Kenya: Normal Human Reactions to Terrible Events

npearson — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 12:49:51 -0600

The terrible and traumatic events occurring in Kenya are threatening people’s safety. From our experiences here at the Center for Victims of Torture, we would like to offer some information that may be of help to our brothers and sisters in Kenya. This information can be of help to anyone, including those interviewing and assisting people who have survived horrible events - such as journalists, aid workers, or truth commission personnel.

You may be experiencing many reactions for the first time. For those who have had previous traumatic experiences, you may find that you are re-experiencing thoughts, emotions, symptoms, and fears associated with previous experiences. Although these feelings can be scary and distressing, it is important to remember that as human beings, these reactions are normal responses to situations involving widespread destruction, horror and violence threatening life.

For specific information about what you can do for yourself and others - download this document: Normal Human Reactions to Terrible Events

For an excellent "pocket size" reminder card titled "Caring for yourself in the face of difficult work" download this document: http://www.isu.edu/irh/handouts/Aid_Worker_Pocket_Card.pdf

When the situation regains stability, your responses are very likely to decrease over time. If you find this is not the case, seek help and assistance from others. You are not alone and there is help available.

In Kenya, the Independent Medico-Legal Unit (IMLU) is an organization that may be able to connect you with counseling services. You can learn more about IMLU and their work through their website: http://www.imlu.org/

Journalists are very often in positions where they are highly explosed not only to threats against their own lives but listen to and interview the accounts from many others. The Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma does research and posts information to help journalists understand how trauma affects them, as well as how to be sensitive when interviewing trauma victims. Their Web site is at: http://www.dartcenter.org/

Tips for interviewing trauma victims and their families:
http://www.dartcenter.org/quick_tips/interviewing.html

They have self-care for journalist tips at:
http://www.dartcenter.org/quick_tips/journalist.html

Here is a contact page with email to staff at the Dart Center:
http://www.dartcenter.org/about/personnel.php

Reporters without Borders has information for journalists regarding their safety and security. They also offer bulletproof vests for freelance journalists:
http://www.reseau-damocles.org/rubrique.php3?id_rubrique=193

ProtectiOnline.org also has information, more related to how the media can protect human rights defenders in their work:
http://www.protectionline.org/-Media,26-.html

Let us know if you are aware of other resources that would be of help and assistance to people or if we can be of assistance in connecting you with the resources you need.

I'll Walk Beside You

bharris — Fri, 25 May 2007 20:08:04 -0500

I’ll Walk Beside You

by Glenda Wildschut and Paul Haupt

Download full notebook below. [*note]

In this notebook Glenda Wildschut and Paul Haupt outline the victim accompaniment process for the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) that developed the concept of "briefers" to install a victim-friendly process. Victims were provided with the opportunity to testify and be supported before, during and after the process. The TRC selected briefers–chosen from the caring professions, such as ministers, social workers and nurses–from the community to provide this support. The briefers acted as volunteers and were trained to perform various tasks with regard to the entire structural process of the TRC. As a consequence of the sustained, supportive work of the briefers during the entire process, victims better understood their legal, emotional and practical position.

Thus, they felt they owned the process and were able to contribute in an important way by making recommendations about reparations. Briefers could be utilized in many settings–e.g. those involving domestic violence or rape, and tribunals court systems–where vulnerable victims need mediation and support to overcome traumatic experiences and especially in processes that involve perpetrators as well.

Between 1995 and 1998, 21,529 people gave statements to the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).1 The thousands of hours of hearings were broadcast publicly and became the most watched programming in South African television history. Testifiers recounted the horrors of 34 years of apartheid and repression, bringing to light the contours of a national trauma, and the details of thousands of individuals’ suffering. Testifying publicly about one’s own personal trauma is itself a terribly difficult experience. The TRC committed itself to creating a process that was friendly and accommodating for victims. Part of this process was a program of "briefing" for people coming forth to testify. Thousands of people were accompanied before, during and after their testimony by volunteers trained in psychosocial support as well as in the legal and practical realities of the hearing process. The goal was to provide the necessary support to make the experience of testifying an empowering one that would help in the victim’s longer-term healing process, rather than contribute to renewed suffering.

The briefing process had positive effects on three different levels. On the individual level, it helped the testifiers overcome their apprehensions, avoid secondary trauma, process their painful past and move on with their lives. On a community level, it helped train community members to assist in the psychosocial healing process of the testifiers, while also bringing whole communities together to process and heal from their mutually shared past experiences. And finally, on a national level, the briefing helped the Truth Commission achieve its goal of creating a victim-friendly process that would promote national healing for a traumatised nation. On each of these levels, there are lessons to be learned that may be applicable in other contexts.

*Note: You need Adobe Acrobat Reader to open the files marked with an asterisk (*). You can download a free version of this program from www.adobe.com.