AMAN 10th Meeting
|  |
Casablanca
27 – 29 October 2006
The meeting took place in the presence of the following member centers:
Dr. Nagib Nagmeddine – Amel Center / Khartoum – Sudan
Dr. Omar Ahmad Abdul Rahim – Amel Center / Khartoum – Sudan
Ms. Suzan Jabbour – Restart Center / Tripoli – Lebanon
Ms. Sanna Hamzeh – Restart Center / Tripoli – Lebanon
Mr. Mohammed Safa – Khiam Center / Beirut – Lebanon
Dr. Ziad Bechara – Khiam Center / Beirut – Lebanon
Dr. Abdul Hussein El Ajami – Al Karama Center / Bahrain
Ms. Mariam Tarada – Al Karama Center / Bahrain
Dr. AbdulKader El Manouzi - AMRVT / Morocco
Dr. Omar Jabeeha - CAOVT / Morocco
Mr. Yadollah Mohammadi – ODVV / Tehran – Iran
Mr. Ali Reda – ODVV / Tehran – Iran
Ms. Raya Shaker - TRC / Ramallah - Palestine
Mr. Wael Dawabshe - TRC / Ramallah - Palestine
Dr. Suad El Saffar – Basra Center / Iraq
Dr. Magda Adly – El Nadeem Center / Cairo – Egypt
Dr. Ayda Seif El Dawla – El Nadeem Center / Cairo – Egypt
Dr. Hasan Al Khaweja – Jesoor Center, GCMHP / Gaza - Palestine
And in the presence of IRCT representatives as observers:
Dr. Abdul Hamid Afana
Ms. Marguerit Bilau
Ms. Lian Angelks
Before the meeting started a press conference was held in Anfeh hotel.Dr. Abdul Qader El Manouzi, Dr. Al Mousawi, Aman network secretary general Dr. Nagib Najm Eddin, Dr. Omar Joubeiha, Khiam Center secretary general Mohammed Safa and IRCT delegate Ms Liane Angelks spoke to the press.
In their speeches they called for the development of a wide campaign against torture. A documentary about the Israeli aggression against Lebanon made by Khiam Center had a striking effect on the audience.
The opening of the meeting was very interesting. Several Moroccan NGOs participated in it and it was accompanied by wide media coverage.
Dr. Nagib Najm Eddin, Aman network secretary general opened the meeting and welcomed all the participants in it and suggested that one of the audience volunteers to preside the meeting. Mr. Abdul Hamid Afana volunteered and presided the meeting.
Time Organization:
Mr. Afana said that this was the tenth meeting of the network. It comes right after Bahrain meeting and its recommendations of which only a few were implemented, such as obtaining IRCT’s support for the web site, and developing the secretariat role. But the problem, Dr. Afana said, was that not all the centers send their reports to the website for them to be published.
Dr. Najm Eddin suggested to increase the time reserved for the discussion of the strategy, and said that half an hour was not enough and that for the time being he would dicuss the report only. As for the strategic plan, it will be discussed for 2 hours, from 2 o’clock till 4 o’clock. Everybody agreed.
Secretary General Report / The Strategic Plan for Aman Network:
1- Dr. Nagib presented the following report:
Bahrain meeting is considered as a full representation for the centers, same as the meeting of Morocco. Thus, we hope that the collective work will help us come out with better results.
2- Dr. Nagib confirmed that this was the tenth meeting of the network that works in hard conditions, and in an area of wars. Thus, it is our responsibility to stimulate our dormant capacities so we could overcome the crisis. We also welcome all the centers that joined us and those working on becoming members of the network. We received thousands of letters from the members which indicates its serious work. Dr. Nagib explained that the centers work in tough conditions, under threats and menaces of all kinds. The network, said Dr. Nagib, got out of the internal problems concerning the plans and stepped into a new stage, study the country's circumstances (torture phenomenon), and in the next stage it will be more open to others.
3- Unaccomplished Missions: Research resources and others. the network faced problems in this field and had to delete programs that were going underway, and had in exchange to work on urgent programs according to the needs of the current situation.
4- Participation in the monthly bulletin: Dr. Nagib said that a few centers only make this bulletin, despite its importance especially the web site, which reflects the seriousness of the others centers work.
5- The network meetings: Dr. Nagib said that 4 meetings related to the network were held and we thank IRCT for its support to the network and for financing these meetings. The effort made by IRCT, said Dr. Nagib, convinced the others to offer support. But we are still looking for other institutions to participate in the network activities and programs. Besides, we have to look for other sources of funding.
Financial Support Issue:
The network received an aid from IRCT to cover the costs of the current works. We received half the amount for 6 months only in Khartoum, in December 2006. Some of the network centers could not pay their annual participation, only three committed.
