Defending Human Rights: A Resource Book for Human

community and medico-legal establishment
becomes involved in the rehabilitation process is of
particular importance to human rights defenders.
Much, if not all of the structures illustrated above,
can be successfully adapted to meet the needs of
human rights defenders working on the ground.
Ongoing peer support has proven to be vital to the
healing process as well as strengthening connections
to the community at large. Even when the situation
seems the most hopeless, it is not impossible to find
allies in ordinary folks as well as those in positions
of power or authority who share your sympathies.
Being mindful of these connections and being able
to identify when they occur is a valuable tool in the
healing process. Public education and international
coalitions are necessary tools that have allowed
CCVT to engage with the community and ensure
linkages with broader issues that require political
action. Engagement not only in the local community,
but the larger, international one will also improve
the effect and range of the struggle for human
rights. What cannot be accomplished alone and
in isolation will be successful within an extended
network of support. This holds true for healing as
well as for human rights work itself.
Pe rsona l
Em powe rm e nt
Spe c ia lize d
Progra ms
Inte rna t.
C oa lition/
A dvocacy
COMMUNITY
C C V T
Mutua l
Support
G roups
Public
Educ a tion/
O utre a c h
Sma ll G roup
De ve lopm e nt
• When assisting others in coping with trauma, be
aware that this is a two way process - the HRD
assesses the survivor and the survivor assesses the
HRD.
• The survivor controls the telling - respect that
people choose to reveal their own history in their
own time.
• Be conscious of the context of the situation you
are assessing - your own context and the survivor's
context. If you have been traumatized yourself, be
aware that your trauma-related issues may inform
your interactions with the person you are trying to
assist.
• Avoid assumptions.
• Prevent re-traumatization.
• Recognize your own limits and be aware of the
process of vicarious traumatization.
• Keep a balance between the survivor's concerns
and needs and your own.
• Combine sensitivity with knowledge and skill.
• Remember that you are part of a network of
support and service within a continuum of care.
You are not alone or without resources.
In addition to direct trauma experiences, human
rights defenders are often exposed to the trauma
of the people they are helping. Secondary or
vicarious trauma is not an uncommon result. The
two diagrams below can be used as a basic guide
in identifying symptoms of vicarious trauma within
you and what is required in order to counteract the
effects. 18
Politic a l
A c tion
C ommunity
O rga niza tion
C oa lition
Building
© CCVT, Toronto - Canada 2005
When assisting traumatized people, remember:
When assisting traumatized people, r emember:
The experience of torture is as the individuals 18 Part themselves.
II of this article will discuss vicarious trauma in further
• The experience of torture is as individual as the detail.
individuals When themselves. assisting others in coping with trauma, be aware that this is a two way process - the HRD
assesses the survivor and the survivor assesses the HRD.
The survivor controls the telling - respect that people choose to reveal their own history in their
Defending Human Rights: A Resource Book for Human Rights Defenders | 2nd Edition
own time.
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