The materials selected here are primarily aimed at helping aid workers, health workers and others involved in psychosocial intervention, community reconstruction, trauma relief and treatment. Do you have comments and suggestions, or would you like to add a new link? Click here

Hits: 98

A Guide for Humanitarian, Health Care, and Human Rights Workers
By John H. Ehrenreich (2002)
This manual is intended to help humanitarian aid workers, rescue and relief workers, health workers, journalists, human rights workers, and others who have frequent contact with traumatized people act in ways that both help the traumatized cope with their own traumatization and meet their own emotional needs.
(32 pages, .pdf) To top

A Guidebook for Clinicians and Administrators
By by Bruce H. Young, Julian D. Ford, Josef I. Ruzek, Matthew J. Friedman, and Fred D. Gusman (2000)
This guidebook is an introduction to the field of disaster mental health for clinicians and administrators. Practical guidelines and background information are provided to assist you and/or your organization.
(both in .html and .pdf) To top

Access to health care for asylum seekers - BMA
AsylumSupport.info (2001)
The BMA has produced this guidance note in response to queries from doctors treating asylum seekers. (This particular briefing only addresses the rights of asylum seekers and not broader questions of the eligibility of overseas visitors to receive medical treatment in the UK). To top

After the Cameras Have Gone - Children in Disasters: Summary
By Plan UK (2003)
An estimated 77 million children under 15, on average, had their lives severely disrupted by a natural disaster or an armed conflict, each year, between 1991 and 2000. Millions of children were made homeless, lost loved ones, received injuries, witnessed or experienced violence and suffered scarring psychological traumas.
(9 pages, .pdf) To top

After the Tsunami: Integrating Psychosocial Programming Within Humanitarian Response
The Psychosocial Working Group (2005)
The earthquake and tsunami of 26 December 2004 brought great devastation to innumerable communities bordering the Indian Ocean. As humanitarian efforts continue to support relief and,
increasingly, reconstruction work within these communities there is great awareness of the human dimensions of this disaster.
(2 pages, .pdf) To top

Asylum seekers and health : a BMA and Medical Foundation for the Care of the Victims of Torture dossier
AsylumSupport.info (2001)
Asylum seekers are among the most vulnerable people in Britain. Displaced from their homes, in flight from persecution, often subject to mental and physical violence, they seek sanctuary in countries with more liberal, compassionate reputations. To top

Care & Protection of Children in Emergencies. A Field Guide
Save the Children (2001)
This field guide is one in a series compiled by Save the Children (SC) as part of its Children and War Capacity Building Initiative. The SC Children in Crisis Unit developed this initiative in order to support SC staff in responding to the priority care and protection needs of children and adolescents during new emergencies and in situations of chronic armed conflict or displacement.
(92 pages, .pdf) To top

Challenging Impunity for Torture
By REDRESS (2000)
A Manual for bringing criminal and civil proceedings in England and Wales for torture committed abroad.
(236 pages, .pdf) To top

Child Refugees in Europe
ECRE and The Therapy Centre for Torture Victims Caritas Cologne Refugee Counselling Association(2002)
Guidelines on the psychosocial context, Assessment of and Interventions for Traumatised Children and Adolescents.
(72 pages, .pdf) To top

Child Soldiers - Care & Protection of Children in Emergencies
Save the Children Federation (2001)
Every day it is estimated that some 5000 children are newly displaced due to conflict somewhere in the world. Many may be able to flee violence with their families, but an increasing number become separated and are being recruited into armed groups as a result of war erupting.
(84 pages, .pdf) To top

Children’s Reactions to Stress
By The Community Stress Prevention Center, Israel
Checklist with the categories Reaction, Emotional Symptoms and Treatment. To top

Children and Armed Conflict
International Bureau for Children`s Rights (2002)
A guide to international humanitarian and human rights law.
(92 pages, .pdf) To top

Community Manual
By Survivors International
This "Community Manual" has been prepared by Survivors International for service providers and community organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area. It is intended to help those who work with refugees and immigrants understand the high incidence of past torture experiences among these communities. Focus of this manual will be on the aftereffects of torture, symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and how to direct victims of torture to appropriate medical and psychological help. To top

