promoting a psycho-legal framework to reduce torture and organized violence in india

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Promoting a Psycho-Legal Framework to

Reduce Torture and Organized Violence in India

RCT - PVCHR

2010 - 2012

FINAL EVALUATION REPORT

Loreine B. dela Cruz

November 14, 2012


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F i n a l E v a l u a t i o n R e p o r t Page 2

List of Acronyms and Abbreviations

CSO Civil Society OrganizationsDASHRA Dalit Association for Social and Human Rights AwarenessEU European Union

KAP Knowledge, Attitude, PracticesNATT National Alliance on Testimonial TherapyNHRC National Human Rights CommissionOD Organizational DevelopmentPVCHR People's Vigilance Committee for Human RightsRCT Research and Rehabilitation Centre for the Victims of TortureTOV Torture and Organized ViolenceToT Training of TrainersTT Testimonial TherapyVMG Vision, Mission and Goals

Acknowledgments

I wish to thank Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi and Ms. Shirin Shabana Khan for facilitatingeverything to make the evaluation mission successful. The two were with me in all mymeetings and interviews with key responders in New Delhi. They also tried to work out allmy schedules for the evaluation mission. My grateful appreciation also to the managementand staff of PVCHR who were all generous with their time, sharing and inputs in my datacollection process.

I was greatly inspired with the sharing and testimonies of the community partners ofPVCHR as they passionately shared how they were transformed and empowered with theactivities and undertakings facilitated by PVCHR. The staffs commitment and dedication inthe delivery of the expected outputs and outcomes for the program can never be measuredand had all paid off.

My sincere thanks and appreciation also goes to Mr. Erik Wendt for considering meand facilitating everything by providing all the needed documents in relation to the projectand for monitoring the goings on, before, during and after the evaluation.

Most of all, my heartfelt thanks to all the key informants that I have interviewed for

their time, generous sharing of their knowledge, insights and observations about PVCHR asan organization and its work. They have all provided an honest to goodness inputs and no-holds barred conversation and exchange.

Lastly, my grateful appreciation to my eldest daughter for making my graphs and tomy youngest daughter for helping me to design the cover of this report.

Loreine B. dela Cruz


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Table of Contents

Executive Summary.......................................................................................................................4

Introduction..................................................................................................................................7

Brief Background...........................................................................................................................8

The Partnership Project.................................................................................................................9

Purpose of Evaluation..................................................................................................................12

Approach and Methodology........................................................................................................14

Findings.........................................................................................................................................15

Lessons Learned..........................................................................................................................34

Recommendations.......................................................................................................................36

Conclusion....................................................................................................................................38

OD Outcome for PVCHR..............................................................................................................39

About PVCHR...............................................................................................................................44

Attachments:

1. Program of the Evaluation Mission

2. List of Key informants/Responders

3. List of Model Villages and Blocks Covered by the Project

4. On Data Collection

5. Matrix of Outputs

6. Post OD Organizational Diagnosis (tool used)

7. The Future of PVCHR: Phase 2


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Executive Summary

This final report contains the end-line evaluation findings of RCT and PVCHR's TOVprogram dubbed as Promoting a Psycho-Legal Framework to Reduce Torture and OrganizedViolence (TOV) in India.

The programs over-all objective is ensuring a strong and well-organized testimonialcampaign that contribute to eliminate impunity for perpetrators of torture in India. Theprogram had developed the capacity of PVCHR as a knowledge centre that promotes thetestimonial therapy for psychosocial rehabilitation of the torture survivors and advancesadvocacy for the prevention of torture. The program likewise utilized the testimonialtherapy as a psycho-legal intervention implemented at the individual and community levelfor healing and empowerment. The testimonial therapy had served as a bridge betweenrehabilitation and advocacy in the fight against torture in India.

Key Findings

The program is relevant, effective and efficient with clear sustainable outcomes onthe basis of achieving the programs set general and specific objectives including the

outcome indicators.

This RCT-PVCHR project can serve as a model of an innovative and unique programintervention for the survivors of torture, their families and communities. A program thataddresses the needed healing, empowerment and development of the survivors and theircommunities. The program components had responded both to the immediate and short-term needs of the survivors and their families in the communities but with longer-termoutcomes and sustainability as well.

The model is unique in several dimensions:

1. As a holistic and comprehensive approach combining short-term and longer-termtarget outcomes among focus sector (survivors of torture) and its community thatcombines services with advocacy.

2. Covers and implements four inter-related areas of concerns for the well-being of thesurvivors: policy to practice -- the establishment of villages free from torture andorganized violence; people's advocacy; organization building and capacity building;

and NATT collaboration.3. Promotes healing, empowerment and development of the survivors of torture, their

families and communities.4. Reaches out to the marginalized section of the population that are in dire poverty

and have been victimized by state perpetrators with impunity.

The outcomes are impressive. There were several outcomes that can be attributedto the project which include:


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a. Transforming private pain brought about by torture into political campaign therebybreaking the culture of silence and brokenness of the survivors and developing andtransforming them as human rights defenders.

b. The survivors as human rights defenders assume the role of leading their community,encouraging their fellow community members towards building solidarity with other

communities and strengthening further their unity.c. Greater awareness and consciousness among community people and they now

regularly collect information and proactively intervenes whenever news of humanrights violations crop up in their communities.

d. The women folk school on neo-dalit is a great opportunity to unite the women andthe community on the basis of reconciliation, democracy, secularism and non-violence. It is forging the unity of all poor from all communities against theirsuffering brought about by the neo-liberal policy.

e. Making the state accountable and ensuring the visibility of the torture issue at thecountry level and international level.

The over-all expected outcome has been achieved to a significant extent particularlythe healing and transformation of the survivors of torture. Survivors of torture have beenhealed and transformed as human rights defenders; they are fearless and now ready to faceand confront their perpetrators; they are now in a better position to reclaim and attain theirrights. Such can be attributed primarily to the program. This, despite the fact that theelimination of impunity in the country is still far-fetched.

The contextual adaptation of the testimonial therapy in the country is truly effective.It has empowered the survivors' well-being (Agger, et al). As the survivors gained controlafter converting the traumatic event to a story of survival and share it to the public through

an honour ceremony, it then provided support for the survivors' search for truth andmeaning. The survivors gained empowerment when they have reclaimed their voice bybecoming advocates/defenders for those who are still in pain and suffering.

Key Recommendations

Quite a good number of recommendations were drawn up with some of the keypoints outlined here. Some of the aspects of the program that need to continue include:

1. More sustained capacity development for the victims and survivors in focus

communities with paramount consideration to women and children in a morepurposive manner. Their participation, empowerment and development needgreater reinforcement in normal times and more so in difficult situations such as inperiod of witch hunting, during militarization of communities and in armed conflictsituations.

2. The NATT is a viable and suitable alliance set up for purposes of linking and engagingthe communities and civil society groups in a planned and programmatic way. This isreplicable in other community situations such among indigenous peoples and among


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minorities and also in South Asian countries especially the ones near the border ofthe country.

3. The community planning as a partnership endeavour between PVCHR and thecommunities is to be sustained in an annual kind of arrangement either within thetactical or strategic frame.

4. Continuous undertaking of freedom from TOV awareness and campaign in thecovered villages and blocks in more sustained manner. There is a need to sustain thereaching out of the local media, utilizing the role of traditional and opinion leaders inthe locality and strengthening the role of women, youth and children in decision-making in relation to torture and other human rights issues affecting thecommunities in the locality.