Dr. Nagib also said that the centers while filling up the format for requesting a financial aid, they must answer all the questions. And sometimes we lose a kind of support we request for technical errors only. such us writing the report for the European Union. He asked the specialists to work better on this issue and on writing reports to the centers which projects were refused.
2005 Achievements:
- A website
- The annual international celebration against torture on the 26th of June.
- The network founded a strong boundary between its institutions and members.
- The network was able to gain the respect of the governments in the region. It was represented during the last war against Lebanon by El Nadeem Center. And we thank El Nadeem for its position with all the brothers in Lebanon during the last war.
Our failures:
Dr. Abdul Hamid Afana said that IRCT had funded the exchange of visits and expertise between all the network centers but nobody got advantage of this support until this very day. Dr. Afana said that the funding suggestion came upon the recommendations of Bahrain meeting, and asked why the network did not take advantage of exchanging visits. Dr. Souad said that she was had not been aware of such a project and that IRCT made a special budget for exchanging expertise and visits. All the centers agreed with her.
Suggestions:
Some members suggested that the network should have contacts with the governments, the African Union, and the Arab League and deal with them in finding ways to help with the network programs, especially in the abolition of torture. Dr. Nagib said that the network had asked IRCT to lead the communication with the Arab League. IRCT sent a letter to the Arab League but the network did not receive a copy of it. The report should have contained all the details but a technical error occurred. Dr. Afana said that the network has been introduced to the Arab League. A letter has been sent also to the secretary general by fax and by e-mail. Until this very moment we did not receive a reply. Dr. Souad hoped all the centers could receive a copy of that letter and all the letters exchanged with the Arab league so they become informed about the latest developments with the Arab League. Dr. Afana said that he was ready to do this.
Dr. Nagib mentioned that there was a dispute concerning the communication with the governments and their reintegration in awareness programs and addressing law enforcement forces and the rights of the victims of torture and working for diminishing torture. Dr. Nagib said that communication was useful in Sudan regions, but we were unable to do this in Khartoum and said that we might discuss this issue during our meetings.
Mr. Mohammed Safa suggested to develop the network activities by forming committees that take in charge specific missions such as documentation and media and so on. Safa said that a secretariat of only three members was not enough and has a lot of responsibilities. Everybody agreed and the committees wee formed.
Represent the report for the six coming months in order to ask for IRCT's support in funding the network, and make the network responsible for offering support to the centers. Dr. Nagib said that a program with all its costs had been presented to IRCT.
Represent a report for the six coming months asking IRCT’s funding for the exchange of visits between the centers.
Dr. Aida and professor Suzanne Jabbour suggested that the reports must be clear and very well detailed and must contain the suggestions, the achievements and the failures also.
Issue a monthly magazine for the centers.
Comments:
Dr. Souad asked for some clarifications concerning the network role and its relationship with IRCT. She also asked "Is the network independent? and what is IRCT's role towards the network?" Dr. Nagib and Dr. Afana answered the question and said that the network had been completely independent and only receives financial aid from IRCT.
Dr. Majida asked about Ms. Safia from Algeria project and Gaza. She asked if they were the ones who called for the network meeting. She asked also about December conference and said that nobody knew anything about it and wanted to know about the Arab participation in it. Dr. Nagib said that some centers hadn't called yet and nobody knows why. They haven't given enough information. He confirmed that nobody was rejected from the network (Gaza project), Algeria project center haven't called yet, but none of the institutions was rejected from the network. He added "December meeting was about torture and Berlin's meeting is the suggestion of the network then it was then adopted by IRCT. Thus, the network must participate in the conference.
Centers’ Reports:
1- Dr. Mousawi (Morocco) said that the association had dealt with the governments in Morocco and with the independent organizations concerning the issue of torture. He said "We made activities inside the prisons, with the police, and law empowerment forces and there has been a lot of interaction between us”. He also said that they might benefit of the public institutions to oblige them receive patients whose therapy costs are very high, and they might exert pressure on them to oblige them offer the necessary support to use public utility centers, especially the ministry of health and its institutions.
2- Dr. Abdul Hussein (Al Karama Center-Bahrain) said that there was a wide cooperation between the center and the government. Bahrain Institution was offering help before the foundation of this center. He said also that there was a lot of cooperation with the ministry of health, which is very good, for the benefit they get of it, such as the financial support offered for the victims of torture, and less waiting time on the waiting lists. Dr. Abdul Hussein said that they worked in cooperation with the ministry of interior and foreign affairs and police and judges. This cooperation is positive and governments do not intend to control these centers through it. Professor Mariam noted that the most important achievement made by the Bahraini institution for Human Rights is the visit to the central prison in order to have an idea about the prisoners’ situation. A team of doctors and lawyers had visited the prison and made their recommendations to the government. The Institution organized workshops and conferences to all categories of society, especially those working with the prisoners and victims of torture.
