Victims Of Conflict Research Articles

Narrating the History: The Reinterpretation of Symbolic Reparation for the Reconciliation and Redemption of Child Victims of Conflict

:In Colombia there is a large sector of the population that has been the object of violation and ignorance of their human rights. They, like all victims of this type of violation, need to be repaired in a comprehensive manner. The concept of symbolic reparation that includes this integral reparation aims to reclaim the human being, to reconstruct it from the wounds and traces left by the violation of human rights in his memory. In a more sympathetic sense than is usually attributed to it, it seeks to bring the practice and experience of individuals to a level of abstraction that allows them to conceptualize a specific fact and articulate it with other concepts, so that the individual acquires adequate resilience. In this sense, the exercise and the experience of this reconstruction through the narratives, can provide certain conditions that make possible the process of symbolic reparation, which is exactly what it is tried to demonstrate with this investigation. This document is part of the research entitled "The narratives as a mechanism for the symbolic reparation of children victims of human rights violations", which seeks to understand the factors that make it possible to implement narratives as a mechanisms for symbolic reparation of children who are victims of human rights violations, as opposed to the symbolic reparations that have been erroneously ordered by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights and the Colombian Supreme Court and Constitutional Court.

Narrating the History: The Reinterpretation of Symbolic Reparation for the Reconciliation and Redemption of Child Victims of Conflict

:In Colombia there is a large sector of the population that has been the object of violation and ignorance of their human rights. They, like all victims of this type of violation, need to be repaired in a comprehensive manner. The concept of symbolic reparation that includes this integral reparation aims to reclaim the human being, to reconstruct it from the wounds and traces left by the violation of human rights in his memory. In a more sympathetic sense than is usually attributed to it, it seeks to bring the practice and experience of individuals to a level of abstraction that allows them to conceptualize a specific fact and articulate it with other concepts, so that the individual acquires adequate resilience. In this sense, the exercise and the experience of this reconstruction through the narratives, can provide certain conditions that make possible the process of symbolic reparation, which is exactly what it is tried to demonstrate with this investigation. This document is part of the research entitled "The narratives as a mechanism for the symbolic reparation of children victims of human rights violations", which seeks to understand the factors that make it possible to implement narratives as a mechanisms for symbolic reparation of children who are victims of human rights violations, as opposed to the symbolic reparations that have been erroneously ordered by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights and the Colombian Supreme Court and Constitutional Court.

“Rupture” and the State: The “Radical Narrative” of the Peace Community of San José de Apartadó, Colombia

The Peace Community of San Jose de Apartado in Uraba is one of the most emblematic groups of victims of the Colombian conflict. Trapped between the guerrilla, the paramilitaries and the army they declared themselves ‘neutral’ to the conflict, but violations continued, and they declared themselves in ‘rupture’ with the Colombian state. This article traces their ideas of ‘neutrality’ and ‘rupture’ ethnographically, showing how their genealogy constitutes what I call the ‘radical narrative’, an interpretative framework according to which the Community perceives every action of the state. It positions this analysis within anthropological debates which see the state as produced via state-society encounters with material and imaginative dimensions, in this case, direct violence and bureaucratic inefficiency. It concludes that communities’ perceptions of the state must be taken seriously in any trust-building attempt.

Gender, the Nigerian Civil War and Hard Choices: Nihilism or Absurdism (?) in Isidore Okpewho’s The Last Duty

Abstract This paper entitled “Gender, the Nigerian Civil War and Hard Choices: Nihilism or Absurdism(?) in Isidore Okpewho’s The Last Duty” evinces an evaluative excursion into the author’s delineation of gender in war and its concomitants regarding actions, inactions, and the mindset of the actors and the acted-upon (victims) of the fratricidal Nigerian conflict within a designated theatre. We demonstrated that the quantum impact of the war engages some near-totally nihilistic imperatives of the war. Nevertheless, we surmised, at the final count, that the war results in high-wire tension rather than erode the indices for hope regarding the war victims and victimizers alike; and by dangerous extension, the Nigerian nation. Although we conceded the presence of dystopia which is life-threatening and socially destabilizing, our calculation in the final analysis, is that the tensions generated against both genders in the war are essentially absurdist, not nihilist. In this vein of analysis, we concluded that Okpewho’s delineation retains deliberately enough rays for reconstructive, rehabilitative, regenerative and cohesive engagements that will pave the way for societal survival and continuity.

Perceptions about implementation of a Narrative Community-based Group Therapy for Afro-Colombians victims of Violence.