Some of the aspects that need refinement include:

1. A freedom from TOV project that utilizes TT as a psycho-legal form of intervention is

somewhat innovative, unique and important. This can further be enhanced andenriched through time. With more practice i.e., continuous piloting and testing itssuitability and appropriateness in particular contexts, this can be mainstreamed inthe programming cycle and process of civil society and non-governmentorganizations.

2. Strengthen gender perspective in the whole program cycle: from assessment,analysis to strategy, and activities up to monitoring. Such enhances the effectivenessand relevance of the program and its components.

3. Grassroots, women and childrens participation in the whole program processes.This is from assessment of the situation to program design. There are still lots ofgrowth areas when it comes to participatory processes. There is more space

provided to people, women and children in decision making with higher level ofparticipation

4. With increased participation from stakeholders, the role of external agents shiftsfrom being actors to just facilitators. Therefore, with higher level of participation bypeople, women and children comes the requirement of more knowledge, skills andcapacities on the part of community people, women and children. They need to becontinuously equipped and trained.

The aspects that need to be introduced:

1.

Understanding the social ecology putting emphasis and importance 0n the cracks inthe social fabric. It is an important consideration in addressing the community well-being and their need for protection, healing, empowerment and development.

2. Framing and utilizing the human rights based approach in developing and designingprogram for survivors of torture and the communities affected by TOV.

3. A participatory process of monitoring and evaluation of the development processand progress of community peoples and their undertakings.


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Hope, Honour, and Human DignityEvaluation MissionRCT and PVCHR Partnership Project

Introduction

As always, the ultimate extent of how well a project made an impact is in measuringthe outcomes and impact in the lives of the partner-beneficiaries and of the communities.In the context of this partnership project between PVCHR and RCT, three important wordsaptly capture the general outcome and changes in the lives of people brought about by theproject:

Hope: the partners helped and assisted by the project spoke highly of hope that seethem through amidst torture experience and prolonged imprisonment. Never was hope

erased from their memory and system. Hope was always present as a longing and ayearning. It speaks of one's personal spirituality and provides strength and comfort tosurvive in any difficulties, trials and adversaries. It is in fact, holding on to the attitude ofnever giving up in a situation despite all odds. It is having the faith that the situation willchange for the better at the dawning of each new day.

Honour: the ceremonies honouring the survivors after the process of testimonialtherapy was such an empowering and endearing moment and milestone in the lives of thesurvivors. It was a real recognition of the integrity of the survivors as human beings, thatthey possess value in every community and in society and they have right to be honoured in

his/her community. The society provides acknowledgment and understanding of thesurvivors' suffering and the necessity for healing and reparation. This was a celebration oftheir breaking of silence towards achieving empowerment.

HumanDignity: this is the connecting threadbetween the partners and PVCHR. They all spokeof human dignity as an important value that mustbe adhered to and recognized for all human beings.It is actually the measuring of treatment of humanbeings and his/her right to life. It is valuing his/herright to be treated with respect by any person in

whatever culture s/he belongs.

This 3H (hope, honour and human dignity)rightly sums up the healing and empowermentoutcome of the project in the lives of the survivors

served by the project. Mohammad Aamir Khan is a classic example of a survivor, now ahuman rights defender who never for a while loses hope despite his 14 years imprisonment.


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Brief Background

India is a huge country in South Asia. It is the seventh largest in terms of land areabut the second largest in terms of population. It has 1.2 billion people and the mostpopulous democracy in the world. Owing to its diversity as a country and its societies, it has

a secular image and considered to be a very inclusive society -- multi-ethnic, multi-religious,multi-linguistic and multi-cultural society. The country has projected a 9% developmentindex but can be considered far worse than the Sub-Saharan countries due to its failure toaddress the malnutrition and starvation in many parts of the country.

Considering its vast geographyand population, India remains to bedivided, discriminating and intoleranteven to its own citizenry and amongfellow citizens. Marginalization

continues to punctuate as the mostsignificant problem in the whole ofIndian society affecting majorsections of the population such ascaste, the Muslims, and variousethnic groups, including thevulnerable ones such as women,children, and the elderly.

The caste hierarchy hasdivided and separated Indian society

for decades. Despite several lawsand Constitutional guarantees, castelines and caste discriminationbecame the defining situation in

India. It is reflected across societal spectrum and so evident that it identifies the greatinequalities of caste based practice in the whole society.

Caste is the final and ultimate indicator of everything that is happening in India. Thecaste based discrimination is reflected in both the private and public life of the Indianpeople. Its influence radiates in politics, administration, including the economic growth of

the country. It thus affect the high percentage of the population of the country and isactually practiced in the educational system, places of work, in villages and districts andeven in courts of justice. The most dehumanizing impact of the caste based discrimination isstarvation and malnutrition.

The Dalit peoples continued to experience discrimination, exploitation andoppression as this is sustained by the corrupt criminal justice delivery mechanism in thecountry. This is very evident in the context of Uttar Pradesh where PVCHR is mainly


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operating its programs and projects. In this state, policing suffer from impunity and policeofficers enjoy the corrupt practices at the expense of the most marginalized section of thepopulation not only in this state but in other parts of the country.

Torture and police atrocities further aggravate the already dire poverty situation and

marginalization of the downtrodden people in majority of the villages in different parts ofthe country. Torture normally happens in the rural areas, in the far-flung villages of thecountry where Dalits, the lower caste and the minority people could not effectively fight fortheir rights. They are the primary targets and victims of torture by the police. Withoutawareness yet of their rights, these marginalized peoples suffer in silence and brokenness.

But injustice and exploitation of the people cannot always proceed smoothlyunscathed. Small steps for justice can accumulate and result in qualitative change in duetime.

The Partnership Project

The partnership project between PVCHR and RCT contributes to the achievement ofthe set policy targets of RCT which include the following:

1. In rehabilitation practices as target 1. The project utilizes the testimonial therapy (TT)in the Indian context. It was adapted and innovated to suit the purpose of thecommunity that are in silence due to torture, marginalization, exploitation anddiscrimination. The use of TT has helped healed and empowered the communities toassert and fight for their rights as they are transformed from victims to survivors andin the process as human rights defenders in the course of their active participation in

community undertakings asserting their rights.

The testimonial therapy is a short psychological approach to trauma that utilizes thetestimony method. The testimony is the truth telling and emotion-pain sharing of thesurvivors with which truth is an important aspect of the justice process. Thetestimony is viewed within the broad framework of social construction and providesvalid information of human rights violations without humiliating the witness. Moreoften than not, it resulted in the survivors overcoming of depressive symptoms andcope with difficult situation. Survivors rediscover self worth and dignity. They regainself-esteem through recording of their stories in a human rights context, as such,

private pain is reframed with a political meaning1

.

In Indian context, it has acquired psycho-legal form that emphasises denunciation ofhuman rights violation and initiates advocacy for justice. It has three elements2:

1 Voice of Voiceless, PVCHR regular publication2 Ibid


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Private: Psychological rehabilitation of the survivor leads to certain degree ofrestoration of physical and mental state. This opens the possibility of his/herparticipation in a community movement and ultimately becoming a human rightsdefender.

Legal: The testimonies provide a lot of subjective information about the plight of thevictim which help the court to take into account when the bail application of thevictim is considered. The human sufferings are never recorded in the courtproceedings. However, these references of human sufferings often go in favour ofthe victim in front of the well prepared perpetrator.

Political: within testimonial therapy, public ceremonies are organized to honour thesurvivors of torture. These ceremonies provide an opportunity to bring back thesurvivor to the same community/society that has isolated him/her for being tortured.The testimonies are read out in the presence of the villagers, invited guests, local

politicians, elected representatives, and local media creating debate and discussionat the local level because it contains human sufferings, institutional malpractices, andfailure of constitutional guarantees. Testimonies can be used as urgent appeals andfor advocacy work.

