| CONFERENCES | |
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1994
Rehabilitation
of ex-political prisoners.
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The first speaker was Dr. Eyad el Sarraj, director of the Gaza Community Mental Health Programme, who welcomed the guests and introduced the second speaker, Dr. Haidar Abdel Shafi, the head of the Gaza Strip National Committee for Rehabilitation. He said that the Palestinian Community as a whole and not only ex-political prisoners were in need of rehabilitation due to the trauma of 27 years of occupation. The second speech by Mr. Ahed Besiso from the Gaza branch of Amideast pointed out that rehabilitation is a long process which needs a lot of material and human effort. The first session was entitled" The psycho-social aspects of torture" and was chaired by Dr. Reyad el Za'noon, head of the Palestinian Health Council. Speakers and topics at this first session were as follows: Dr. Derek Summerfield (Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture, UK.) "The experience of violent conflict: lessons from young men in Nicaragua and elsewhere" Dr. Soren Bojholm (International Rehabilitation Council for Torture victims, Denmark) "Psycho-social aspects of torture - The experience of RCT". Mr. Ahmed Abu Tawahina (GCMHP) "Palestinian Experience as victims of torture".
Session Two: Rights and Law Chairperson: Mr. Raji Sourani, Gaza Centre for Rights and law. Dr. Neve Gordon (The association of Israeli-Palestinian physicians for Human Rights) "Compensation suits as a tool for rehabilitation of torture survivors". Dr. Helen Bamber (Medical Foundation for the care of victims of Torture) "Impunity and Reparation".
Session Three: Therapeutic experience in treatment of victims of torture. Chairperson: Ms. Rana Nashashibi (Palestinian Counselling Centre). Dr. Alain Staehr (international Rehabilitation council for torture victims, Denmark) "Therapeutic experience in treatment of victims of torture - the Middle East experience". Dr. Soren Bojholm (International Rehabilitation Council for Torture victims, Denmark) "The rehabilitation of torture survivors - a multi disciplinary approach". Dr. Erol Yesilyurt (Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture, UK.) "Examples of our work and principles of practice".
Session Four: Community repression and Rehabilitation. Chairperson: Dr. Mohammed Zian el Dien (Gaza Strip National Committee for Rehabilitation). Ms. Sheila Melzack (Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture, UK.) "Family integrity in a repressive society: working in the community". Discussion led by Dr. Helen Bamber and Mr. Ahmed Abu Tawahina.