two honorceremony organized in which fifteen survivors of TOV were

honored in front of the martyr monument as the communityhealing. First time District Magistrate of Sonbhadra visitedGhasias ghetto and inaugurate the community centre andschool.

The Ghasias community are fearlessly living their lifeand constantly participating in the protest. Soon after theincidence due to continuous advocacy and intervention of

National Human Rights Commission and Supreme CourtCommissioner on Right to Food and the support, the Ghaisas areempowered and erect protest monument and pledged at martyrsmonument that in future this incidence will not occur. They wereseemingly trying to convert this agony into their strength bystruggle for their better life by singing.


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Campaign Honor Ceremony Signature Campaign

a). International Human Rights Day published petitionon Human Rights day to empower and to builts pro-people,pro-victim human rights institution of India.

b). An appeal on anti-torture day; No to torture,establishment of rule of law

c). Letter for the repeal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act

(AFSPA). SMS Campaign/Petition Online Petition Open letter Statement


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Honor ceremony: as

campaign

At public demonstration in front of Government Head

Quarters

At Folk School meetings

At community meetings

At street plays & singing

Peoples Tribunal


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Through honor ceremony breaking the

fear & phobia about law enforcementagencies.

Create public against impunity act asprevention advocacy & education.


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Honor Ceremony: a

turning point All survivors expressed their satisfaction with the process

and this ritual apparently became a turning point inthe healing process. Seemingly the ceremonial elementrepresented the social recognition needed and that it re-connected the survivors with their community andensures that their private truth became part of socialmemory.

Their testimony were read out and delivered to thesurvivors, who were also honored with a cotton shawl (asymbol of honor in India) and a speech which praisedtheir bravery and encouraged them to continue fightingfor justice.


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Rehabilitation ofsurvivors back in the

society with dignity Many survivors successfully rehabilitation back

in the society after being psychological supportand being honored. e.g. such as.

1. Rabri Devi2. Salim3. Mukhtar4. Munni Devi

5. Ram CHander6. DudhNath Pal7. Babunder Ghasia


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From Victim to Barefoot

worker

To empower the victim and support his or herdevelopment from victim to survivor to human

rights defender such as: Pintu Zalim Mushar Chanda

Shiv Kumar Harish Chandra Sonker Ram Prasad Bharti


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Web advocacy &

campaign The voice of the survivors and project related

activities, experience and challenges wereshared

Blog www.pvchr.blogspot.com,www.testimony-india.blogspot.com

You tube Mynews

Facebook Orkut Myspace Plaxo & many others portals
http://www.pvchr.blogspot.com/http://www.testimony-india.blogspot.com/http://www.testimony-india.blogspot.com/http://www.pvchr.blogspot.com/


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DocumentationMonitoring and Evaluation questionnaire

Quarterly progress report Completion report

Individual file of the survivors of thePVCHR location.

Location file (Jan Madhyam, Ranchi &Wide Angle, Manipur)


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Reaching voice of

survivor at media.The self suffering draw the attention of the print and aswell as electronic media. They publish/broadcast theindividual case of the survivor and also emphasis on thetestimonial therapy and its process.

The video footage of Dr. Amar Deep Gupta & Ratan DeepGupta was used in their documentary produced by BritishBroadcasting Cooperation (BBC), Human Rights Watch andAljajira.

Testimony of Mukhtar & Salim were shared on thebollywood portal i.e. bollydb.


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Policy Intervention(through

open letter and statement)

To implement ofPrime Ministers New 15 Point Programme forWelfare of Minorities and emphasized on the execution of Section D toPrevention & Control of Communal Riots. The weavers issue raised in midterm evaluation appraisal of the Planning Commission of India.

PVCHR with NATT member organization Wide Angle appealed to all M.Ps& M.LAs: To repeal AFSPA (Armed Forces Special Arms power Act) intotality and no part of it should be inserted in any other legislation of thecountry.