2. Community empowerment as target 2. The TT was uniquely incorporated into theunique advocacy and educational model of the targeted torture free model villagesin the covered blocks of the project. In the process, they were able to protect andexpand their basic human rights and have fought against impunity of the police whowere the main violators in the context of India.

The 'torture free' model villages within blocks provide the symbol and concreteexpression of protective space for the community peoples to continuously and in asustained manner raise the awareness of the local population on the prevalence oftorture and organized violence (TOV) and their right to be free from TOV. Oncedeclared as 'torture free' villages, there is likelihood of a recognition from state andpolice authorities that the community peoples are aware of their rights and theywould fight for it to its conclusion.

3. Sustainable organizational strategies as target 3. PVCHR has utilized the Danishconcept of folk school for the purpose of the community in terms of awareness

building, capacitating the different sections of the population of the communityincluding women, children and young people. The TT served as a bridge for thehealing (psychological component) and justice (the legal component) in line withadvocacy.

The 'folk school' in the Indian context has served as a forum where the marginalizedpeoples like Dalits, the Mushars, and the Muslims meet, where they are treatedequally and could freely voice their problems and concerns. The 'folk school' helps to


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improve equality by improving the capacity of the marginalized peoples to speak. Inthe short but Intense process of the school, they can speak without fear and withoutthe threat of humiliation. In said process also, they are able to create a two-waydiscourse in the society wherein the so-called weak are brought to social discourse.The more silent the poor and the weak are, the less they get from society.

For example, in creating a discourse on justice and human rights issues related tocaste discrimination, it is very important to accumulate information and protect theefforts in documentation.

A. General and Specific Objectives

The project's general objective is to put up a strong and well-organized testimonialcampaign that will help contribute to the elimination of impunity for the perpetratorsof torture in India.

There are three specific objectives:

1. Develop the capacity of PVCHR as knowledge centre that promotestestimonial therapy for psychosocial rehabilitation of torture survivors andadvocates for prevention of torture

2. Optimize testimonial therapy as a psycho-legal intervention with emphasis onindividual and community healing and empowerment

3. Utilize testimonial therapy as a bridge between treatment and advocacyagainst torture in India.

B. Significant Components:

The significant components are suitable and appropriate within the frameworkof prevention and access to justice in the fight against torture.

a. Policy to Practice: Establishment of villages free from torture andorganized violence

Policy changes are brought down on the ground with a tedious processtowards the establishment of torture free villages. The use of the testimonial therapy

in the villages will to a certain extent change people's perception on the issues ofTOV. It would be the people that has key responsibility in working on and declaringtorture-free villages in many societies.

When villages become torture-free villages, they will be able to seek legalredress and build solidarity. They can likewise advocate for institutional reform wherethey will ultimately be the main beneficiaries of said reforms. The integration of TT inthe folk school provides the venue for the community people for a sharing of the pain


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and suffering of the victims. The survivors are educated on torture prevention andreceived compassion and empathy from fellow community members if not a sharedpain and suffering.

b. Peoples Advocacy

The communities and partners of PVCHR in the National Alliance onTestimonial Therapy (NATT) will bring forth the documentation and learnings fromthe grassroots for enhanced advocacy to bring about policy changes that will improvethe criminal justice system, at the same time building a better governance for tortureprevention.

Such need for voices of change from the affected communities requiresgreater support at varying levels with various instrumentalities and champions withinand outside the country. The use of communication tools and media will have a

bearing for the target of a wider reach from various stakeholders for tortureprevention and advocacy. The rich experience of PVCHR with the use of the newmedia will be a great help for this component of people's advocacy.

c. Organization Building and Capacity Building

The enhancement of the capacities of both PVCHR and NATT as an allianceformation for the purpose of promoting testimonial therapy is to be undertakencontinuously within the project period. Such is going to boost the skills andcompetencies of the people working on TTs. Supervision and orientation in thecovered blocks of the project will also be undertaken for purposes of sustainability at

this level. The training of trainers (ToT) for the NATT will help strengthen the capacityof the NATT as a coalition at the country level.

d. NATT Collaboration

This coalition or alliance formation for TT is still a loose one. It needscontinued strengthening and consolidation to better assume its role for the benefitof the survivors and partner-communities. There is need for greater collaborationwith different types of organizations to move the advocacy campaign forward insolidarity with the survivors.

Purpose of the Evaluation

The evaluation's primary purpose is to assess the performance of the RCT partner-organization with particular emphasis on the strategies applied to assist the victims oftorture, their families and torture affected communities. The ultimate goal is to drawlessons to improve policy and practice and enhance accountability. The outcome is seen to


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contribute for a better understanding of the conditions for success of such work (bestpractices) and to draw strategic lessons for the future.

The evaluation will focus on five areas/dimensions:

1) the application of the testimonial therapy approach including the bridging fromtestimonial therapy to collective, village and/or national based advocacy;

2) the strategic approach to building the national NATT network;3) the role and functioning of the Folk School approach towards the participants and

villages;4) the connected documentation and advocacy activities;5) the use of the social media for change; and the involvement of voluntary human

rights workers (former victims) trained and under the supervision and support of thePVCHR; and

6) the status of the implementation of the OD plan of action in the PVCHR.

Scope of Work

The scope of work included but not limited to the following aspects:

a. An assessment of how PVCHR has contributed to the realization of the projecttargets and RCT policy knowledge milestones;

b. A documentation oflessons learnt and develop recommendations for future plans forRCT and its partners;

c. An Assessment of PVCHRs ability to effectively mobilize, sustain and contribute to anew relationship and improved communication between the village community

groups, and other stakeholders;d. Identification of potential opportunities for further collaboration between RCT and

PVCHR. An examination of the issues of overall organizational and administrativeperformance of PVCHR as supported through the OD plan of action.

e. A discovery of options available to RCT to strengthen partners capacity to linkresearch and policy, and to deliver RCT development priorities.

General objectives

The general objectives set out for the evaluation are:

1. To provide support in the design, planning and implementation of Project Phase 2;2. To establish if victims of torture and organized violence have enjoyed improved well-

being and functional capacity;3. To further develop PVCHR capacity so as to be able to function as an Indian hub for

psycho-legal rehabilitation of victims of TOV;4. To further develop the community program so as to enhance the identification and

correct assistance of victims of TOV;


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5. To establish if the awareness in the Indian community of the effects of torture onpersons and communities has increased.

Approach and Methodology

The evaluation methodology had included the following:

a) advance review of PVCHR-related documents in relation to the project document anddocumentation and the implementation of the OD plan

b) management and staff interviews and observations at PVCHRc) external interviews to assess PVCHRs collaboration and coordination with other

stakeholdersd) focus groups discussions with various village leaders and key members from the five

model blocks.e) key informant interviews with representatives from the legal profession and with

representatives from other CSO and HR groups as well as with the EU delegation inDelhi

f) informal presentations of case material by staff, facilitated systematic review of theimpact and content of RCT training missions, observation of general workingpractices, and in depth discussions with senior staff

Lessons learned workshops were the particular methodology utilized for PVCHR. Forthe victims, families in the communities and with NATT, group interviews were utilized forthe purpose of data collection.

The lessons learned workshop for PVCHR staff and management have covered theneeded information using the 7Cs-model in addition to the traditional areas for evaluationincluding the aspects and dimension of the project:

1. Context2. Coordination3. Concerned Interventions4. Capacity building5. Collection of systematic data6. Community oriented approach and7. Continuity and Sustainability.