3- Dr. Al Manouzi / Medical Association for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Torture (Morocco) said that there were some developments about the institution as an independent body with the victims of torture, and developments in the field of human rights in Morocco. A committee for the follow-up of the disappeared cause was founded but not everything is ready yet. Human rights issue in Morocco is developing. Our institution has got now doctors volunteers and we have received as well a big number of foreign delegations like "doctors of the world/France". There is also a project going underway from Morocco with the European Union. For its implementation we are working in collaboration with the Committee of the Victims of Torture in Geneva. We also received “Argentina Doctors” that helps recognize the disappeared and the places of their burial. (This association helps determine the identity of the disappeared.)
4- Dr. Nagib (Al Khartoum Center, and Amal Center/Sudan). Detention and torture are a true threat for the human being. Rape and violence are two practices prevailing nowadays among women. Our center receives tens of refugees and works according to the programs of therapy, support, advocacy and documentation. (Ten cases every day)
5- Dr. Omar (CAOVT) said that this center was founded in 2001 and was among the founders of Aman network and has 700 files in its headquarters. In 2006, 70 new files entered the center, and we monthly carry out from 90 too 100 medical tests. We also advocate for the victims who want to present their case to the body of justice and reconciliation because it asks for medical proofs to prove a victim of torture and determine the degree of torture, and whether the victim suffers physical disabilities or needs assistance. And the victim of torture receives his compensation according to these standards. On the 26th of June we celebrate the International Day in Solidarity with the Victims of Torture. The last activity we made was about the hereditary genes to determine the identity of the disappeared and the psychological and physical consequences in the international reports. Dr. Omar said that the center was very weak in requesting funds and expects the network support in this field.
6- Dr. Ziad Bechara (khiam Center/Lebanon) said that before the Israeli aggression the center was working normally, then it started to work as to meet the urgent needs. The center offered assistance to the refugees and provided them with medicines and the necessary therapy. This went alongside with the psychological support for refugees in schools. During the war children were drawing tanks and airplanes, but during the sessions they started building houses and farms. The center participated also in a photo exhibition in Beirut. During the war against Lebanon, the center provided the refugees with milk for children in South Lebanon. Our team that was working under the bombs was under a big threat and our medical team, and Dr. Wisal Tannous, were on stand by all the time, and helped deliver children borne prematurely because of the stress of the war, and all the males back then were named “Hassan”. Dr. Bechara thanked a lot El Nadeem Center for its support during the war and thanked IRCT also.
7- Dr. Souad (Al fouad Center, Basra) said that the staff received training for working with the victims of torture. Al Fouad center offers its patients psychological and physical treatment. 9 sessions were organized for administrative issues. Dr Souad explained that the center organized training sessions for organizations that work directly with victims of torture such as doctors working in prisons and people working in the health sector in addition to teachers. She noted that the center participated in two conferences and works in close collaboration with Al Basra University about psychological treatment issues. The center has its contacts all over Iraq. Dr. Souad said that the center worked on community awareness and on providing information about the center. She said also that 20% of the patients are women, and added that the center encourages women to seek therapy, especially those who suffered sexual aggression. The center has also its weaknesses, said Dr. Souad, on the level of psychologists and she said she hoped to receive the necessary financial support and expertise. The center is also weak in the communication with other centers.
8- Dr. Hassan, (Jesoor institution-Gaza, Palestine). Dr. Hassan explained that the center helps the victims of torture and offers several activities such as the direct treatment for those who suffered torture. It also organizes training sessions for policemen about human rights. The center organized as well a training session with al awkaf ministry about using values in therapy and awareness, and said he hoped to be accepted as member in the network.
9- Dr. Majida, (El Nadeem / Egypt) spoke about a massacre going on in Egypt against the Sudanese holding now a sit in because the commissariat canceled the acceptance papers of some refugees. More than 50 persons died and several suffered a psychological trauma, we also received the victims\families. Dr. Majida said she was very upset because neither the network nor IRCT reacted to this massacre. Dr. Majida added that El Nadeem center made an initiative towards canceling Israel's membership in the United Nations and isolating it on the international level. Dr. Majida said that all the member centers signed that petition except IRCT and she said that we must all work in order to succeed in isolating Israel.