Community-based Psychological Support - a Training manual
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (2003)
This training manual builds on the experience of psychological support gathered in many different critical events over the last decade by National Societies, and covers more recently developed technical areas as well as recommended methodologies. To top

Considerations in Planning Psychosocial Programs
By the IFRC Reference Centre for Psychosocial Support (2003)
(4 pages, .pdf) To top

Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
United Nations High ommissioner for Human Rights (1984)
Adopted and opened for signature, ratification and accession by UN General Assembly resolution 39/46 of 10 December 1984. To top

Coping With Disasters - a Guidebook to Psychosocial Intervention
By John H. Ehrenreich (2001)
This manual is a guide to psychosocial interventions to help people cope with the emotional effects of disasters.
(104 pages, .pdf) To top

Disaster Mental Health Response Handbook
Centre for Mental Health, NSW Health NSW Institute of Psychiatry, Australia (2000)
An educational resource for mental health professionals involved in disaster management.
(180 pages, .pdf) To top

Disaster Mental Health Services: A Guidebook for Clinicians and Administrators
National Center for PTSD (1998)
Each day disasters occur, and each year millions of people are affected. Whether natural or human-made, the extreme and overwhelming forces of disaster can have far-reaching effects on individual, local community, and national stability.
(158 pages, .html and .pdf) To top

Disaster Psycosocial Response - Handbook for community counsellor trainers
Gauthamadas, U
Academy for Disaster Management Education, Planning and Training, India (2005)
More than 100,000 people have been unsettled in the Tsunami hit Cuddalore district in Tamilnadu, India. The Academy for Disaster Management Education, Planning & Training (ADEPT) coordinated with a group of major charitable hospitals from all over the country and mobilized medical relief on a war footing. It was estimated that less than 10% of the Tsunami affected population had suffered physical injury or illness. Almost EVERYONE had suffered severe psychological and emotional trauma.
(95 pages, .pdf) To top

Ethnic Minorities in Social Psychiatry - A Sample of International Resources
Centre for Research and Information for Social Psychiatry (2002)
This sample of international resources regarding ethnic minorities in the field of social psychiatry can help to give a picture of the various initiatives, literature and programmes that all focus on the same; “ the understanding of mental illness and psycho-social rehabilitation of ethnic minorities, that no longer are in their own original settlements “. To top

Examining Asylum Seekers
Physicians for Human Rights (2000)
This manual has been created for professional use, to assist health practitioners in conducting evaluations of asylum applicants. It is not intended for general audiences because of the traumatic nature of the contents. It is important for any reader of this document to be prepared to process the strong emotional reactions that this material may evoke.
(188 pages, .pdf) To top

FMO Thematic Guide: Psychosocial Issues
By Carola Eyber (2003)
A web-based study of psychosocial resources and documents reveals that there is not a balanced representation of different positions and approaches to the issues on the Internet. While there is a large amount of literature on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on the web, very few documents and resources that present a cultural or community-based approach to psychosocial issues are available on the Internet. One of the reasons for this may be the unequal access to electronic resources and publications available to scholars who work within a trauma approach and those who do not. In order not to replicate the trauma bias that currently exists on the web in this guide, a number of articles, books, and papers that are not electronically available are reviewed here.
(38 pages, .pdf) To top

Field Manual for Mental Health and Human Service Workers in Major Disasters
By Deborah J. DeWolfe, Ph.D., M.S.P.H. (2000)
This Field Manual is intended for mental health workers and other human service providers who assist survivors following a disaster. This pocket reference provides the basics of disaster mental health, with numerous specific and practical suggestions for workers.
(40 pages, .pdf) To top

Fostering Resilience in Response to Terrorism: A Fact Sheet for Psychologists Working With Adults
American Psychological Association (2004)
Terrorism is the "systematic threat or use of unpredicted violence by organized groups to achieve a political objective. Terrorism`s impact has been magnified by the deadliness of modern-day weapons and the ability of mass communications to inform the world of such acts" (Merriam Webster, 2000). This
remarkably insightful definition, written more than a year prior to the devastating attacks on our nation, is supported by studies conducted by psychological researchers in the aftermath of these attacks.
(6 pages, .pdf) To top