Given the context and the number of armed conflict victims in the Colombian Pacific coast and their difficulties to access psycho-social care, Narrative Community-based Group Therapy appears as a viable mental health intervention. The objective of this study is to describe the process of implementation and results of the intervention in Afro-Colombian victims of violence, in the municipalities of Buenaventura and Quibdó. More specifically, we will be looking at the perspectives of workers and supervisors, through evaluative case studies and individual in-depth interviews. The therapy allows us to identify support and coping systems through coexistence, communication and interaction. It requires an adaptation process to the diversity of knowledge and expressions of victims of Colombian violence, greater empathy from care providers and rigor in their profiles selection, facilities ensuring security and confidentiality, and links with other educational, employment and recreational organizations. It is important to include these results while improving current and future intervention processes.

Relationship Between Spiritual Well-being with Resilience and Mental Health in Social Conflict Victims in Aceh Singkil

Relationship Between Spiritual Well-being with Resilience and Mental Health in Social Conflict Victims in Aceh Singkil

Multiple-victimisation due to armed conflict and emotional distress in the State of Magdalena, Colombia

BackgroundEmotional distress is common in Colombian armed conflict victims. Multiple-victimisation is associated with an increase in emotional distress than victimisation due a single event. However, the association between poly-victimisation and emotional distress among victims of the armed conflict in Colombia has not been documented. ObjectiveTo study the association between multiple-victimisation and emotional distress in victims of armed conflict in the State of Magdalena, Colombia. MethodsA cross-sectional study was designed, with a secondary analysis of registration of the Psychosocial Care Program and Victim Integral Health (PAPSIVI) in the State of Magdalena, from 2013 to 2014. The profile formula grouped demographic variables, victimising events, and a set of symptoms of emotional distress (perceived discrimination, depressive and anxiety-stress). Odds ratio (OR, 95%CI) were established as measures of association. ResultsA total of 943 people were included, with 67.4% women, and ages between 18 and 94 years (mean 47.9±14.2). A total of 109 (11.7%) suffered from multiple victimisation. Multiple victimisation events were associated with more emotional distress, depressive symptoms (OR=1.5; 95%CI, 1.3–1.8), perceived stigma (OR=1.3; 95%CI, 1.1–1.5), and anxiety-stress (OR=1.2; 95%CI 1.0–1.4) than a single event. ConclusionsThere are more emotional distress in multiple victimisations than in a single victimisation event during armed conflict in this region of Colombia. Further studies are required on this topic.

Conflict, Livelihood Security and Children in the Conflict Affected Kokrajhar District BTAD, Assam

<div><p><em>This paper is an attempt to investigate into the livelihood insecurity of the people living in conflict prone areas and its resultant impact on the overall wellbeing of the children of the area. It focuses mainly on two communities in Kokrajhar district of Assam i.e. the Bodos and the immigrant Muslims which have experienced series of conflicts in the recent decades. Generally the first priority in conflict prone areas is the immediate concern of the Government and Non Government actors is focused on the immediate loss of life and property. The sufferings of the survivors of conflict however go unnoticed. The survivors are the worst victim of conflict. The conflicts have led to mass displacement of people from both the communities forcing them to leave their homes and to live in makeshift camps. The victims living in the camps are deprived of basic human right to life and livelihood. Many of them are living in the relief camps for more than a decade, with no scope for education and skill development for getting a dignified livelihood opportunity. Even those who are not displaced or have returned to their villages lost their livelihood due to the breakdown of the civil infrastructure. The livelihood insecurity of the parents lead to serious child right violation in the conflict affected area. Several unwelcome consequences like child trafficking, child marriage, child labour can be seen in the area. this paper tries to capture the actual picture from the study area.</em></p></div>

Role of Social Work in the Integrating Refugee and Immigrant Children into Schools

Refugee children who are victims of ongoing wars and conflicts around the world is one of the most vulnerable groups that require international legal protection and professional intervention. Wars and conflicts have forced millions of children to leave their countries and displacements to neighboring countries, accompanied by their families or unaccompanied. However, the problems and trauma experienced by children during a period of asylum, or after is not less than of those experienced in an environment of war and conflict. This stage is one of the critical stages that affect a child's growth. It requires from the host countries meeting the necessary needs of children and developing therapeutic, rehabilitative and preventive programs as well as psychological and social support programs. Problem of education is one of the most important problems facing the vast majority of refugee children, there are millions of refugee children are deprived of the right to education as indicated in the reports prepared on this issue. Therefore most of the host countries are developing programs that aims to integrate refugee children into schools and to protect their rights to education. Since social work is considered as the most important professions that play an active role in the integration process. This is through the direct practice with refugee and immigrant students and their families and the surrounding environment as well as cooperation with governmental and nongovernmental institutions in this area. This paper will discuss the role of school social work in dealing with refugee childrens’ problems in the school and facilitate their integration. In light of this discussion this research will give suggestions to develop the performance of the school social worker during the integration process.