10- Professor Suzanne Jabbour (Restart / Lebanon) noted that Restart was founded in 1996 and offers psychological and medical treatment for the victims of torture. The center offers legal assistance in order to sue the torturers and offer legal consultation and works on training through local and regional awareness programs and other external activities. During the war against Lebanon the center offered psychological support to children and carried out a research about the psychological trauma in children and adults. We received support from IRCT during the war and our center distributed food products, especially milk for children. A team work made of doctors was formed during the war. The center held also a sit-in in Tripoli against the Israeli aggression. Besides, we worked with UNDP program with 600 prisoners and their families and Oxfam also. Our center offers support too to Iraqi refugees. “We also printed a book written by one of the prisoners and victims of torture”, she said.
11- Yadollah Mouhammadi (Treatment and Rehabilitation Center for the support of Victims of social violence/ Iran) explained that there is a hierarchy in the center that offers several services such as Rehabilitation, prevention and awareness. The center has a team specialized in media and members of different health sectors to deal with the problems of spelling and language. He said that the center looks forward to opening a branch in one of Iran’s hospitals. He added that the center provided training sessions for those working in the field, and organized workshops with the parents about the problems of children and their medical situation as a result of divorce and premature marriage. The center organizes awareness sessions about domestic violence and violence against women with a detailed study about laws related to torture and the ways of dealing with the victims of sexual torture and everything children suffer. Besides, a number of books was published in Farsi and the bulletins concerning these issues are permanently in the center. Yadollah said that the center has wide connections with the other organizations in Tehran and judicial trials and universities and other institutions.
12- Mr. Mouhammed Safa (Khiam Center/Lebanon) spoke about the destruction of the center headquarters in the south as a result of the Israeli aggression. He said that the center needs everybody’s collaboration to rebuild it.
Suggestions:
Ms. Suzanne Jabbour suggested to postpone the elections because the internal lists are clear but the lists for electing a secretary general and a ?? are not clear. The members voted for postponing the elections for one more year and keep the secretariat as it is. Meanwhile, the suggested committees from all centers must present the activities and recommendations to the secretary general.
Strategic Plan:
Dr. Nagib presented a document in which he put the guidelines of the network strategy for three years, and explained that the strategic plan must be very specific, so everybody can work clearly without any complications. It must also be malleable enough to meet the changing needs. He added that the plan ultimate objective is the abolition of torture phenomenon worldwide. Dr. Nagib noted that the strategy defines the main objectives and puts general guidelines for the kind of messages that achieve goals the best. He said that the strategy must be short and containing all the annexes. It must contain the future vision and the letter. (What is the network, who does it target, what distinguishes it from others, how does it provide services and with what means).
Besides, Dr. Nagib said that the strategic plan must be made of programs and must determine the issues to deal with.
Dr. Nagib noted that we must specify the target group of the strategic plan (victims of torture of all kinds) and the percentage of coverage and the geographic area and the suggested period for the implementation of the targets but we must work on knowing this period. Dr. Nagib explained the ways of implementing programs and the budgets required for their implementation in addition to all the suppositions. He presented also an explanatory drawing of the strategic plan that is a group of programs, each program having a number of projects and activators. Finally Dr. Nagib presented a sample for one objective and one program for the network that is providing financial resources for 12 members of the network for one year.
The centers discussions of the strategic plan:
Ms. Suzanne Jabbour / Restart – Lebanon
Ms. Suzanne Jabbour suggested that we must highlight that there is a difference between the centers activities and their activities together in the network, and we should specify the forms of violence we are dealing with.
Dr. Majida / El Nadeem Center:
Dr. Majida asked for some explanations to a few articles of the principal code?? in order to answer a few ideas mentioned in Dr. Nagib strategic plan concerning the definition of the network, its objectives and the characteristics that distinguish it of the other networks. Dr. Majida added that the second clause of the principal code?? defines the network and the fourth article specifies the objective of Aman, while article five defines the network objectives (encourage the participation of those working in this field and the participation in solving the problems of torture, and offering support to activities related to this field on the regional level and establish centers that provide care for the victims of torture.
Dr. Majida said that the network uses activities and means to implement its goals. Thus, it facilitated the communication between those concerned and institutions members, a bank of information and legal protection for the victims of torture. Dr. Majida suggested defining violence issues that we are working on solving.
Mr Yadollah / Iran:
The center for the rehabilitation and treatment of the victims of torture works in the human rights field, and has several international connections and works on the rehabilitation of children and women rights committee. The center has a some offices in the Middle East and wrote some details.
Yadollah said that he supported Dr. Nagib in developing the network and cooperation among the different institutions, and had a few suggestions:
Issue a monthly bulletin for the network in order to strengthen communication means between the network members because this would contribute to the exchange of information among all the members. (Internet and ways to develop its use).
Strengthen the other common projects especially in the field of research. We made projects in this subject.