The areas of inquiry above were organized into themes and sub-themes to ensurethat everything is covered. The lessons learned workshops have covered the following keycomponents:

a. The Knowledge, Attitude and Practices (KAP) mappingb. Drawing lessons on the basis of the defined themes and sub-themes from 7Cs and


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evaluation areas including key components of the projectc. SWOT within the frame of the PVCHRd. Recommendations that cover the needs to be continued in knowledge and practices;

what needs to be enhanced; what needs to be stopped as they become irrelevant orobsolete and what new knowledge and practices need to be introduced. Plus some

key areas of the project for future consideration.

Findings

A. On KAP Mapping

1. Knowledge Development

The evaluator had witnessed that there were new knowledge discovered by theorganization and their existing knowledge was enhanced in the process of undertaking the

project.

PVCHR was able to deepen its knowledge and understanding about testimonialtherapy. As a brief narrative therapy it was able to integrate healing from suffering broughtabout by torture and organized violence. This is quite different in India's context and culturewhere people do not inany way practiceconfession. Actually, itcan be viewed thatsuch culture somehowcontributes to the

factors and reasons forthe prevalence of theculture of silence inmajority of themarginalizedcommunities all overIndia. The inputs andsharing of theresponders were clear,culturally, Hindus would

almost always opt tohide their pains. Theyare in fact, an enduring people.

As one of the community leaders from Pindra block had clearly articulated in theprocess of focus group discussion with them, he shared the following with confidence:

'we are illiterate who belonged to the marginalized communities,


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it may take time for things to develop for us, but we can continue withthe efforts and activities that we are doing so far. We look forward tothe building of a broader alliance from among the villages similar to usand like ours'.

The honour ceremonies undertaken became safe and transformative spaces for thesurvivors and their families and fellow community members for truth and meaningful actionthat may be taken. For the whole project period, there were 27 honour ceremonies held indifferent villages and model blocks. These ceremonies were able to reach to 143 villages in14 blocks with 3,419 people participating. See matrix of outputs in the attachment.

In one of the highprofile honour ceremonyheld in Varanasi on 18thJuly 2010, one of the

survivors honoured,Mahatim was proud toaddress the participatingguests and invitees. Heshared his delight with theprocess of honouring thesurvivors and he fearlesslynarrated in front of themedia his experience andsuffering with the mafia.At the end of his

testimony, he reaffirmedhis conviction to fight his perpetrator, the mafia don Munna Bajrangi to the very end until thecase has succeeded and concluded.

The twelve survivors honoured in said ceremony had committed to fight againstimpunity.

What was unique in their context and practice is that, they were able to transformones private pain into a political campaign. Such contributed to the breaking of the cultureof silence and brokenness of the survivors. They were developed and transformed in the

process into human rights defenders. The TT's nature of honouring the victims in his societybecomes the driving force for the victim to pursue his case and become survivors andhuman rights defenders in the process. As a survivor that had managed to reclaim his voice,he gained empowerment and become a defender for his fellow victims who still may notovercome yet his pain and suffering.

The folk school became a complementary support venue to the TT in creatingevidence-based outcome of the healing process and empowerment. The survivors in


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undergoing the intense process of the folk school become ready to take on the role asleaders and as human rights defenders in their community, encouraging fellow communitymembers towards building solidarity and strengthening their unity. They are now doingwhat previously the PVCHR staff are doing for them. When they were developed and ready,they are now doing it for their community and for the other communities as a way of

solidarity with fellow survivors and as human rights defenders.

One of the community leaders interviewed for the purpose of evaluation from thevillage of Mangari, had shared below:

'Before, I could not speak and make my voice heard to pursuemy rights due to fear. But after knowing that we have rights and we canuse it because it is for all of us, I thought, if I would not overcome my fear,how could I take action to reclaim my rights, our rights. I really gave itmuch thought and regularly attended the folk school. Slowly, I started

to voice my opinion in community meetings until the time that I becameready to face my perpetrator. I took the initiative of taking mycommunity to file complaints to the concerned police station and stateauthorities. I also led my community to make the follow up on our caseswith support from PVCHR.'

With community leaders and community people now starting to speak up, theybecome fully aware of the atrocities happening in their society. With the new-foundconsciousness andawareness of theirrights, the survivors'

belief on the rule oflaw was enhanced.They are now unitingand fighting for theirrights both asindividual and as apeople. They are nowable to dial 100 andreport cases of abuse,torture and violence

in their communities.At the same time,they can now sendtelegram to report cases happening in their village. The Kajari Mahotsav was able tofacilitate the elimination of the caste feeling as both the upper and lower caste are able toparticipate together in said festival. With the Right to Information also discussed in theirfolk school, the leaders are well utilizing it for their purpose.


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The project was able to generate a significant amount of knowledge products thatare worth sharing. They have a regular publication, the Voice of the Voiceless that comes outtwice annually. It becomes more often if the organization thinks that there are importantissues and concerns that need to be shared to the broader public and the civil society.

During the project period, there were two issues of the publication that came out in2010; three issues in 2011 and two issues in 2012. The September issue in 2011 was dedicatedto the testimonies of the survivors of torture and organized violence. Fifteen testimonieswere featured in said issue.

A book published by the May 18 Memorial Foundation on State Violence and HumanRights in Asia had included the ED of PVCHR's article on the Overview of the Human Rights in India. Said article had detailed the various human rights issues in the country mainly themarginalization of a significant section of the population. It also highlighted the culture ofimpunity in the country as primarily practiced by the police in authority.

For the project in particular, the Manual on the Testimonial Therapy was published infour languages with 1,000 copies each per language: in English, in Manipuri for Manipur, inHindi and in Kannad. See matrix of outputs.

2. Attitude change and enhancement

Complementary to knowledge development, the evaluator had seen some notablechanges in the attitude and mindset of the some of the staff and the community people

interviewed andinteracted with in the

evaluation process.

There is an on-going process in changingthe mindset of people.The ultimate test is howthey will be able to facetheir perpetrator. The folkschool, the communitymeetings and the TT, all

contributed in the processof making the communitypeople developed courage

and become fearless towards confronting the police as their perpetrators. The testimonybecame an instrument for nurturing hope and regaining honour towards achieving justice.


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There were attitudinal changes that can be attributed to the project that happenedamong the staff. First and foremost is the humanistic relationship developed with andamong the downtrodden people while they are working with them.

Farhat, one of the staff assigned in the model block and villages shared:

'it takes time to build rapport with the community people.I need to spend time in sharing and interacting with them. I needto make them feel that I am one with them. When they weresharing their testimony in the folk school, that's when they havestarted to generously share and speak. For those that continuenot to share, I need to continue spending more time with them.The experience, I must say, had somehow developed my patience' .

The staff's attitude towards the Muslim weavers have changed significantly and they

are now starting to work with them on human rights.

Another staff also shared his experience:

'in the past, I have no trust with this people. But in the course ofsitting and eating with them and in the process of facilitating someactivities for them, I was able to build rapport and goodrelationship with them. Through months and years of dealingwith them, I started to appreciate their uniqueness and particularityas a people and as a minority.'

Their view and understanding of Dalits have also changed. The staff assigned inworking among Dalits shared his satisfaction in working with them. With fulfilment in hisface and excitement in his voice, he shared:

'It was quite fulfilling to help the Dalits overcome their silence.As I speak about their situation and help those who were falselyimplicated in cases, i experienced joy and satisfaction in knowing thatI was able to help them.'

They have also developed their capacity for interacting and conversing with older

people and with elders in the village.