Women in Security Policy-making: A Case Study of Pakistan

Traditionally and historically masculine attributes are attached to the concept of “Security.” Therefore, security itself and the issues related to it are dominated by male members of a society. Such a situation leads to the absence of gender perspective from security policy-making in most of the countries in the world. Women’s perspective is absent from macro to micro level. Keeping in view the fact that women comprise almost 50 per cent of the world’s population, it is pertinent to give them their space in security policy-making. Women are the prime victims of conflicts, wars and poor security. Moreover, according to various researches, they view conflict differently and in a more holistic manner than males. This research study, while highlighting the significance of women’s role in the society, explores the situation of female participation in security policy-making in Pakistan against the backdrop of social, political, religious and gender perspectives. Finally, it offers recommendations for the way forward.

The Effect of Mindfulness and Implementation Planning on the Process of Granting and Seeking Forgiveness Among Young Adults

Previous research suggests that college-aged students, especially first-year college students, are particularly prone to experience relational conflict. Interpersonal forgiveness has been well-documented as a variable that can reduce relational conflict among young adults. However, limited empirical research to date has explored the motivation and ability of college-aged students to engage in forgiveness granting behaviors when they are the victim of an interpersonal conflict; this lack of empirical research is especially noteworthy when considering the perpetrator’s perspective and why (motivation) and how (ability) perpetrators engage in forgiveness seeking behaviors following conflict. The current research assessed forgiveness granting and seeking behaviors for victims and perpetrators of an interpersonal transgression, respectively. Using behavior change models as a theoretical guide, we exposed young adults to a message pertaining to reasons/motivations for why they should engage in forgiveness behaviors as well as two techniques (i.e., mindfulness or implementation planning) that may promote the ability to express granting/seeking forgiveness. Sampling from 144 young adults, results indicate that participants exposed to reasons/motives for forgiveness as well as a mindfulness or implementation planning technique were more likely to engage in forgiveness grating/seeking behaviors than participants who were not exposed to this information. Participants’ mood and attitudes toward forgiveness granting/seeking were enhanced by receiving both a message and a technique. These results were especially pronounced for victims of an interpersonal transgression who practiced mindfulness. Overall, mindfulness appeared to be the most promising technique in promoting forgiveness.

SANTRI DAN MULTIKULTURALISME

Sambas conflict in 1997 and 1999 caused big number of refugees, mainly Madureses, which spread in various regions. Many young refugees were sheltered at Islamic boarding schools (pondok pesantren), especially in East Java. They usually got special treatment, from financial dispensation to psychological assistance. One pondok pesantren accommodating the Victims of Sambas conflict was Raudlatul Ulum 1 Ganjaran Gondanglegi Malang. Although it did not have particular program to handle those young victims, a number conflict victims were found. The research problems are formulated as follows: (1) how is the Sambas conflict victims’ perception on multiculturalism at Islamic boarding School Raudlatul Ulum 1; (2) what is the role of the boarding school in the formation of their perception on multiculturalism? It is a field research with qualitative approach. This research resulted that the conflict which the victims had experienced in Sambas had provided deep trauma, especially psychologically one. Their mentality and perceptions are also affected significantly, especially shortly after the conflict. This is noticed from their fear of meeting with people from different ethnicity, especially Dayak and Melayu. But over time, the trauma turned into an understanding that the conflicts occurred because of economic interest or because of political engineering based on the interests of the rulers. One of the factors that shape their perception of this conflict is pondok pesantren. Its environment and the education system significantly affected their perception. Pondok pesantren inhabited by the students with quite vast of race, ethnicity or language, thereby building tolerance between them, while its education system could build the character of leaders who are ready to protect the society with all its diversity.

Victims of maritime conflict, compensation claims and the role of the admiralty court in the early modern period

Victims of war have existed since time immemorial and, in the same vein, so have certain mechanisms for the redress of their injuries. Admiralty courts in early modern Europe are historical platforms in which certain groups of victims of maritime conflict could seek compensation under an international prize jurisdiction, as per the law of nations. This article will briefly introduce the reader to the way in which European countries applied their prize jurisdiction. It will then focus on compensation cases during the Anglo-Dutch Wars of the seventeenth century to show how admiralties implemented the right to compensation during these conflicts.