Fostering Resilience in Response to Terrorism: For Psychologists Working With Children
American Psychological Association (2004)
This fact sheet focuses on building resilience in children and youth in response to terrorism and related concerns facing our country. It provides suggestions and ideas for expanding the supportive and protective roles of parents, schools, and communities in the lives of children. Although resilience can exist at any point related to a traumatic event (before, during, or after), this fact sheet focuses on building resilience now, prior to another traumatic or terrorist event.
(10 pages, .pdf) To top

Framework for Schoolbased Psychosocial Support Programs for Children, Guidelines for Initiation of Programs
Danish Red Cross (2004)
The objective of this report is to present a Framework for Danish Red Cross (DRC) school-based psychosocial support programs for children (PSPC). The Framework is intended as a guideline for the initiation of new programs in post-conflict areas or areas with low intensity conflicts. The Framework is based on lessons learned from the DRC Children Affected by Armed Conflict (CABAC) programs in the Balkans, review of documents, and interviews with DRC staff – both former and present Psychosocial Program Delegates as well as Program Coordinators and Advisors at DRC Head Quarters.
(74 pages, .pdf) To top

Guide to Jurisprudence on Torture and Ill-Treatment
Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT) (2002)
Article 3 of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights.
(62 pages, .pdf) To top

Guideline: Health and Migration
By OMEGA Graz (2002)
Guideline for refugees and asylum seekers in Austria.
(16 pages, .pdf) To top

Guidelines for International Training in Mental Health and Psychosocial Interventions for Trauma Exposed Populations in Clinical and Community Settings
By Stevan Weine, Yael Danieli, Derick Silove, Mark van Ommeren, John A. Fairbank, Jack Saul, for the Task Force on International Trauma Training of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (2002)
Objective: To develop consensus-based guidelines for training in mental health and psychosocial interventions for trauma-exposed populations in the international arena.
(9 pages, .pdf) To top

Guidelines for the Implementation of a Psychological Support Programme in Emergencies
By IFRC (2002)
These guidelines are based on the International Federation’s publication, Psychological Support: best practices from Red Cross and Red Crescent programmes (2001), and other existing literature. They are intended as suggestions only and should be considered a source of inspiration rather than a standard checklist applicable for all emergency situations.
(8 pages, .pdf) To top

Handbook for Teachers
By Jeannie Annan, Lucia Castelli, Anne Devreux and Elena Locatelli (AVSI) (2003)
You are a teacher and therefore have both the great joy and great responsibility of work with the children in your school. Your skills are a valuable resource and we hope this handbook serves as a support for you in your work.
(72 pages, .pdf) To top

Handbook on State Obligations under the UN Convention against Torture
Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT)(2002)
The Handbook is targeted at groups and individuals working in governement and non-governemental sectors, with some prior knowledge of the Conventions provisions, but who would like to know more. It should be stressed, however, that for legal or other experts on the Convention, the Handbook may not offer much additional information.
(94 pages, .pdf) To top

Handbook on the Prevention of Torture in Europe
The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT)(2001)
This handbook deals with the mandate and functioning of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) and the standards it has developed concerning the treatment of persons deprived of their liberty and conditions of detention. The handbook will be composed of ten brochures, six of which have been published to date. The brochures are also available in French. To top

Helping Children After a Disaster
Te American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (1990)
A catastrophe such as an earthquake, hurricane, tornado, fire or flood is frightening to children and adults alike. It is important to acknowledge the frightening parts of the disaster when talking with a child about it. Falsely minimizing the danger will not end a child` concerns. Several factors affect a child` response to disaster. To top

Helping Children Cope with the Stresses of War: A manual for parents and teachers
By Mona Macksoud, UNICEF (1993)
This manual is intended for parents and teachers in communities where children are daily subjected to the extreme stresses of war and other forms of systematic violence.
(144 pages, .pdf) To top

Helping Children Outgrow War
Global Information Network in Education (GINIE)(2002)
The number of countries in Africa where there is internal armed conflict has grown steadily over the past decade. Children are the most vulnerable population affected; they are the first victims of physical, social, and emotional violence, and of failed health systems. When access to education is severed, their potential to develop is stunted. This document is a response to the growing need to address these issues from the Office of Sustainable Development of USAID’s Africa Bureau (AFR/SD).
(135 pages, .pdf) To top

