A timely contribution to the study of peace psychology in Latin America, this volume describes clinical, psychosocial, and community interventions with victims from Mexico to Chile from the 1970s onward. Chapters analyze how to conceptualize complex processes such as the appropriation of children and political repression, raising psychological, juridical, and political implications for the victims, their families, human rights organizations, and society. Also included are studies and analyses of political processes in countries currently undergoing crises such as Venezuela and Colombia and the challenges posed by the peace process from a political psychology perspective. All authors present the results of studies or clinical cases illustrating creative methodologies and practices in different contexts.
This book provides the context for differences in the victims' damages and the treatment approaches and methodologies adopted in each case. The authors outline psychological perspectives grounded in ethical and professional choices based on recognizing people's dignity while seeking rehabilitation and reparations for victims, families, and communities. It paves the way for reparations and rehabilitation, and ultimately to the establishment of democracy and peace in this part of the world.
Readers will benefit from
understanding the relationship between mental health and human rights
understanding ethical and professional dimensions
a broadened knowledge of working with victims
Author(s): Elizabeth Lira, Marcela Cornejo, Germán Morales
Series: Peace Psychology Book Series
Publisher: Springer
Year: 2022
Language: English
Pages: 290
City: Cham
Acknowledgments
Contents
About the Authors
Chapter 1: Psychology and Human Rights: An Introduction
Outline of the Book
Conclusions
References
Part I: History, Situations, Concepts, and Approaches
Chapter 2: Psychology and Human Rights in Chile: Assistance, Registration, Denunciation, Rehabilitation, and Reparation
Introduction
Emergency Psychological Support: 1973–1975
From Emergency to Institutionalization
New Mental Health Programs
Main Concepts of the Psychological Approach of Mental Health Teams
International and Academic Relations Between Mental Health and Human Rights Teams
Recognition and Reparation of Victims
The Past That Still Lives in the Present
References
Chapter 3: Method of Forced Disappearance and Trials for Crimes Against Humanity: A Dialogue Between the Legal and Subjective Dimensions—Specifics of the Argentine Case
Introduction
The Trials and Amnesty Laws
The Imprint Left by Disappearance on Society: Victims’ Efforts in Court
Between the Legal and the Clinical
Disappearance as Torture: Its Effects on Survivors and the Families of the Disappeared
Trauma in Survivors of Clandestine Detention Centers
The Mourning of Forced Disappearance: Unregistered Mourning That Never Ends
The Narration of Trauma in Court
In Closing: Crimes Against Humanity, Challenges and Support from the Legal and Clinical Dimensions
References
Chapter 4: Locating Children Appropriated by Dictatorships of the Southern Cone: Questioning Identities
Traces...
The Appropriations
Restitution
The Discourse of “Abuelas” Over Time
The “Restitution” Debate
Events That Weave the Story(ies) into Life Narratives: Dis-encounters in the Encounter
Dilemmatic Identities
The Process Within the Socio-Historical Evolution
By Way of In-Conclusion
References
Chapter 5: Photography and Film in the Experience of Identity Restitution: Writing with Light
Introduction: Mamá Coco and Her Missing Father
Appropriation and Restitution of Children: Clinical and Social Consequences
Photography in Clinician Restitution: Imaginary, Symbolic, Real Traces
Film: Filial Photograms
By Way of Synthesis
References
Part II: Psychosocial Assistance and Intervention Methodologies
Chapter 6: The Method and Methodology of Psychosocial Accompaniment Work: A Contribution for At-Risk Defenders in Mexico
The Current Sociopolitical Scene in Mexico and the Political Stakes of the Organization “Aluna Acompañamiento Psicosocial” (Aluna Psychosocial Accompaniment)
Aluna’s Psychosocial Accompaniment: Work Method, Model, and Methodology
Defending Territory Means Fighting for Life…
Final Reflections
References
Chapter 7: Construction of a Model of Psychosocial Care and Support: Training of Peer Psychosocial Companions—An Experience from Mexico
Historical Context
The “Dirty War”
The “Zapatista Movement,” the “Acteal Massacre,” and the “Aguas Blancas Massacre”
Femicides in Ciudad Juárez
The Narco War and the Crisis of Disappearances in Mexico
Assistance Actions and Psychosocial Support
The Mexican Model of Psychosocial Care and Accompaniment (MMAAPSI)
Methodological Approach to the Formation of Peer Psychosocial Companions
Discussion and Conclusions
References
Part III: Psychotherapeutic Interventions
Chapter 8: Psychotherapy with Former Political Prisoners in Uruguay: The Vision of the Therapists
Introduction
On Political Prison and Torture
Psychosocial Care
Clinic Contributions of SERSOC
Psychotherapy and Late Effects of Torture
Reasons for Consultation and Late Effects
Therapeutic Goals
The Place of Politics in the Treatments Process
Analysis of the Experiences of Torture
Provide More Emotional Support Than Interpretation
Contributions of Group Psychotherapy
Final Thoughts
References
Chapter 9: Arpilleras of Sexual and Domestic Violence in Post-War Guatemala: Accompaniment in Processes of Psychosocial Reparation
Introduction: Arpilleras, Patches of Repair for Violence Against Women
The Protagonists and the Context of Reconstruction of the Experience