We rewrote books containing all the national and international articles related to torture. Yadollah said that its center was ready to publish these information and translate them into Arabic and English in order to cover the center's activities and organize sessions for the network in the benefit of the members with the participation of Aman in international forums. We have lectures hall, he said, and a library that contains a big number of books about issues related to the Middle East, North Africa and the world. Finally, he said that the center had good relationships with universities and people specialized in different fields.
Dr. Abdul Hamid Afana
Dr. Abdul Hamid said that the center in Iran had the capacity to help in the field of lectures and bulletins and resources concerning the causes of the region and asked all the centers to collaborate with Iran center in order to help Aman network improve.
Ms. Suzanne Jabbour, Restart/Lebanon
Ms. Suzanne Jabbour commented and said that everybody was mixing up the action plan and strategic planning. The network, she said, is different from the centers and we must distinguish between the work of centers, each alone and the work of the centers with the network.
Mr. Mohammed Safa / Khiam center-Lebanon:
Mr. Mohammed Safa discussed the situation of the network and said that this was the network's tenth meeting and asked “what are the steps the network crossed since Al Khartoum and Bahrain meeting until today”. Mr Safa said that any strategic plan that does not emanate from the needs of the current situation we live in remains a plan with no possibility to be applied to the field and we must always keep in mind that our ultimate objective is the rehabilitation of the victims of torture and soothing their pains and suffering.
He noted that the network was established ten years ago and still lives in a crisis and suggested that because of the situation in the region, this framework needs to be developed. And he suggested the following:
He suggested the formation of a trustees board for the network. It should contain legal personalities with a long history in the fight against torture.
Create committees, specialized committees and put a strategic plan for the development of the network, in addition to a documentation committee, and an activity committee and others.
Offer the ?? from the network in their regions (Palestine) and work on taking the network out and announce it to the public. In the same time we must call those ?? and experts to the network meetings. Safa noted that the network needed experts to participate in its meetings.
These suggestions I present, said Safa, are some kind of a strategy that emanates from the needs of this region.
Comments on the suggestions of Mr. Safa and Dr. Nagib:
Dr. Souad said that the same discussion took place in Bahrain and now we keep on repeating the same issues. She asked, "What are the assets of the network?" and explained that the network had a lot of potential that must be exploited practically and socially and even financially. Dr. Souad agreed on Mr. Safa's suggestion as for establishing committees from each center for training, research and internet. She suggested that the network designs a training program in the name of the network and benefit from the expertise of the network members, which will prove our value on the international level especially that this is a value that should be exploited anyways.
Dr. Majida said that the committees should be specialized in programs and activities and should not be formed of the secretariat general only. Besides, we should work on a specific number of activities to be implemented in two years time. The group working on the implementation becomes the execution office of the network. She suggested that a trial period of two years would transfer the responsibility from the secretariat general and the current secretariat of the network. The participation of the biggest number of members is the responsibility of the network. She added that making this trial period with a trustees board while adding new individuals to the network is difficult. We might invite a guest of honor, she said, as for the experts; we may exploit our experience in the centers especially that collaboration is very important. She added also that the network must benefit from the judicial international centers especially with all that's happening in Palestine, Lebanon, and Iraq, with the necessity of interaction between the network members. She suggested supporting the formation of specialized centers in torture in Jordan, Syria and Tunisia. Ms. Suzanne agreed with her and noted that the committees must put an action plan for one or two years and show it to all the members. After the endorsement of the plan a deadline must be determined for every subject.
Dr. Majida suggested that somebody must be responsible for the bulletins, the research, the annual conference and judicial issues. She said that we must carry out a campaign for signing the convention against torture and sue the Israeli war criminals and others. She said we must participate in big common campaigns, such as the campaign for canceling Israel's membership, issuing leaflets in different languages and exert pressure on our governments.
Dr. Aida said that the network statute did not contain anything related to Aman network and the primary needs to be done. She suggested that Aman network issues a statement to a responsible or to a minister or president claiming the abolition of torture and writing letters claiming the release of detainees. She said that our program was to build the network around the activities of the annual meeting that is very important. As for paying tribute to people and receive experts and exchange expertise… The administrative meeting is not a kind of training and we must define the sources of support.
Dr. Abdul Hamid said that nobody mentioned that he was member of Aman, thus, every member must determine this and write it on the website if the aim was to promote the network. A month from now, each member must mention on the website he is member of Aman. Everybody agreed with this suggestion. Dr. Afana had a comment on Mr. Safa's and Dr. Nagib's suggestions as for the strategy plan and the formation of committees and noted that the objective was very clear, but it only needs to be clarified and elaborated. The plan suggested by Dr. Nagib was basically a manager and two deputy managers and projects, and each project has an assistant and a group of members. The activities are seven but may be summarized in four, Documentation, awareness, training, research and others. Dr. Souad suggested that we should pick important subjects and work on them in order to make of this meeting a fruitful event.