Helping Children and Adolescents Cope with Violence and Disasters
National Institute of Mental Health, USA (2001)
The purpose of this fact sheet is to tell what is known about the impact of violence and disasters on children and adolescents and suggest steps to minimize long-term emotional harm. To top

Helping Refugee Children in Schools
ECRE (2001)
A guide for teachers in Russia,Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova.
(48 pages, .pdf) To top

Individual Case Studies - Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
A working tool by the German Red Cross.
(24 pages, .pdf) To top

Innovations and Networking in Trauma Treatment within the Framework of an Integrated Approach
Interview manual by the Geman Red Cross (2000)
An EU-Project within the framework of the European Initiative for the Promotion of Democracy and the Protection of Human Rights (Budget Line B7-70) Time-frame: 01.04.2000 – 31.03.2003 To top

Istanbul Protocol
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (1999)
Manual on the Effective Investigation and Documentation of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
(84 pages, .pdf) To top

Kathmandu declaration on the Use of Children as Soldiers
Human Rights Watch (2000)
Declaration from the Asia-Pacific Conference on the Use of Children as Soldiers, held in Kathmandu, in the Kingdom of Nepal, from 15-18 May 2000. To top

Managing Stress in the Field
IFRC (2001)
This leaflet is designed as a practical tool for delegates before, during and after their mission. Its aim is to help them to recognize, prevent and reduce stress in the field.
(23 pages, .pdf) To top

Managing Traumatic Stress: Tips for Recovering From Natural Disasters
APA Help Center (2005)
When a natural disaster affects a community, the resulting trauma can reverberate even with those not directly affected by the disaster.
Disasters of this type can be sudden and overwhelming. In addition to the often catastrophic toll on lives and property, a disaster like a tsunami(tidal wave), hurricane or fire can have an impact on those who have lost loved ones and even those who feel more vulnerable as a result of learning about the disaster. To top

Managing stress in humanitarian workers
Antares Foundation (2005)
Humanitarian relief and rehabilitation agencies have to operate in a continuing changing context of increasing complexity. Often the work of their staff in the field is seriously hampered by deteriorating security, decreasing respect for their work and life (relief workers are sometimes targeted), and lack of a functioning government and authority. Due to these circumstances the humanitarian agencies are forced to work under increasing tension and discontinuity, resulting in pressure on their staff and a diminishing quality of work.
(15 pages, .pdf) To top

Manual Psycho-social support of orphans
Humuliza Project, Terre des Hommes, Switzerland (1999)
Representing a different crisis, our aim is to contribute to the discussion of and the search for new coping mechanisms needed in such a situation. Our focus goes on children and the way how the Tanzanian society is looking to them.
(87 pages, .pdf) To top

Mapping the Multidimensional Picture of Acute Responses to Traumatic Stress.
Arieh Y. Shalev, M.D. and Robert . J. Ursano, M.D, In press, Oxford University Press (2001)
Recent years have seen a growing interest in the immediate responses evoked by traumatic stressors. This renewed interest has several sources, not the least of which is the desire to prevent the occurrence of prolonged stress disorders among survivors.
(8 pages, .pdf) To top

Meeting the health needs of refugee and asylum seekers in the UK
NHS London (2002)
This resource pack is for health workers in both the statutory and the voluntary sectors, particularly those with less experience of working with asylum seekers and refugees. It is for both clinicians and service planners.
(86 pages, .pdf) To top

Mental Health in Emergencies
WHO (2003)
This document summarises the present position of the Department of Mental Health and Substance Dependence on assisting populations exposed to extreme stressors, such as refugees, internally displaced persons, disaster survivors and terrorism-, war- or genocide-exposed populations.
(8 pages, .pdf) To top

Mental health and psychosocial care for children affected by natural disasters
WHO (2005)
This document contains information for humanitarian aid workers, health professionals, teachers, and parents to support them in their efforts to provide sensitive and appropriate care for children affected by natural disasters. An integrated, community-focused approach is adopted based on the principles and values of children`s rights, child development, sensitivity to cultural differences, and effective practice based on scientific literature.
(16 pages, .pdf) To top

Monitoring places of detention: a practical guide for NGOs
Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT) and Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) (2004)
Available in Russian and English To top

