Developing cultural responsiveness in the delivery of services to ...
Developing cultural responsiveness in the delivery of services to ...
Developing cultural responsiveness in the delivery of services to ...
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<strong>of</strong>fer<strong>in</strong>g assistance <strong>to</strong> refugees and survivors <strong>of</strong> <strong>to</strong>rture can provide considerably more support<br />
if <strong>the</strong>y elim<strong>in</strong>ate racial prejudice <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir practise and if <strong>the</strong>y take a public stand aga<strong>in</strong>st such<br />
beliefs. By do<strong>in</strong>g so survivors can be reassured that <strong>the</strong>y are not isolated and that o<strong>the</strong>rs also<br />
care about <strong>the</strong>ir safety and security.<br />
In conclud<strong>in</strong>g it is important <strong>to</strong> emphasise <strong>the</strong> complex nature <strong>of</strong> respond<strong>in</strong>g <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> issues<br />
outl<strong>in</strong>ed <strong>in</strong> this paper. Several <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> issues <strong>to</strong>uched upon require closer scrut<strong>in</strong>y and<br />
development <strong>in</strong> order for a full appreciation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir mean<strong>in</strong>g <strong>to</strong> be atta<strong>in</strong>ed. The need <strong>to</strong><br />
understand how organisational and pr<strong>of</strong>essional development are <strong>in</strong>tr<strong>in</strong>sically l<strong>in</strong>ked <strong>to</strong><br />
genu<strong>in</strong>e and last<strong>in</strong>g improvements <strong>in</strong> <strong>cultural</strong> <strong>responsiveness</strong> is perhaps <strong>the</strong> most important<br />
message <strong>in</strong> this paper. Deal<strong>in</strong>g with <strong>cultural</strong> diversity <strong>in</strong> refugee communities is an<br />
evolutionary process and one which requires nurtur<strong>in</strong>g. This nurtur<strong>in</strong>g is only possible <strong>in</strong> an<br />
environment which positively embraces such diversity and values <strong>the</strong> contributions it makes<br />
<strong>to</strong> build<strong>in</strong>g a more egalitarian and robust society.<br />
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