For the project staff, it was their first time for some of them to work with the peoplein the community. In such situation, they themselves have also gone transformation thatcan be attributed to the project.


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Before joiningthe project, theywere just hearingabout the diresituation of the

communities. Whenthey have started toimmersed with thecommunities, it wasthen, that they havedeveloped theirconfidence indealing with andtalking with thesepeople. After

continuous meeting with them, they are now candidly speaking and sharing about theirsituation and on issues and concerns that beset them. They are now proactively doing thefollow up of their cases.

The staff were also pleased to see changes in attitude happening among communitypeople. With self-confidence slowly developing in them, they are now able to speak withgovernment officials. They now have the strength to face the police when they go to policestations. In fact, they can already do the gherao (a public gathering) in front of a policestation. They can also do the dharna (protest) on tehsil (sub-divisional district administrativeoffice).

On the other aspects of their community life, the community people shared that theyare now taking care of their cleanliness and hygiene. They are now sending their children toschool as they now put value in education. The tribal groups also had started to avail of themedical facilities in the vicinity which in the past they would not do. Due to manysuperstitions, in case of sickness, they would opt to go to Ojha and Sokhas.

The staff shared with the evaluator their observations in the communities. Theserecent observations include: a) the community people are now speaking more gently andrespectfully with one another; b) the leaders had started taking the initiative of organizingthe community meetings; c) during meetings, they are mindful of resolving disputes that

are happening in their communities and those presented for resolution. As best as possible,they are trying to manage their own problems. On the whole, the people's fear of the policehave greatly decreased.

Solidarity among women had started to take root. During the festival of KajariMahotsav, dalits women have provided solidarity to the upper caste women who werefacing domestic violence.


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The staff continued to share the observable changes that they see among thecommunity people. There were quite a good number of legal cases filed from the differentmodel blocks to concerned state authorities including the national human rightscommission. They attributed this to the breaking of silence of the community people. Astheir silence was broken, there is renewed feeling of healing and confidence to assert one's

right and firm position. Their ideas which were fragmented before was slowly put to properframework and focus that provided an understanding of what they have experienced so far.

One of the community leaders interviewed by the evaluator from Guljarpur wascharged and incarcerated for being a leader in his village. He fought for his rights. He wasconvicted for life imprisonment and has two other pending cases. But soon he was releasedand in fact, the evaluator was talking and listening intently to all his sharing. The evaluatorsaw no regrets and pains from his experience. He is looking forward to continuously help hisfellow community members.

3. Practices development and enhancement

There was no doubt that the evaluator saw improvements in the practice andexperience of PVCHR as an organization. The project was very challenging for an

organization likethem and theexperience withthe project hadbrought forth theorganization to adifferent level.

They havedemonstrated

professionalismand seriousness inthe kind of workthat they do.

Lots ofpractices thatwere developed

and gained by PVCHR are worth sharing to fellow human rights organizations and membersof civil society groups and formations.

The evaluator had observed the enhanced capacities and practices of the staff. Shenoted from the staff's sharing the unique application of the testimonial therapy and itscomplementation with the folk school. The staff articulated that they needed to enhancetheir capacities and improve their practices to deal more effectively with community peoplefor their healing and empowerment. At the start when some of them were still feeling their


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way and adjusting in the different situations of the communities, but in the process ofundertaking the work, there was more clarity and deeper understanding on how to go aboutthe implementation of their activities. They were sensitized in the process and their elitefeeling at the start was put behind and they are now forging a more egalitarian relationshipwith the community people.

The many good practices of the villages that were shared by the community partnersinterviewed and they are now starting to integrate into the regular routines and schedulesof the community were the following:

a. street plays on the issue of torture and organized violenceb. door to door campaignc. the holi festival celebration that promotes the elimination of the caste-based

discriminationd. the stickers campaign

e. the honour ceremony.

The community partners were quick to share that they have become more consciousof the various issues and now regularly collects and intervenes whenever there are news ofhuman rights violations intheir communities. Thecommunity leaders alsoshared that PVCHR triedto train more and moreleaders to take on themore responsible role and

assignments for thebenefit of theircommunities.

They continued toshare that the womenfolk school on neo-dalitbecame a greatopportunity to unite onthe basis of reconciliation,

democracy, secularism and non-violence. At the end of the process, people lighted up thecandles to usher the forging of unity of the people who experienced brokenness. It is aunity against the caste system - the historical system of exclusion. It is also a unity of allpoor from all communities against suffering.

One of the woman leaders that participated in the focus group discussion, sharedhow she loves to come and visit the office of PVCHR. She was able to participate in many ofits activities including the National Consultation on Testimonial Therapy. She was beaming


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when sharing her excitement with the different kinds of people that she was able to meet.She expressed appreciation and gratefulness in meeting fellow survivors and learning abouttheir experience. She can see that they have different experiences but they have somecommonalities as well. She felt a kind of renewed strength whenever she hears positiveexperience and new learnings.

PVCHR's partnership with the Dalit Association for Social and Human RightsAwareness (DASHRA) was mutually beneficial and enriching. The Executive Director, Mr.Uday Kumar shared his appreciation of what he learned from PVCHR's program andactivities. He shared:

'I had developed my appreciation on the mental health aspectof the work after I've heard about testimonial therapy. It has filledan important gap in addressing the situation and need of the torturevictims. This is very important for the Dalit peoples who become

victims of torture '

B. On 7 Cs Approach to Evaluation

The 7C's approach was utilized to obtain substantial information from variousstakeholders and actors engaged in the project.

1. Contextual Development and Relevance

From those who were interviewed for the purpose of the evaluation, they have very

clear appraisals of the situation of the country with regards to human rights and freedomfrom torture. For the journalist, he was very clear that the Indian human rights situation isterrible on two counts: first the police enjoys impunity, as they mob the marginalizedcommunities and second, the police save the people from high caste hierarchy.

As he actively shared his views, he said that the police usually pin down people withfalse cases just to showcase that they are doing something when there are complaints. Inother words, it was like the police are acting exactly as organized goons and gangsters.They have put the Muslims behind bars. The police commits extra judicial killings and if thatis protested, that was dubbed as anti-nationalist. As far as the media is concerned, there are

sensitive journalists who would like to assume and exercise their role in pushing for storiesthat tell the truth. And for him, it is the women that are in real terrible state in the contextof Indian society.

From civil society perspective, the person interviewed shared that their society isruled by the guns. Unfortunately, the people living in the rural areas do not know theguidelines. This is the reason why for him education is very important. He also highlightedthat information technology can be utilized at this point in time to build broader alliance


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using facebook and twitter. He could imagine that broader and greater unity can beachieved by connecting the different parts of the country through information technology.When asked about the police, he shared that the problem with them is that, they neverlisten. He continued to share that in far flung areas, the village has an active role to play insettling disputes between and among villagers.

The person from the academia echoed the same sentiment as with others that it wasthe police that is the cause of torture. They never search, never investigate, they just pick upinnocent people. He added that there were lots of people dying in jails. Why thegovernment has not done anything about these important concerns? It is simply becausethey are rocked with corruption. They are protecting the elites and the big people.

The representative from the European Union delegation in the country shared that asfar as the EU isconcerned, it is

responding to thesituation of thecountry. The EU'sglobal policy istranslated and seepsthrough at the countrylevel. In the context ofIndia, they conducthuman rights dialogueon a yearly basisparticipated in by key

government agenciessuch as the Ministry ofExternal Affairs, theMinistry of Home

Affairs, the National Human Rights Commission and the EU country representatives. In saiddialogues, the government of India has changed from the more defensive posturing to amore open and frank stance. The EU also has more frequent mechanism operating inbetween dialogues, the human rights working groups that meet monthly on the operationallevel.