Dimensions of Psychosocial Analysis of the Arpilleras
Group Process
Emotional Setting and Group Cohesion
Symbolic and Projective Representations of Trauma
Psychosocial Impact of Violence
Reintegration of the Traumatic Experience
By Way of Conclusions. Creativity and Reparation with Survivors of Violence
References
Chapter 10: Group Therapeutic Strategies and Human Rights. Human Rights Violations in Chile
Introduction: Trauma and Groupness
Consequences of Political Repression on Groupness
Self-Help Groups, Community Interventions, and Group Interventions
Group Interventions with Returnees from Exile
Group Processes and Fear
Group Psychotherapies with Adolescents and Young People
Group Psychotherapy with Adults
Conclusion
References
Part IV: Psychological and Psychosocial Approach and Support During Forensic Examinations and Trials
Chapter 11: El Mozote Massacre: Expert Research and Challenges of Psychosocial Reparation
Introduction: “From Madness to Hope”: In Context
Memory and Truth
Methodology, Participants, Objectives, Procedure, and Instruments
Stages of the Research
Results
The Horror Map
Women, Girls, and Boys
The Impact on the Community
Surviving Victims Focus Group Forced Displacement
Impunity, Justice, and the Search for the Truth
The Personal Impact on Health
The Memory Narrated as Part of the Psychosocial Repair Process
Ruling of the Inter-American Human Rights Court
References
Chapter 12: Psychosocial Work in the Transitional Justice Framework: The Women of Sepur Zarco
The Armed Conflict in Guatemala
Women of Sepur Zarco
The Psychosocial Situation of Women at the Beginning of Work
Psychosocial Work Prior to the Justice Process
Initial Elements of Psychosocial Work
The Judicial Case of the Women of Sepur Zarco
Conclusions
References
Chapter 13: Contribution of the Psycho-forensic Evidence in the Inter-American Court in the Case of Lonkos and Mapuche Indigenous Leaders Versus Chile
Introduction
The Inter-American Human Rights System
Human Rights and Indigenous Peoples
The Mapuche People in Chile
Antiterrorist Law and Criminalization of Demands for Indigenous Rights in Chile
Lonkos Case and Mapuche Leaders’ vs. Chile in Inter-American Court
Psychosocial Effects of Prosecutions for Crimes Considered Terrorist
Documentation Procedure
Expert Documentation Instruments
Effects of the Prosecutions and Convictions of Mapuche Authorities and Leaders
Traumatic Events Associated with the Use of the Antiterrorist Law
Cultural Factors and Mapuche Resilience
The Condemnation of Chile from the Inter-American Court
Relevance of the Judgment
Conclusion
References
Part V: Psychosocial Reparations: Challenges of Victim’s Recognition
Chapter 14: Testimony and Symbolic Reparation: The Clinica do Testemunho Project in Rio de Janeiro
Background
The 1964 Civil-Military Coup and Its Context
The Dictatorship and Its Effect on Subjectivity
Reparation
The Struggles for Human Rights and Democracy
From Social Movement to State Commitment: The “Clinica do Testemunho” Project in Rio de Janeiro
Testimonials in the Clinica do Testemunho Project in Rio de Janeiro
The Implementation of the Project
Conclusions
References
Chapter 15: The Clinics of Testimony: New Ways of Recognition Through Group Listening to Military Personnel
Introduction: Description of the Civic-Military Dictatorship and Transitional Justice in Brazil
Clinics of Testimony
Testimony as a Clinical-Political Tool
Testimony Group with Military Personnel
From the Clinic of Truth to the Clinic of Testimony
Characteristics of the Group
Clinical Profiles
Final Considerations
References
Chapter 16: Colonia Dignidad: Lights and Shadows in the Recognition of the Victims
General Context
Description of the Structure and Operation of Colonia Dignidad
The Victimizer Pattern: A Psychosocial Approach
Mental Health Interventions
The Challenges of Historical Memory of Human Rights Violations
Conclusions
References
Part VI: Political and Psychosocial Challenges of Transitions
Chapter 17: Political Transition and Social Reparation in Venezuela: Challenges of Democratic Reconstruction
From the Illusion of Change to Social Fracture
Social Polarization: “Us or Them”?
Antagonistic Social Representations: The Other Enemy
The Challenges of the Venezuelan Transition
Social Reparation Processes
The Peace Agenda
Memory-Justice and Truth
Human Rights Violations
Truth Commission
Pacification, Reconciliation, Social Peace, and Democratization in Post-conflict Situation and Democratic Transition
Training, Research, Social Awareness, Dissemination
Democratic Reconstruction: The Challenge of Coexistence
References
Chapter 18: Psychology and Human Rights in Colombia: Contributions to Peacebuilding
Introduction
Armed Conflict in Colombia
Psychosocial Consequences of Human Rights Violations During the Armed Conflict
Psychosocial Intervention for the Restoration of Human Rights in the Context of the Colombian Armed Conflict: A Case Study
A Multidimensional Perspective for the Promotion of Human Rights in Colombia
Proposal for the Future to Advance in the Guarantee of Human Rights from Psychology in Colombia
References
Chapter 19: Working Mental Health in Peru
Introduction: The Development of Mental Health in Peru Community Mental Health in the Context of Public Health
Community Mental Health from the Academia and Civil Society Organizations
Visions and Interventions
The Internal Armed Conflict
Mental Health in the CVR Process (2001–2003)
The Methodology
Psychosocial Sequelae
The Reparation Process
Towards a Mental Health Law
Towards a Reform in Mental Health Care (Minsa)
References
Index