Member of Parliament (M.P) raised question in Rajya Sabha on the issueof Bazardiha police firing.

Signature Campaign to ratify of UNCAT & enactment of domestic lawagainst torture and office of Rahul Gandhi responded as he see this

performance as a victory for the policies, principles and ideals ofthe Congress party.

Mr. P. Chitamabaram, Minister of Home Affair intervened in Jharkhand andstated to stop killing civilian as Maoists and establish rule of law.


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Major Achievement(Break through )

Testimonies of survivors published in bookBroken System: Dysfunction,Abuse, and Impunity in the Indian Police, by Human Right Watch.

Article on Testimonial therapy: A pilot project to improve psychologicalwellbeing among survivors of torture in India published in the TORTUREVolume 19, Number 3, 2009 of Torture Journal by International RehabilitationCouncil for Torture Victims (IRCT), Denmark. The articleshared on the NationalInstitutes of Health (NIH), a part of the U.S. Department of Health and HumanServices.

MBC National Broadcaster of South Korea with support of May 18 foundationmade the documentary on the work of PVCHR The Right of Humanity.


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Professional

ConsultationRound Table Discussion on

using Testimony Therapy as

a psychotherauptic tools

was held on 25th September,

08 in Diamond Hotel,

Varanasi. In the consultation

approximately 44

psychiatrist, psychologist

and counselor from UttarPradesh participated such as


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Such as

Dr. R.G Sharma, Retired Psychiatry Ranchi mental jail Kanke.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Head of Department, Department ofPsychiatry, Banaras Hindu University(BHU)

Dr. K.C Gurnani Head of Department, psychiatry S.N MedicalCollege, Agra

Dr. Tulsi Das, President of Deva International School for ChildCare (DISCC)

Mrs. Sandhya Saxena, Clinical Psychologist from Luckow

Dr. Arvind Kumar Gupta, Chetna psychiatry Centre Aurangabad,

Varanasi Dr. A.K Jaiswal, Department of psychology, T.D college Jaunpur


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Out come of Consultation withpsychologist & Psychiatrist of

Uttar Pradesh: 25th Sep, 08

Interesting part of this therapy is that it has bothWestern element of Anger Management, ClassicalConditioning and Eastern approach of relaxationmethods and Meditation.

Its a cost effective model of psychotherapy which dontrequire clinics or hospitals but, directly one can do thisintervention at the doorsteps of the victim. For ex. Hishouse, community, in a forest etc.

The economic cost of the whole approach seems to bevery less than regular psychotherapy session in a clinic orhospital.


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Facts

There are around 3,000 adequately qualified

psychiatrists and 1000 clinical psychologist in the

entire country of more than a billion populations.

In U.P itself there may only be less than 100

psychiatrists and 100 psychologists. The ratio ofdoctors is very less.


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Testimony abbreviated by Dr. Jhawara renowned clinical psychologist of

Varanasi

T- Truth where

E- Emotions &

S- Sentiments of

T- Tortured

I Individual with

M- Magnifiable

O- Operations &

N- Never

Y- Yawing their rights right


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National Consultation

Testimony to improve psychosocialwellbeing and promote advocacyfor survivors of torture andorganised violence held on 16 -17April, 09 in New Delhi. In the

consultation 77 organizations andindividual actively participated.


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Wishes from

Dr. Sayeda Hameed, Member of Planning Commission,Government of India.

Her Excellency Daniele Smadja, Ambassador, Head of

Delegation, Delegation of the Dr. Ketan Desai, President of Medical Council of India Mr. Basil Fernando, Director of Asian Human Rights

Commission, Hong Kong D.R. Kaarthikeyan Director, Central Bureau of Investigation,

Director General, National Human Rights Commission Mr. Subodh Raj Pyakurel, Chairperson: - INSEC, FORUM-ASIA Message from office of EU presidency Chief Justice Sri Rajendra Babu, Chairperson-National Human

Right Commission-India


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Mr. Yan Kreuter, Deputy Head Mission, Embassy of the CzechRepublic on behalf of E U Presidency.