On top of dialogues, the delegation likewise file diplomatic complaints. And theyhave special events like for instance, freedom from torture. When asked about theirappraisal of the government in terms of its fulfilment of human rights in the country, therepresentative said that India has constraints; it has systemic inconsistencies; and it is tryingits best to do the pro-human rights approach. But generally, she is somewhat disappointedor rather frustrated. But she cannot offer any solution to such problem.


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As such, the PVCHR assessment of the situation and positioning itself to undertakepolicy development and changes at the national level with complementation at thegrassroots level is such an appropriate and suitable approach to the country's human rightssituation. By helping to empower the communities towards healing, communitydevelopment and empowerment, they are enabling them to become co-burden bearers in

the fight against the oppressive abuse of power and to enlighten and raise their awarenessto fight for their rights as individual and as a people.

The partnership project is very relevant in the context of torture and organizedviolence in Indiaand the pursuit offreedom fromtorture and humanrights for thesurvivors of TOV in

the Indian society.There is noorganization inIndia that puts suchfocus on TOV andhuman rights. Itwas notable thatPVCHR hasmanaged to exertinfluence amongcivil society groups

and government agencies including the national human rights commission to considertorture and human rights as an urgent development agenda.

2. Concerned Interventions

The concerned interventions are clearly described in significant components of theproject such as policy to practice that puts focus on reaching out to communities inidentified model blocks and villages; people's advocacy; organization building and capacitybuilding; and the NATT collaboration.

Through the project, there was growing appreciation from among the partnersengaged by PVCHR including the NATT network of the need for mental health interventionin the context of torture survivors. The role of the testimonial therapy has filled that gap ifrehabilitation is not undertaken as part of addressing the situation and needs of the torturevictims.

Mr. Tarun Kanti Bose, an independent journalist shared his appreciation of PVCHRand the role that it plays in the Indian society. He remembered how the PVCHR ED was


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instrumental in the release of the children as bonded labour. He took note of PVCHR's workamong the poorest of the poor, how the organization intervenes with them and how theydisseminate information at the national and international levels in a creative way. He alsoexpressed his positive experience in participating in consultations on testimonial therapy.He shared:

'I remember the sharing of the community people from thevillages that were selected by PVCHR. They all shared how theorganization tried to build rapport with them; how they instillconfidence through the folk school; how they were transformedas human rights defenders after honouring them and capacitatingthem. To me, it is a real serious effort to transform the marginalizedpeoples. And I commend them for doing such.'

When Mohammad Aamir Khan was released from prison, after fourteen years of

incarceration remaining innocent all throughout, PVCHR recognized and honoured hiscourage and conviction in a ceremony where the organization provided him with an amountof money for his mother's treatment. His mother got sick due to his prolongedimprisonment and his father died also while working for his release. This is what he had tosay about his experience and about the organization:

'Despite what happened to me, how can I be against my country?I am proud of the Constitution of India. Its democracy and humandignity serves as my inspiration. As a human rights defender now, I willwork with the grassroots, create awareness among them and upholdhuman dignity. He is grateful to PVCHR for the help and he would want

to serve as a uniting factor for the Muslim people. It is along thisdirection that he wanted to work in partnership with PVCHR.'

Because PVCHR deals with communities, the testimonial therapy approach becameeffective for the individual survivors and for the communities as well. TT reaches out toindividual survivors but the impact of such therapy process for the individuals also impact tothe families concerned. The experience of survivors that were shared in honour ceremonieswere echoed to the communities and to the greater public. Such provides mirroring of theexperience and the healing process radiates to the communities thereby achievingcommunity healing and empowerment.

PVCHR had heightened its advocacy and had utilized the voices of the people in thepursuit of policy changes at varying levels. Such visibility of the organization had providedthe leverage for its positioning and proactive role in relation to the Torture Prevention Bill.It is significant to note that RCT provided substantial inputs to the draft bill that PVCHR hadutilized in its policy and advocacy interventions.


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Such proactive role has made PVCHR one of the very few organizations that arebeing consulted for inputs in the final framing of the bill. At the same time, PVCHR is nowsitting as CSO representative to the consultative body created by the NHRC for human rightsissues and concerns. Even the country's known parliamentarian, Rahul Gandhi had asked fora meeting with PVCHR's executive director after reading the value of the testimonial

therapy.

This 2012, itwas the first timethat the June 26

commemorativeevent has been heldin different areas ofUttar Pradesh and inother states of the

country. It has been agreat occasion and anopportunity tohighlight andpunctuate the rightto be free fromtorture in thecountry. The eventcoincides with the

annual anniversary of PVCHR as well. From such very positive experience, the event canbecome an institutionalized activity for the villages and many civil society groups who

participated in such significant global event.

As the survivors and the communities had started to speak up and reclaim theirrights, more and more legal cases were filed with the concerned states and authorities. Sofar, a total of 138 legal cases were filed by the various model blocks and villages covered byPVCHR and even outside of its current focus blocks.

PVCHR's strength on media projection and media relation was put to good use. Theorganization, its activities and the important issues and concerns that it brought to theattention of the greater public are covered by the media both by the local and national

dailies. So far, for the period covered by the evaluation, PVCHR had landed on the media onvarious human rights concerns that it carries. There were coverage on paper cutting; ontestimonial therapy and honour ceremony; on bonded labour; custodial death; human rightsmeetings; and stakeholders interface. One of the most significant coverage was the orderof the National Human Rights Commission for monetary relief to a victim due to policeatrocity. For broad human rights issues, PVCHR has for three years appeared on media atleast fifteen (15) times. On the average, it was five times a year of media coverage.


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PVCHR is one of the few organizations that have been good in utilizing the socialmedia for its purpose. The organization urgently and in a timely manner issues statements,publish articles, comes out with press releases in its blogs, twitter, and facebook. Thesetechnological networks of the organization has significant following from different parts ofthe globe. PVCHR's blogs, facebook, and twitter are regularly visited by internet enthusiasts

from the US, Europe and countries in Asia.

All the various interventions undertaken by PVCHR has contributed in making thestate accountable for the state of TOV in the country. It also contributed in making the issueof torture visible at the country level and international level as well. Highlighting the storiesof the survivors has proven to be effective from the experience of PVCHR as it contributedto their healing and empowerment utilizing the testimonial therapy.

3. Capacity Building

There were valuable capacity building activities undertaken that provided growth anddevelopment both for the staff and the community people. The staff shared that they haveenhanced their knowledge on various government social schemes and its implementationprocedures including law and interventions.

In going through thetrainings on testimonialtherapy, the staff hadfeedbacked that they havebetter understood the painthat the survivors have

experienced. As theycontinued, 'when thevictims tell their stories, weclarify to them that whatthey have been sharing aretreated with utmostconfidentiality.' When thevictims understood such,they proceeded with thesharing of their innermost

feelings and their privatepains and suffering.

The survivors on the other hand, shared that they felt good when their stories andtestimonies were published. They valued its significance in the pursuit of advocacy. Theyunderstood that their case stories are important for the advocacy in various villages. It istruly important to share their story to peers. It was clear to them that their testimony is ahope for justice.


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They have learned and fully maximized the use of SMS for urgent informationdissemination and quick reaction to an issue or community concern. Almost all the staff hadnew-found skills in writing particularly on writing complaints to be filed with the concernedstate and police authorities. Related to such, there was improvement in the quality ofdocumentation that happens in the communities. The documents help the staff to better

understand the discrimination happening among villagers and the downtrodden people.