New Guidelines To Improve Psychological and Social Assistance in Emergencies
Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) (2007)
The Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings clearly state that protecting and promoting mental health and psychosocial well-being is the responsibility of all humanitarian agencies and workers. Until now, many people involved in emergency response have viewed mental health and psychosocial well-being as the sole responsibility of psychiatrists and psychologists. To top

Phases of Traumatic Stress Reactions in a Disaster
By National Center on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (2001)
The thousands of Americans who directly experienced the terror attacks on New York and Washington, and the millions who saw the resulting death and destruction on television, may encounter behavioral and emotional re-adjustment problems. Many post-traumatic stress symptoms are normal responses to an overwhelming stressor which may change our assumptions and create distress, but will reside in intensity with time. Experts agree that the amount of time it takes people to recover, depends both on what happened to them and on what meaning they gave to those events. To top

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Guide for the Frontline
PTSD Alliance (2000)
As a society, we value and teach the importance of self-reliance, inner strength, and the ability to overcome adversity. In fact, it is common for people to feel that no matter what they’ve faced or lived with, no matter how extreme the ordeal, they should be able to carry on.
(20 pages, .pdf) To top

Preventing Torture
The Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, ODIHR (1999)
The purpose of this handbook is to enable each OSCE field mission or other type of OSCE long-term presence to make an effective and constructive contribution to this undertaking. It is based on the experience of numerous international bodies whose meticulous work has exposed torture and ill-treatment to the light of systematic inquiry and established the practical steps that can be taken to identify, control, and ultimately, eliminate these abuses.
(91 pages, .pdf) To top

Principles of Working with Traumatized Children
By Bruce D. Perry, M.D., Ph.D. (1995)
Special Considerations for Parents, Caretakers, and Teachers. To top

Promoting Psychosocial Well-Being Among Children Affected by Armed Conflict and Displacement
Interagency Network for Education in Emergencies (1996)
Save the Children began in the aftermath of the First World War and the Russian revolution to help refugee and displaced children across Europe. Since then, wars, especially civil wars, have increased: More than 50 of them were raging in 1995. A central feature of these conflicts is that 80-90 percent of the victims are civilians, most of them women and children.
(14 pages, .pdf) To top

Protecting Persons Affected By Natural Disasters
Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) (2006)
Floods, earthquakes and storms have routinely displaced tens of thousands around the world. Over the past few years, the international community’s response to these catastrophes has become ever swifter and more sophisticated. Until very recently, however, and in the rush to deliver life-saving aid, little attention was paid to the rights of these displaced people.
(36 pages, .pdf) To top

Psycho-Social and Mental Health Programmes
UNHCR (2000)
Useful resources and information to guide interventions.
(59 pages, .pdf) To top

Psycho-social Support in Situations of Mass Emergency
By Ministry of Public Health, Belgium (2001)
This document offers decision-makers a methodological guide and a coherent model for psychological and social support in situations of mass emergency. Recommendations are the result of a series of exchanges of ideas and discussions between professionals from a wide range of backgrounds, coming from all over Europe. They include professionals with a psychological or social work training, public health physicians, medical emergency services staff, rescuers, academic experts, independent consultants, volunteers, local and central government civil servants.
(57 pages, .pdf) To top

Psychological First Aid Manual (PFA)
The Terrorism Disaster Branch of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network and the National Center for PTSD (2006)
PFA is an evidence-informed modular approach for assisting people in the immediate aftermath of disaster and terrorism: to reduce initial distress, and to foster short and long-term adaptive functioning. It is for use by mental health specialists including first responders, incident command systems, primary and emergency health care providers, school crisis response teams, faith-based organizations, disaster relief organizations, Community Emergency Response Teams, Medical Reserve Corps, and the Citizens Corps in diverse settings. To top

Psychological Impact of the Tsunami Across the Indian Rim
National Center for Child Traumatic Stress (2005)
The massively destructive tsunami that struck across the Indian Rim caused extensive loss of life and injury as well as devastation to property and community resources. The combination of life-threatening personal experiences, loss of loved ones and property, pervasive post-disaster adversities, and enormous economic impact on families and entire nations pose an extreme psychological challenge to the recovery of children and families in the affected areas. This brief information sheet provides an overview of expected psychological and physical responses among survivors.
(4 pages, .pdf) To top