Conflicto y memoria: trayectorias de vida como metodología para comprender el conflicto armado colombiano

El texto problematiza los aciertos y limitantes de la historia oral, la memoria histórica razonada y la elaboración de trayectorias de vida, en la construcción de memoria del conflicto armado colombiano, por ser estos los enfoques que han guiado la investigación. Se expone además la experiencia que ha tenido el equipo de trabajo en la construcción de los acervos documentales y su organización archivística, enfatizando siempre la necesidad de replantear criterios preestablecidos por tratarse de la memoria de víctimas de un conflicto que no cesa. © Revista Colombiana de Ciencias Sociales.

La dignidad en el retorno de las víctimas del conflicto armado en Colombia.

Este articulo [1] analiza el concepto de la dignidad en la migracion de retorno, siendo un concepto que adquiere sentido propio en el contexto del retorno de las victimas del conflicto armado colombiano. De esta forma el objetivo de la investigacion, por un lado, ha sido identificar el tratamiento que se le ha dado en el marco normativo migratorio en el pais, realizando un analisis documental de una serie de mecanismos regulatorios, asi como en el relato de sus protagonistas, para lo cual se realizaron diez entrevistas a retornados vinculados al Foro Internacional de Victimas (FIV) residentes en Bogota. Se concluye que es necesario para construir estrategias de dignificacion de las victimas articular la informacion nacional con la proveniente de instrumentos internacionales y con estudios sobre dignidad que ofrezcan elementos practicos para la construccion de una politica integral, que cuente con el compromiso de los gobiernos asi como de las personas retornadas y de la ciudadania en general. [1] Articulo producto de la investigacion postdoctoral en estudios migratorios de Felipe Aliaga, denominada: “Analisis de los mecanismos de implementacion de los acuerdos de paz en Colombia para la migracion de retorno de las victimas del conflicto armado”, aceptada por el Instituto de Migraciones de la Universidad de Granada, bajo tutela y supervision de Antonia Olmos. Conto con la activa colaboracion de Jorge Enrique Garcia, Diego Ballen Velazquez, Carla Rodriguez Portillo, y especialmente de Chrysalide Duarte, integrantes del Grupo de Estudios sobre Migraciones Internacionales y Vulnerabilidad (GEMIV) de la Universidad Santo Tomas Colombia.

Importancia de la construcción de paz en un contexto de guerra: caso colombiano en el periodo 2000-2016

Este artículo pretende, en primera instancia, plantear algunas consideraciones sobre el postconflicto como meta de la actividad política y económica en Colombia, logrando abordar y comprender los retos que el país debe afrontar ahora que está inmerso en un escenario de postacuerdo, constituyéndose ello, en una importante contribución para la preparación del futuro. Esto será posible realizando una mirada hacia países que se adelantaron ya en la construcción de paz y que se encuentran en un período de postconflicto, permitiendo, en segunda instancia, poder daradvertencia de los errores que pudieran ser cometidos, y a su vez, indicar la dirección hacia la cual debe enfocarse la atención y ayuda para los que han sido los protagonistas del conflicto (víctimas y victimarios) una vez que el Gobierno de Colombia y las Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia-Ejército del Pueblo (FARC-EP) llegaron a un acuerdo para finalizarlo.

Prediction of autosomal STR typing success in ancient and Second World War bone samples

Human-specific quantitative PCR (qPCR) has been developed for forensic use in the last 10 years and is the preferred DNA quantification technique since it is very accurate, sensitive, objective, time-effective and automatable. The amount of information that can be gleaned from a single quantification reaction using commercially available quantification kits has increased from the quantity of nuclear DNA to the amount of male DNA, presence of inhibitors and, most recently, to the degree of DNA degradation. In skeletal remains samples from disaster victims, missing persons and war conflict victims, the DNA is usually degraded. Therefore the new commercial qPCR kits able to assess the degree of degradation are potentially able to predict the success of downstream short tandem repeat (STR) typing. The goal of this study was to verify the quantification step using the PowerQuant kit with regard to its suitability as a screening method for autosomal STR typing success on ancient and Second World War (WWII) skeletal remains. We analysed 60 skeletons excavated from five archaeological sites and four WWII mass graves from Slovenia. The bones were cleaned, surface contamination was removed and the bones ground to a powder. Genomic DNA was obtained from 0.5g of bone powder after total demineralization. The DNA was purified using a Biorobot EZ1 device. Following PowerQuant quantification, DNA samples were subjected to autosomal STR amplification using the NGM kit. Up to 2.51ng DNA/g of powder were extracted. No inhibition was detected in any of bones analysed. 82% of the WWII bones gave full profiles while 73% of the ancient bones gave profiles not suitable for interpretation. Four bone extracts yielded no detectable amplification or zero quantification results and no profiles were obtained from any of them. Full or useful partial profiles were produced only from bone extracts where short autosomal (Auto) and long degradation (Deg) PowerQuant targets were detected. It is concluded that STR typing of old bones after quantification with the PowerQuant should be performed only when both Auto and Deg targets are detected simultaneously with no respect to [Auto]/[Deg] ratio. Prediction of STR typing success could be made according to successful amplification of Deg fragment. The PowerQuant kit is capable of identifying bone DNA samples that will not yield useful STR profiles using the NGM kit, and it can be used as a predictor of autosomal STR typing success of bone extracts obtained from ancient and WWII skeletal remains.