PVCHR has utilized the folk school and community meetings to plan out theeducation and awareness raising of community people. The community meetings wereundertaken to tackle and process community issues, at the same time when situationwarrants, to thresh out disputes and problems affecting community people.

The project with its components and activities had strategically positioned PVCHR toassume the role as a knowledge centre and an Indian hub for the purpose. It had been agreat opportunity for the organization to undertake cooperation, collaboration and

coordination; an opportunity to engage various government agencies including the nationalhuman rights commission at the local and country levels; an opportunity to raise andrepresent the voices of the communities. On the other hand, it was also an opportunity forPVCHR to gather the strength of the communities in a convention where variousrepresentatives of the villages meet and learn from one another.

4. Coordination and Collaboration

Coordination and collaboration was such a positive experience within the projectperiod. There were established coordination and collaboration at varying levels: betweencommunities and PVCHR; between and among communities within the model block and

between model blocks; between and among civil society groups within the NATT and in linewith freedom from torture agenda; with government authorities at different levels, fromstate level to national level; with the United Nations and with regional and internationalbodies.

One of the partners of PVCHR in the pursuit of testimonial campaign among itscommunities covered was SICHREM that is based in Bangalore. The Executive Director, Mr.Matthews Philip shared his collaboration and coordination experience with PVCHR:

'I had three to four opportunities to visit their office and that

provided me the occasion to know the team. I truly appreciate thegrassroots based perspective of the organization. I must say, I valuehow the organization takes strong position politically as an opportunityto represent the communities. The organization combines both activismand professionalism in the conduct of their work. As an organization,they need to build upon such rich experience with the grassroots andamong various marginalized communities. I'm really proud to be apartner of PVCHR.'


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PVCHR managed to establish a fast, fully working communication lines with variousconcerned government agencies, national human rights commission and civil society groupsfor quick response to whatever complaints and issues surfacing in the focus model blocksand villages. Even for those outside the current blocks and villages, PVCHR responds to theurgent issues and complaints of the victims. The 24/7 hotline established was very well

utilized for the purpose.

PVCHR shared that the challenge of promoting the testimonial therapy in the contextof India with and among civil society groups, with government agencies andparliamentarians and within villages and blocks as well was not an easy job. There is thecultural transformation that needs to happen so that these stakeholders would becomeopen for such kind of intervention. And the formation of the National Alliance onTestimonial Therapy was a milestone and had served as a demonstration of the Allianceappreciation of the value of a psycho-legal form of intervention for the survivors of torture,their families and communities. The collaboration and coordination established within the

National Alliance was a good head start for the continuing challenges in the work on tortureand organized violence.

5. Community-based approach

The village peopleare generally illiterate.They are marginalized bythe bond system andpatriarchy that ispermeating in the whole

social fabric of the society.They understand thatthere is a need to breakthat cycle ofmarginalization in order toimprove themselves. Theyhave likewise understoodthat every person has self-dignity and they can workout issues and concerns

on caste discrimination.Complaints can be filed by the community for atrocities committed by the fascist feudalforces.

The key to the oppressor's power over the victims is isolating them from those whomight be able to intervene on their behalf. As long as the victims are cut off from those whomight be able to expose the oppressor's deceptions, violations and introduce acounteracting power to protect the victims, oppressors are free to abuse the weak.


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As such, the first step is to enable the human rights defenders to break down theisolation of the vulnerable is to deploy psychosocial and community workers into thesecommunities, into every village and blocks and states. As such, the oppressed would notfeel alone. These workers will develop the eyes to see and ears to hear about the injusticesin these communities.

From the rich experience in working in communities, the most powerful way tounderstand the situation of the victims is to listen with a careful ear to the injustice that thecommunity had experienced. It is to bear their burdens as it is to hear the stories of thosewho were burdened by the oppressive abuse of power. These bring compassion andempathy to the staff. At the same time, their commitment and dedication is nurtured forthe cause of the marginalized communities.

The variousforms of assistance

planned andimplemented withinthe projectframework was nodoubt correct.From experience invarious contexts,they are the onesneeded by thevictims in order tosurvive the

difficulties they arefacing. The medicaland legal forms ofassistance wasnotable as they were able to help the victims and their families on that most importantoccasion in their lives. The many legal cases and complaints filed with the police as the mainperpetrators was a good starting point towards their journey in achieving healing andjustice.

The level of community awareness achieved within the project period cannot be

over-emphasized. While the project only targeted five model blocks, the voices of change inmany honour ceremonies held in various states had reverberated in many other states indifferent parts of the country. The June 26 commemorative event had also provide a followthrough to this development process of the many communities in many parts of India.

There are five (5) model blocks planned within the project framework covering fifty(50) villages. Within the project period, both the blocks and villages have achieved varyinglevels of development. The villages in the covered model blocks can be categorized into


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three categories: the more advanced; the mid-level and the relatively backward. There areeleven (11) villages that are already in the advanced stage. This means, that PVCHR canalready plan an exit in these villages but they may need to continue their monitoring andevaluation for about a period of one year. The middle level has twenty-four (24) villages.This requires continuation and greater efforts if ever there is a new project period so that

they will be elevated to the more advanced level. The relatively backward villages due tovarious factors is fifteen (15) which need greater and enhanced planning to fast track thedevelopment process of these villages. The list of the model villages in various stages ofdevelopment are in the annexes.

The concept and experience of torture free villages has varying dimensions and levelsof development. Generally, from experience, the folk school is utilized for people to testifyabout their suffering and in return, they receive support from the group. The folk schoolmay deal on conflicts with the village head or any other experience of torture. The TT hasbeen integrated into a unique advocacy and educational model within which torture free

villages are organized and empowered to protect, expand basic human rights and fightimpunity of the violators at this context. The pain and suffering expressed and captured inthe testimonies have helped to inform and convince the judiciary and human rightsinstitutions about the injustice committed against the plaintiff.

6. Collection of data

The systematic collection of data undertaken by the organization was in line withdetention watch. In last year's documentation and monitoring of cases of detention, atleast 700 were documented and monitored by the organization in police stations; filed withthe national human rights commission and institutions and in urgent appeals with the United

Nations.

When files werechecked on the matter, thevoluminous files containedthe first part with 343 casesmostly of reported fakeencounters and custodialdeaths in differentdetention centres. There is

only one case of reportedpolice torture. On thesecond part, that involved58 cases reported to theNational Human RightsCommission, majority ofcases were of custodialdeaths plus 12 cases of


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police torture.

On the whole, this is a very non-expensive approach. The organization simplymonitors the cases and reports to proper authorities and then make follow up on whatconcerned authorities have done.

7. Continuity and sustainability

There is some kind of intrinsic continuity and sustainability in the efforts and initiativesof the organization in helping to heal and empower the communities. The same withconducting the training and capacitating the civil society partners who are a part of theNational Alliance on Testimonial Therapy (NATT). Such efforts and initiatives already providethe sustainability for the efforts done at the initial project term. With or without the project,as the survivors and the communities have already been healed, empowered andcapacitated, they can very well continue with the work and in fact, developed them further

for greater impact.

The communities' healing and empowerment may be considered a hallmark of aneffective outcome ofan intervention thatmade a difference inthe lives of the peopleand to the communitieswhere they belong. Itis a demonstration of apositive outcome that

can become infectiousto the rest of thecommunities in similarsituations. They foundstrength in achievingtheir very own unity insolidarity with the restof the people workingfor the same directionand goal.

Such outcome and impact provided greater commitment among the variousstakeholders engaged in the project that such efforts can produce lasting dedication andperseverance from everyone involved in various undertakings related to the project.