Psychological Services in Disasters
Australasian Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (2000)
The Guidelines have been developed to offer service providers, managers and practitioners with insights, principles and strategies in key facets of assessment and delivery of psychological services in the disaster context. Their aims are to facilitate recovery, ensure ethical practice, and to protect victims and support workers in their respective roles.
(50 pages, .pdf) To top

Psychosocial Aspects of the Tsunami Disaster
By the IFRC Reference Centre for Psychosocial Support (2005)
People in these areas may be experiencing many different emotional and physical responses at this time. Some of these responses include confusion, fear, hopelessness, sleeplessness, crying, difficulty in eating, headaches, body aches, anxiety, and anger.
(1 page, .pdf) To top

Psychosocial Aspects of the Tsunami Disaster - What You Can Do to Support Children in Disaster Areas
By the IFRC Reference Centre for Psychosocial Support (2005)
For children, being able to trust at least one adult who can take care of them can pull them through stressful times. Therefore, helping children to maintain relationships with a family member or known person is very important.
(3 pages, .pdf) To top

Psychosocial Aspects of the Tsunami Disaster - Why People May Be Experiencing Emotional and Mental Distress
By the IFRC Reference Centre for Psychosocial Support (2005)
Psychosocial interventions should not interfere with the organisation of food, shelter, clothing, public health services and the control of communicable diseases in the areas affected by the tsunami.
(3 pages, .pdf) To top

Psychosocial Care and Protection of Tsunami Affected Children
Inter-Agency working group on separated and unaccompanied children (2004)
Exposure to natural disasters has a devastating impact on the psychological and social well-being of children, adolescents and adults. It is now widely accepted that early psychosocial interventions that help to mitigate the effect of trauma, alleviating psychological distress, and strengthen resiliency must be an integral part of humanitarian assistance.
(3 pages, .doc) To top

Psychosocial and Mental Health Care - Assistance in (Post) Disaster and Conflict Areas
By the Netherlands Institute for Care and Welfare (2000)
Current psychosocial aid and mental health care concentrate largely on strengthening or restoring a new social balance and on individual rehabilitation. Both forms of care are not only important to the well-being and health of individuals or groups of individuals, but also in terms of providing opportunities for social, economic and political stabilisation. To top

Rapid Assessment of Mental Health Needs of Refugees, Displaced and Other Populations Affected by Conflict and Post-Conflict Situations
WHO (2001)
This tool is applicable to forcibly displaced populations in humanitarian crisis as a result of persecution, war, and conflict. Given the evolution of humanitarian relief work, peace keeping and peace enforcing operations, increasingly, humanitarian protection and assistance is extended to besieged and non-displaced populations.
(34 pages, .pdf) To top

Reactions and Guidelines for Children Following Trauma/Disaster
Compiled by Robin H. Gurwitch, Ph.D., Jane F. Silovsky, Ph.D., Shelli Schultz, Ph.D., Michelle Kees, Ph.D., & Sarah Burlingame, B.A. Department of Pediatrics University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (2003)
What to Expect After Trauma: Possible Reactions in Elementary School Students. To top

Reactions and Guidelines for Children Following Trauma/Disaster
American Psychological Association (2005)
What to Expect After Trauma:
Possible reactions in elementary school, middle school and high school students and teachers
Guidelines for teachers. To top

Refugee Health Care: A Handbook for Health Professionals
By the Minister of Health, New Zealand (2001)
The Handbook is part of this country`s ongoing commitment to successful resettlement of refugees and asylum seekers. To top

Reparation
REDRESS (2003)
A sourcebook for victims of torture and other violations of human rights and international and international humanitarian law.
(72 pages, .pdf) To top

Repatriation as a Part of Reconstructive Process in Torture Survivors
IRCT Zagreb (2003)
Repatriation as a part of reconstructive process in torture surviviors (interpersonal and intrapersonal process).
Made in collaboration with the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency.
(84 pages, .pdf) To top

