Violences sexuelles liées au terrorisme : prise en charge psychologique des femmes yézidies en Irak

Abstract

From 2018 to 2022, the Lebanese Association of Victims of Terrorism (AVT-L), in collaboration with the United Nations (United Nations Office for Drug and Crime [UNODC]) and with the support of the government of the Netherlands, implemented a project to provide psychological care to victims of terrorism in Iraq. Ninety Yezidi women participated in this program. Each one of the participants had experienced sexual violence during the takeover of part of the Iraqi territory by the jihadists of the Islamic State group (ISIS) between 2014 and 2018. Following a semi-structured interview, these Yezidi women first participated in experience-sharing sessions for three consecutive days. Then, they benefited from an individual psychological follow-up for a period of 6 months. Over this ten-year period, the association's team has developed a protocol that combines art therapy with group and individual psychotherapy. The care is evaluated on a regular basis. From the first interview, the psychologist uses the results of the Traumaq, an evaluation tool that assesses trauma-related symptoms. Subsequently, the PCL-5 scale is used to measure the evolution of the symptoms. A considerable support that is studied in association with the participant's life story and the social, personal, and professional evolution of each person. At the end of the treatment, significant changes were observed, particularly for criteria B and D of the DSM-5. We recorded a reduction in intrusive memories, as well as an improvement in emotional and physical reactions to these memories. Feelings of guilt were reduced. Significant improvement in sleep and concentration was also noted. Participants experienced an improvement in their self-esteem, with a desire to pursue studies and be involved in active projects in their community. However, anger about injustice and a lack of compensation remained palpable. This work culminated in the accompaniment of a delegation of these women to make their voices heard at the United Nations headquarters in New York. In this paper, we will highlight the art therapy aspect of this program, especially that of using clay as the medium for the art therapy.