Ms. Dorte Bech Vizard, Political and Press Counselor, RoyalDanish Embassy. Mr. Gautam Navlakha, Consultant Editor, EPW and Mr.

Sanker Sen Ex- Director General, National Human RightsCommission

Jan Ole Haagensen, Director, International Department,

Rehabilitation and Research Centre of Torture Victims(RCT)

Mr. Sanker Sen, Ex- Director General National Human RightsCommission


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Participant organization in National

Consultation

Peoples Watch Mr. Henri Tiphange

SICHREM - Koshy Mathew Human Right Law Network Mr. Colin Gonsalves

Asian Centre for Human Rights Mr. Suhas Chakma

Wide Angel Mr. Mantu Ahanthem

Jan Madhyam Mr. Pravin Kumar

Swanchetan Dr. Rajat Mitra MASUM - Mr. Krity Roy

CES - Mr. Harsh Mander

Mr. George Pulikuthiyil, Director Jananeethi, Thrissur


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Others

Embassy

German Embassy

Embassy of BelgiumOrganization

Common Human Rights Initiative

Peoples Union of Civil Liberties

DEVAMany other organization and individuals


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National Alliance ontestimonial therapy

(NATT)

A coalition National Alliance ontestimonial therapy (NATT) weremooted for the furtherance oftestimonial therapy in India.

Further ideas for using testimony


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Further ideas for using testimonyand psycho-legal counseling inthe assistance to victims of

torture and organized violence.

Lawyer can play big role in counseling instead of traditionalcounseling.

To involve survivors of TOV in movement.

To utilize the big bank of volunteer lawyers for further use inlegal advocacy as victim wants justice. To make victim as human rights activists. The methodology of the testimonial therapy is very much

flexible. The key issue is to combat torture and organized violence, To join together for the further use of the testimonial therapy. Effort to support the victim in fear & Phobia breaking the

silence which leads into the challenging the impunity


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Planning for the creation of analliance for the use of

testimonies in India

Action 1:

a) National Databaseb) National Yearly Report and other research

reports

c) Permanent Peoples Tribunal on Torture

Action 2: Legal Rehabilitation Action 3: Monitoring the functioning of torture

by NHRIs Action 4: Rehabilitation


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Lesson learned To be trainer of the testimonial therapy.

To implement activities more smoothly &

effectively. To use testimony for the advocacy of the survivors,

the pain, agony and non-fragmented self sufferingeffectively used in justice process.

Due to elimination of fear and phobia and

confidence gaining is becoming a reason for theless withdrawal of the cases, which leads againstimpunity.


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(Lesson learned)

Opportunity to express the pain and Agony:Window of expression.

Follow up supervision of the participants atregular interval.

Quick testimony immediately helps inattaining interim relief and justice to the

survivors. The new concept emerges High profile

honor ceremony for the arms conflictarea.,


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Problem

As testimony was not properly composein standard Hindi & English language.

Due to non-availbility of IEC materialsuch as pomplet, newsletter etc.

Having different cultural sensitivity.


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Problem & Adjustment Problem occurs in making arrangement

of the activities due to less staff andnon recurring items which was highlysupported by the organization and itsvolunteers .

In the absence of advocacy coordinator& legal adviser problems occurs infurther proceeding of the cases.


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Required staff (more hands) Legal adviser (Lawyer)

Advocacy Co-ordinator cum therapist

Office Assistant

Consultant Translator English & Hindi Adviser and Co-ordinator of NATT

Location Co-ordinator (Jan Madhyam, Ranchi & Wide Angle, Manipur)

Accountant (Part time) for the location organization and also for PVCHR.

psyc o og ca support


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psyc o og ca supportto Survivors of TOV(torture and organized violence)

project status & progress (in three pilot)

Documents