Reporting Killings as Human Rights Violations Handbook
By Kate Thompson and Camille Giffard,University of Essex (2002)
The Reporting Killings as Human Rights Violations Handbook is a reference guide for anyone who wishes to know how to take action in response to allegations of suspicious deaths. It explains, simply and clearly, how the process of reporting and submitting complaints to international bodies and mechanisms actually works; how to make the most of it: how you might go about documenting allegations, what you can do with the information once it has been collected, how to choose between the various mechanisms according to your particular objectives, and how to present your information in a way which makes it most likely that you will obtain a response.
(207 pages, .pdf) To top

Resolution on Guidelines and Measures for the Prohibition and Prevention of Torture, Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment in Africa
The African Commission on Human and Peoples` Rights (2002)
The Guidelines and Measures for the Prohibition and Prevention of Torture, Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment and Punishment in Africa, "Robben Island Guidelines", were drafted in a workshop convened by the APT and the African Commission in February 2002 on Robben Island, a symbolic place in South Africa where Nelson Mandela and anti-Apartheid activists were detained for years.
(8 pages, .pdf) To top

Resource Manual for Teachers
The Center for Victims of Torture (2002)
This web-based resource manual was developed as one tool to help teachers of these students gain a deeper understanding of the refugee students` experience along with practical ways of working with these students in the classroom. This is not a “how to” manual, rather it is a compilation of many downloadable articles and web links that will introduce the educator to the vast number of organizations and resources that help to enhance work with those displaced from their homes by war and violence. To top

Sexual Violence Against Refugees
UN High Commissioner for Refugees (1995)
The Guidelines provide basic advice on appropriate action, particularly preventive, and are also intended to encourage active reflection and discussion between colleagues. They seek to promote attitudinal changes in relation to sexual violence where these are an obstacle, to improve or initiate services that address psychosocial as well as health needs, and, overall, to create an awareness and sensitivity to the special needs and concerns of refugees who have been subjected to sexual violence.
(102 pages, .pdf) To top

Specialized Training Manual on Psychosocial Counseling for Trafficked Youth
International Labour Organization (ILO) and International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC) (2002)
The manual is divided into different sessions, each dealing with a topic that is relevant for counseling trafficked youth. Each session describes in detail the activities to be conducted and all the materials needed, transparencies for giving lectures and handouts for additional reading materials for the participants.
(69 pages, .pdf) To top

Survivors Perception of Reparation - REDRESS
REDRESS (2001)
It is hoped that this research will act as a first step towards a better understanding of what survivors want and expect from reparation. This in turn will help to make the services offered as effective as possible. The survey details what research has already been undertaken in this area and identifies gaps in that research, with a view to determining the needs for additional courses of action.
(112 pages, .pdf) To top

The Disaster Context: Guidelines for Psychological Services Practice
ReliefWeb (2005)
The need for guidelines for psychological services practice is evidenced by the different context in which psychological services need to be delivered to disaster affected persons. In the disaster context, psychological services are delivered within a community structure which is typically disrupted whereas these services are normally delivered within a functioning social structure in an orderly patterned existence. Where formal intervention is required it is usually delivered in a clinical, office based setting. Disaster generates varying degrees of chaos and renders many everyday systems and coping mechanisms dysfunctional or impotent. Service delivery therefore has to be flexible, mobile and creative.
(69 pages, .pdf) To top

The Iraq War Clinician Guide, 2nd Edition
National Center for PTSD (2004)
The Iraq War Clinician Guide was developed by members of the National Center for PTSD and the Department of Defense. It was developed specifically for clinicians and addresses the unique needs of veterans of the Iraq war.
(188 pages, .pdf)
(individual chapters avaialble here;
http://www.ncptsd.va.gov/ncmain/ncdocs/manuals/nc_manual_iwcguide.html) To top

The Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
UN (2002)
The objective of this Protocol is to establish a system of regular visits undertaken by independent international and national bodies to places where people are deprived of their liberty, in order to prevent torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
(13 pages, .pdf) To top

The PILOTS Database
The PILOTS database is an electronic index to the worldwide literature on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental-health consequences of exposure to traumatic events. It is produced by the National Center for PTSD, and is available to the public on computer systems maintained by Dartmouth College. To top