The changes in the lives of the survivors, their families and among communities canbring about more changes in their lives, in their families and in the communities. Thebreaking of their silence towards asserting their rights had brought so much joy and greater


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strength that they can do something to change their situation. The release of thosedetained due to false accusations; the action taken to the filed complaints and their newfound capacity and daringness to protest in front of the police and concerned authorities areall demonstrations of empowerment and development for the people and the communities.

Unintended Outcomes

Surely, as there are intended outcomes clearly outlined in the formulation of theproject, there are still unintended outcomes that also comes out in the process as by-product of the dynamics and the various factors that come into play into the whole schemesof things. One of these outcomes is the solid foundation achieved in many of thecommunities. This was not the original intent but this was achieved due to variousinterventions and activities undertaken and the communities discovered the significance oftheir strength as a community and therefore they need to consolidate such foundation oftheir strength.

From among civil society groups, it was PVCHR who gained the recognition andrespect of the National Human Rights Commission due to their unwavering commitmentand relentless support for the marginalized communities particularly the Dalits, the Mushars,the Muslim minorities, etc. The closer collaboration established provided the ease andurgency in responding to complaints brought to their attention and action.

The growing recognition and acknowledgment of various civil society groups andgovernment authorities of the value and significance of the mental health component forthe survivors of torture can be considered a milestone in freedom from torture efforts in thecountry. It was PVCHR that became instrumental in bringing such to the fore. As such, thevalue of healing, the needed psychosocial support and the importance of psycho-educationcannot be overemphasized in the various concerned interventions of the work.

Lessons Learned

Considering the vast population of the Indian society and its role to play in SouthAsia, a good modelling of an intervention within the frame of torture and organized violenceis significant to note. The PVCHR model of TOV programming has clear prospect ofreplicability. Such programming may be utilized in similar situation elsewhere in South Asiaor the whole of Asia. The vertical and horizontal approach applied to TOV, such as building

the strength and capacities of the communities to heal and empower themselves for theirown benefit complemented by the national level policy advocacy and some initiatives at theinternational level is almost always a good model; its efficacy is built on the uniqueness ofthe situation and particularity of people and communities involved.

The interconnectedness of the various project components provided the conditionfor greater impact in as far as addressing the issue of torture and organized violence and the


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role of communities in shaping public opinion and in bringing to the attention of theconcerned authorities the plight and dehumanizing effect of torture on the victims andsurvivors.

The poverty approach to torture and organized violence is such a significant and

smart effort by putting focus on the marginalized sections of the population. Byhighlighting their dire situation and plight, it contributes to shaping public opinion in favourof addressing the issue of torture and organized violence. It is in effect creating thecondition for changing their very situation and a transformation proceeds at varying levels:at the individual, at family and at the community level.

Torture is a strategic issue. It reflects the values and development agenda in a socialfabric of a society. It mirrors how a society values its people. It is a manifestation of theprogress of civilization in a given society. When torture is still an acceptable practice in asociety and is perpetrated by authorities with impunity, then said society has not progress

yet that much as torture is a practice of barbaric nation-states. The elimination of thepractice of torture is as much a poverty issue and a matter of justice. Its ultimate impactshould redound to the well-being and quality of life of the marginalized peoples.

The process of transforming the victims to survivors to human rights defenders is acritical development process for any victim or community that is affected by torture andorganized violence. The ultimate healing and achieving justice is demonstrated in thevictims and the communities fighting for their rights and overcoming their fear anddehumanization to face their perpetrators and reclaiming their rights as human beings withdignity and honour.

The community healing, empowerment and development became the bedrock ofthe survivors' hopefulness for a better tomorrow. They are holding to the fact that they arethe ones that can make history, the ones that can change their situation for the better. Thisis the outcome of the interventions provided to them through the testimonial therapy,through the folk school, through community meetings, through neo-dalit solidarity andaction.

The adaptation of the testimonial therapy in the context of India is truly effective. Ithas empowered the survivor's well-being (Agger, et al). With the survivors gaining controlof their situation after converting the traumatic event to a story of survival, then shared to

the public through the honour ceremony, such had provided support for the survivors'search for truth and meaning. The survivor gained empowerment in the process when s/hehas reclaimed his/her voice by becoming a defender for those who still continue to suffer inpain.

PVCHR's commitment and values are notable and significant as it permeates andradiates to everyone that it meets, to everyone that it works with and collaborate with, toeveryone that it targets for lobby and advocacy. It is in fact a conduct and a character that


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shapes the organization's reason and state of being and quality within the indian traditionand culture but incorporating the lessons and gains of other organizations in similar field.

Recommendations

On the basis of the findings, these recommendations are suggested for reflection,future consideration and action.

Aspects to Continue

1. Continuous and more sustained capacity development of the victims and survivors infocus communities with paramount consideration of women and children in a morepurposive manner. Their participation, development and empowerment needgreater reinforcement in normal times and in difficult situations such as in period ofwitch hunting, in cases of militarization of communities and in armed conflict

situations.

2. The NATT is a viable and suitable alliance set up for purposes of linking and engagingthe communities and civil society groups in a planned and programmatic way. This isreplicable in other community situations such as South Asian countries especially theones near the border of India.

3. The community planning as a partnership endeavour between PVCHR and thecommunities is to be sustained in an annual kind of arrangement either within thetactical or strategic frame.

4. Continuous undertaking of freedom from TOV awareness and campaign in thecovered villages and blocks in more sustained manner. There is a need to reach out tothe local media, utilizing the role of traditional and opinion leaders in the locality andstrengthening the role of women, youth and children in decision-making in relation totorture and other human rights issues affecting the communities in the locality.

5. The positive collaboration and partnerships between and among the community andcivil society groups operating in the local state need to be sustained and replicated insimilar settings and situations. The village leaders, the school and the academiatogether with the professionals in the locality require closer coordination and

collaboration.

6. The positive engagements of PVCHR with state authorities, with parliamentarians,with the National Human Rights Commission and with civil society groups needs tobe continued and scaled up for greater collaboration.


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7. The organization's strength in utilizing the mainstream, social and alternative mediamust continue. This just needs improved planning and programming.

Aspects to Refine/Enhance

1. A freedom from TOV project that utilizes TT as a psycho-legal form of intervention isinnovative, unique and important. This can be further enhanced and enrichedthrough time. With more practice i.e., continuous piloting and testing its suitabilityand appropriateness in particular contexts, this can be mainstreamed in theprogramming of various organizations with similar situation.

2. Strengthen gender perspective in the whole program cycle: from assessment,analysis to strategy, and activities up to monitoring. Such enhances the effectivenessand relevance of the program and its components.

3.

Grassroots, women and childrens participation in the whole program processes.This is from assessment of the situation to program design. There are still lots ofgrowth areas when it comes to participatory processes. There is more spaceprovided to people, women and children in decision making with higher level ofparticipation.

4. With increased participation of various stakeholders, the role of external agentsshifts from being actors to just facilitators. Therefore, with higher level ofparticipation by people, women and children comes the requirement of moreknowledge, skills and capacities on the part of community people, women andchildren. They need to be continuously equipped and trained.

5. Sustaining women and childrens participation and empowerment. New channels ofinvolvement may be designed by the community with women and childrens activeparticipation in the process.

6. The organization can refine and enrich the protocols that they are using in relation tocommunity partners.

New Aspects to Introduce

1.

Understanding the social ecology highlighting the cracks in the social fabric isimportant. It

promoting a psycho-legal framework to reduce torture and organized violence in india

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