Mr. Mohammed Safa said that during the negotiations he suggested that the position of the secretary general should be canceled especially that the current secretariat general is going through a lot of problems and said that he was against the sanctification of the statute He added that there should be restraints and responsibilities. Ms. Suzanne Jabbour agreed with Mr. Mohammed Safa and said that the four activities or programs must be determined. Dr. Majida suggested postponing the amendment of the internal code?? for after the trial period.
Dr. Abdul Hamid suggested ways to return backwards in case projects were started. He said that each and every person is responsible in front of everybody for the successful implementation of the projects.
Mr. Mohammed Safa asked for the established rules and who will assume the responsibility and whom do the committees present their reports to and who will be accounted in case the projects were not implemented? Dr. Aida asked, "What are the standards of accountability?" and noted that commitment is very important. We must agree on an activity and determine the president's missions. Does he speak for the network? Or should we choose the one who speaks for it? She suggested that all the members write on a piece of paper the four activities starting from the most important to the least important. Then we determine the activities and the needs agreed upon by everybody. Everybody agreed on Dr. Aida's suggestions. (The centers wrote the activities they find most important, and then they voted on them).
Dr. Abdul Hamid asked what the centers wanted. Do they want to amend the statute of the network or delete the general assembly and consider that this is an amendment to the code?
Ms. Sanaa said that this issue requires a lot of credibility and responsibility and that the network did not send any objection for any special reason, so who’s responsible?
Dr. Omar suggested offering a document to every center around issues like violence and force because there is a big lap in the centers important decisions like funding, documentation, communication, and administration in order to improve the performance of all the centers.
Dr. Abdul Hamid suggested making a draft for every project we work on and everyone should make a report so everybody is aware of what has been achieved and therefore can avoid problems. But there must be a president who orchestrates everything and makes sure a report is sent regularly to Aman. Dr. Abdul Hamid asked, “Does changing the internal code lead to a fruitful result?” and said that if a change is to be made; there must be an agreement on the changes.
Dr. Ziad Bechara said that all the ideas and suggestions have been made, and asked whether the centers want to eliminate the secretary general position or give it a bigger role. Does this mean that the secretariat general is being criticized for having been neglected? Dr. Bechara also said that the network needs a renovation of its programs.
Dr. Majida said that the main idea was to achieve a bigger participation and suggested the following:
A rotative responsible committee every 6 months made of the activities responsible.
A committee + A secretary general who coordinates the different programs (general coordinator).
Mr. Mohammed Safa said that these suggestions are not clear.
Dr. Aida asked if the implementation of the activities is dependent upon the network secretary general and if every center is responsible for a different activity that cannot take shape before it has been tried.
The Second day
28-10-2006
Lecturer Dr. Abdul Hamid Afana
Community Outreach Intervention
Community Mental Health Philosophy and Application: The state of heart
Dr. Abdul Hamid Afana spoke about:
The meaning of psychological social service.
The objectives of this service
An equal distribution of resources
Fairness and social justice
The pressures the workers undergo
Suggestions
After Dr. Abdul Hamid Afana lecture, all the centers spoke about their experience:
Dr. Nagib: Amal Center – Sudan
The situation was very bad in Darfour, we were almost threatened and unable to work with people. Therefore we worked in Niala and explained the nature of our work but the response was very weak which required that we meet with the tribe’s sheikhs in order to explain our presence in Niala. Afterwards we were allowed to work, and we hope to succeed in Al Fasher region in North Darfour.
Dr. Aida-El Nadeem Center- Egypt
Non-political victims of torture are unlike the political victims of torture considered as outcast. And all police stations in the Arab Republic of Egypt are subject to torture and the victims are normal citizens. We also worked with the refugees from Sudan.
Ms. Mariam Trada-Al Karama Center-Bahrain Kingdom
Ms. Mariam said the social service in Bahrain goes back to 1977. It’s a service offered to patients who suffer a psychological disease. In the beginning of this service, the society found it difficult to accept it. But after the awareness and due to the media such a service has been accepted.
Mr. Yadollah – Iran:
Dr. Yadollah said that those who suffered torture were tortured by security forces; therefore we organized training sessions to the police and to prisons authorities.
Dr Almousaoui – Morocco
The Dr. said that before establishing rehabilitation centers, the situation of the sick prisoners was very difficult. Especially that the government was denying the existence of a prison in South Morocco (secret prisons). The prisoners there suffered very tough conditions.