The Tampere Declaration
The World Organisation Agains Torture (OMCT) (2001)
The "International Conference on Children, Torture and Other Forms of Violence: Facing the Facts, Forging the Future" brought together 183 participants from 73 countries from all regions, representing a wide range of international and national NGOs, other organisations and observers from governments and international govermental organisations.
(5 pages, .pdf) To top

The Torture Reporting Handbook
By Camille Giffard, Human Rights Centre, University of Essex (2000)
This Handbook describes how to document and respond to allegations of torture within the international system for the protection of human rights.
Also available in Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish and Turkish.
(172 pages, .pdf) To top

The Torture Survivors` Handbook
REDRESS (2000)
Information about support for torture survivors in the UK.
REDRESS has produced this Handbook to help torture survivors meet the varied problems which they face. To make this easier it has been divided into two parts.
(52 pages, .pdf) To top

Tokyo Guidelines for Trauma and Reconstruction
By Richard F. Mollica, MD, MAR and Yasushi Kikuchi, EdD (2001)
Assistance in "complex humanitarian emergencies" has remained largely unchanged or unchallenged since the end of World War II. One dilemma for international policy makers is that they do not have a scientific methodology for assessing the cultural, political, and social meanings of trauma in the lives of civilian populations and how these traumatic experiences alter the everyday lives of the affected individuals. To top

Training Manual for Teachers
By Jeannie Annan, Lucia Castelli, Anne Devreux, Elena Locatelli (AVSI) (2003)
Many NGOs work for children and communities in war situations. In recent years growing attention has been paid to answering not only basic needs —
shelter, food, water, medical care — but also to increasing the mental and psychological health of the child. The assumption is that the trauma children
experience in such situations can significantly affect their psychological and physical growth.
(64 pages, .pdf) To top

Trauma Awareness Pamphlets
KwaZulu-Natal Programme for Survivors of Violence (2004)
Three trauma awareness pamphlets;
- How trauma affects us
- How people recover from trauma
- What communities can do to break the cycle of violence
(6 pages, .pdf) To top

Trauma and Psychosocial Assistance
By Georgian NGO, Foundation for the Development of Human Resources (2000)
This book is the result of the experiences of three Georgian non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in their psychosocial work with internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
(98 pages, .pdf) To top

Treating Survivors in the Acute Aftermath of Traumatic Events
Arieh Y. Shalev, M.D., Department of Psychiatry, Hadassah University Hopsital, Jerusalem, Israel (2000)
Current knowledge about post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has sensitized the public and the mental health community to the damaging potential of exposure to traumatic events.
(19 pages, .pdf) To top

Treatment of PTSD
A Handout From the National Center for PTSD (2006)
Most people experience considerable distress and avoidance after being exposed to a severely traumatic experience. This is a normal and adaptive response and often includes
reliving the event in thoughts, images, and dreams. This initial reliving of the event may in fact contribute to the healing process and provide a way of achieving mastery over the event. For most people, these symptoms usually become less severe and gradually
disappear over time. For others, the symptoms persist and become chronic, leading to PTSD.
(5 pages, .pdf) To top

Tsunami: Public Health Issues
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2005)
Tsunamis such as those that recently hit South Asia can have serious public health consequences. This page provides information on those public health issues. To top

UNHCHR - Model questionnaire
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (2002)
Model questionnaire to be completed by persons alleging torture or their representatives To top

Violence against women in war
Medica Mondiale (2004)
Sexual violence and torture of women and girls is a part of every war. For a long time this has been regarded as an inevitable „byproduct“ of war and to a lorge extent ignored. However in the past 10 years since the massive scale of rape commited in Bosnia-Herzegowina and the late rehabilitation of women forced into prostitution from the Asian-
Pacific war this has been given a wider public focus.
(1 page, .pdf) To top

Working with Children in Unstable Situations - A Guiding Manual for Psycho-social Interventions
Refugee Studies Centre, University of Oxford and UNICEF (2002)
The manual ‘Working with Children in Unstable Settings’ aims to guide UNICEF staff and UNICEF partners in how best to respond to the psychosocial needs of children in unstable situations. It aims to introduce humanitarian workers to psychosocial principles and UNICEF’s position on these principles. It provides a number of examples from UNICEF field work of how these principles have been turned into concrete interventions.
(82 pages, .pdf) To top