Problemy narodowościowo-religijne Iraku w XXI wieku

Iraq is a specific ethno-religious mosaic. By except Arabs and Kurds there are a lot of minorities which since ancient times were present on this territory. Among them are: Yazidis, Mandaneans, Shabaks, Assyrians, Turkmen and Marsh Arabs. After the collapse of Saddam Husein regime the U.S., British and allied troops began to control Iraq. In the face of such a situation many different radical Muslim groups has evolved and started to fight foreign soldiers. In result, Iraq plunged into instability and chaos and many minorities became a main victims of political and military conflict. Such societies like Yazidis, Mandaneans, Shabaks were persecuted, forced to flee and killed. by now Iraqi state has no any capabilities to protect such minorities which still feel insecure in their own country.

Hakamat and Peacebuilding 2004-2012

Five years after the secession of South Sudan from Sudan, peace building activities in Sudan have not yet come to an end and violent conflicts in Sudan have not stopped – rather, they intensified – while international attention has shifted to other regions of the world. Darfur remains a crisis region, and the southern, eastern, and western edges of the Sudan are still conflict-ridden, even increasingly so. This article looks into how peacebuilding projects engaged Hakamat – female singers and poets – to spread the message of peace between 2004 and 2012. This international involvement was influenced by two things: the image of Hakamat among the riverine North Sudanese and the international peacebuilding community as `troublemakers´; and the fact that they contradict the image of women as passive victims of violent conflicts. It was for these reasons that the Hakamat became a `hot topic´ with organizations working in Darfur. Although the issue was not prominently reported in the newspapers, the organizations working on peacebuilding in Sudan worked keenly with the women singers and poets known as `Hakamat´, who are said to influence the violent conflict in Darfur through their songs and poetry. The Hakamat perhaps first gained the attention of these organizations as potential peacebuilding actors and participants in peacebuilding workshops because of their `extraordinary´ role as women who can influence issues that were regarded as `male affairs´: that is, conflict and violence. Equally, the Government of Sudan also sought to involve the Hakamat in its political processes in Darfur since the late 1980s.This article is based on an unpublished Diploma thesis (Adam 2013), the research for which was carried out in the Greater Khartoum area between August 2012 and April 2013.

The Toll of Patent Trolls: Implications for Innovation

Groundbreaking innovations are protected by patent systems, but innovations are not always transformed into products. Creators sometimes become victims of legal conflicts and money games. These problems particularly originate from the activities of patent trolls, who generate profits by enforcing patent rights against innovative firms. Despite the urgency and severity of the NPE-related issues in a business context, business scholars have been largely reticent in examining such opportunistic misconduct. The current research endeavors to illuminate the nature and causes of patent trolling by grounding Akerlof’s framework, in which information asymmetry results in market failure. This study also provides policy implications that preserve the health of our innovation landscape. Key findings suggest that low patent quality and high litigation costs encourage trolls to engage in ill-intentioned behaviors and discourage inventors from innovations. Increasing the minimum standards and improving patent value itself not only hinder exploitation by trolls but also induce the transfer of wealth to inventors. Discouraging trolls, however, is contingent on two preconditions: the quality of patents should be ensured, and the current damage compensation scheme should be rationalized. Our analytical derivations reveal that actions designed to deter opportunistic intent do not always encourage innovators to commercialize their inventions, but sometimes hinder commercialization of innovations. Our frameworks provide insights into addressing these issues in a synchronous manner, thereby upholding the forward-looking vision of innovation.