After the establishment of the centers it was very hard to integrate ex-prisoners in society. He said there was a difficulty for the prisoner to speak about torture because fear was grown inside them and destroyed their personality.
Dr. Ziad Bechara-Khiam Center-Lebanon
Dr. Bechara said the conflicts started with the opening of the center in South Lebanon. After the war, he said, we entered the regions to help people introducing ourselves as doctors, and then we speak with them about their psychological problems. During the war we made a booklet about how to resist, we distributed it to the refugees in schools, and we asked tem to pray to God.
The Third Day
29-10-2006
A display of the atrocities of Israel’s war against Lebanon
Mr. Mohammed Safa displayed photos about the victims of Israel’s war against Lebanon and displayed the activities khiam Center carried out during the war. Mr. Mohammed Safa saluted El Nadeem center from the Arab Republic of Egypt that made visits to the destroyed southern villages of Lebanon.
Post War Traumas and Psychological Therapy:
Dr. Majida from El Nadeem Center (A.R.E.) explained the meaning of trauma as a natural and condensed life threatening response outside the context of human past experiences.
She also explained the symptoms that might occur after trauma:
Symptoms directly related to trauma ( the feelings)
Symptoms of avoiding (avoiding people, avoiding a place)
Symptoms of anxiety resulting from trauma and the ways of intervention to treat these symptoms especially in children.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Dr. Souad Assafar (Basra Center-Iraq) spoke about PTSD and said that it had evolved after Vietnam War. Its diagnosis was very important for paying compensations to the soldiers suffering trauma symptoms.
She explained that trauma is a part of the diagnosis and that there are avoiding symptoms and stress symptoms and there are measurements for every symptom and the right measurement should be used. She emphasized also on the importance of the collaboration of the treating team (Social researcher, psychologist, psychiatric) and that the development of the psychological treatment of the patient depends on the patient case and his response to the treatment. She said that it was not necessary that trauma change into continuous disorders.
Dr. Saffar noted the importance of society awareness about the psychological treatment for making the rehabilitation of the patients and their reintegration in society a success.
Dr. Saffar said that it is very important that patients of trauma receive their compensation and financial aids to help them in the rehabilitation process.
The Moroccan Experience:
A film about the victims of torture and the difficult conditions of detention they suffered for long years was displayed in addition to a film about secret detention camps.
Dr. Al Manouzi said that the AMRVT is an Aman member and aims at rehabilitating the victims and receiving them and following them up in their houses.
He added that the association established the committee of the kidnapped families and organizes several forums with international judicial institutions, with Doctors of the World, Geneva conferences and Morocco friends association in France.
There has been an open discussion about the Moroccan experience, in which committees of truth and justice in Morocco participated. The participants listened to the different point of views about this new experience in addition to testimonies for Moroccan political detainees. The discussion about this new experience was very interesting.
Psychological Support:
Ms. Marguerite spoke about the consequences of armed conflicts or catastrophes on people who lose everything they own and suffer the symptoms of different traumas among which psychological, social, and medical traumas that affect individuals and society.
She said that the wall in Palestine separates people and families who cannot communicate because of the wall that creates tension and social and psychological problems.
This is the case, she said, in Eastern Asia after Tsunami and the loss of relatives and ownings.
She said that this category of people requires attention because they need psychological and social support.
Nowadays, 70% of the inhabitants benefit of the program for the psychological rehabilitation of victims of torture. 20% of the beneficiaries are under psychological threat and 10% are far from the treatment.
A quick intervention is necessary in order to preserve social life and help them regain the human dignity and get rid of some of the negative symptoms. Information must be provided to people who suffered the catastrophe about the means to reach these aids.
Groups and activities:
Research Committee
This committee includes the following centers:
Al Fouad Center – Iraq
Al Jesoor center-Ramallah-Palestine
Gaza Center-Palestine
Documentation Committee
This committee contains the following centers
Medical Association-Morocco
Iran
Mr. Yadoulah spoke for this committee about:
The committee objectives
The activities that might be carried out by the committee are the following:
Each committee activity was agreed upon in this meeting and every committee sends its report to Iran center then this center publishes all the reports in three months time.
The booklet or the Guide. Each center sends information about its activities in a period of three months.
Issuing a special bulletin (monthly magazine)
Campaigns committee
This committee includes the following centers:
El Nadeem Center-Egypt
Khiam Center-Lebanon
Dr. Majida spoke for the group about:
The group’s objectives
The activities the committee might make
The activities are divided into long-term main activities that require a lot of time and local campaigns.
The program will be written in Arabic and English and distributed.
Publicity and files about the on-going events.
Field visits and solidarity campaigns whenever this is possible and making use of the media.
The main campaign is:
A campaign for an international boycott to Israel and canceling its membership in the United Nations.
Use the conventions signed by Israel
The detainees’ case and torture victims
War crimes committed by Israel
Security Council decision that was not applied by Israel.
Training Committee:
This committee includes the following centers:
Al Karama Center- Bahrain
Restart Center-Lebanon
Amal Center-Sudan
The medical Association-Morocco
Ms. Suzanne Jabbour spoke in the name of the group about:
Developing the capacities of those working in the network
Exchanging experiences and knowledge as determined by the committee according to the centers needs.
Exchanging visits
Provide experts in the field of victims of torture.
Determine the targeted group
Determine the needs of the centers in training, and determining needs according to the following points:
Therapy
Documentation
Advocacy
Administrative development
Study the centers needs in the field of training a month from today and elaborating a future plan for one year. This plan determines the needs of training, the place and date for every need after filling the format made for this purpose by all the centers participating in this meeting.
Final Suggestions or Recommendations:
Publishing a final statement.
Ms. Suzanne Jabbour suggested postponing the elections because the internal lists are clear and the ways to elect the secretary general and the cashier are not clear in the lists. There has been a vote on postponing the elections for one more year while keeping the secretariat as it is. Meanwhile the committees made of all the centers have to work and present the activities and recommendations to the secretariat general.
Everybody agreed on taking Al Basra center, and Jesoor the Palestinian association and the Medical Association in Morocco as members in the network. All the network members agreed on this.
All the centers agreed that a report should be sent to the secretariat general or to Iran center for documentation. Then all these reports have to be assembled and presented to all the centers. Khiam center will be responsible for the network website.
The activities and programs were written by the network members which all agreed on forming four committees (a committee for training, for research, for documentation and campaigns)
Training committee: Restart, Al Karama, AMRVT, Gaza program
Research committee: TRC Palestine, Al Fouad (Iraq)
Documentation committee: ODVV Iran, Morocco CAOVT
Campaigns committee: El Nadeem and Khiam.
The meeting ended with a speech delivered by Aman network secretary general Dr. Nagib Najmeddin in which he expressed his appreciation for the wide participation in the meeting and the necessity to move forward in practical steps in order to endorse what has been agreed upon. He confirmed that the next meeting of the network would be held in Tehran as previously agreed. Khiam Center secretary general Mr. Mohammed Safa delivered a speech in which he hoped Morocco meeting wouldn’t turn up to be like Bahrain meeting. He promised to continue making all possible efforts in order to develop the network. Everybody thanked AMRVT for organizing the meeting and IRCT for their sponsorship and attention to Aman network.
The Final Statement
Aman network, the network that includes the centers of rehabilitation for the victims of violence and torture in the Middle East and North Africa held its tenth meeting in Casa Blanca from the 27th till the 29th of October 2006. AMRVT hosted the meeting in Morocco, in the presence of representatives of the International Center for the Rehabilitation of the Victims of detention and disappearance. The meeting endorsed a complete plan for the development of a campaign against torture by working on documenting torture cases and carrying out psychological and medical researches while claiming governments to sign the Convention Against Torture and the optional Protocol. The participants in the meeting emphasized on the importance of sanctioning and paying compensations and giving credit to the victims and apologizing to them. The participants in the conference considered that the situation in the region is in the context of the American control under the expression “The New Middle East”, this project that started after September 2001 events. The participants in the meeting condemned the barbaric Israeli war against the Lebanese people and asked to consider the massacres made by Israel against the Lebanese people a war crime against humanity that calls for an international trial to Israel. The meeting called for launching a wide solidarity campaign with the people of Lebanon. The meeting commented on the continuing destruction war and massacres against the Palestinian people and criticized the world’s silence and its carelessness towards the sufferings of the Palestinian people who lives under siege and famine and thousands arrests, knowing that these practices are against all the laws. The centers represented in the meeting expressed their solidarity with the Iraqi people and asked for an end to the American occupation and the release of all the detainees from American prisons. The meeting expressed its apprehension of the events going on in Darfour and called for a peaceful solution to the current situation and putting an end to the destructive war against the Sudanese people.
The participants in the meeting called all the centers against torture and all human rights organizations in the region to develop their activities and review their programs in order to face the challenges in our region in addition to the threats of religious sectarian divisions. The meeting called for the release of political detainees in Arab prisons and to reveal the destiny of all the involuntary disappeared. The centers participating in the meeting expressed in the occasion of the International Day for kidnap in Morocco, their full solidarity with the families of the kidnapped and claimed to reveal their destiny.
In the end of our meeting the participants saluted all the victims of torture and thanked IRCT for sponsoring the tenth meeting of Aman and working for making it a success.