UNITAD discusses psychosocial support to ISIS crimes survivors
Participants in the UNITAD’s conference entitled ‘Blueprint for psychosocial support of ISIL crimes survivors – trauma-informed and capacity building practices.’ Photo: University of Duhok
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – During a conference entitled ‘Blueprint for psychosocial support of ISIL crimes survivors – trauma informed and capacity building practices,’ the United Nations Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Da’esh/ISIL (UNITAD) brought together national and international partners to set strategies for best practices and trauma-informed approaches for all victims of ISIS crimes in Iraq, according to a press statement issued by the UNITAD.
The conference which took place in Erbil earlier this month, with the support of the Netherlands and Finland, aimed to increase awareness of the importance of psychosocial needs for survivors of such international crimes in justice processes, build collaborative partnerships, and widen the network of psychosocial service providers in Iraq, the statement explained.
Multiple governmental agencies and civil society organizations from Baghdad, Erbil, Duhok, Nineveh, and Kirkuk participating in the conference engaged in discussions of case studies on the role of mental health providers in international investigations, the statement clarified.
The case studies discussed providing support to witnesses, and emphasized the value of documenting the psychological harm inflicted on survivors to be considered in justice process, according to the statement.
Participants also conversed on the national needs and capacities in the area of providing psychosocial support and employing trauma-informed approaches in their programming with survivors and victims of ISIS, as well as in justice processes, the statement elaborated.
The conference came as a milestone in UNITAD’s promotion of the team’s pioneering model of victim-centered and trauma-informed approaches among civil society and governmental entities, each working towards enhancing best practices in Iraq for supporting victims of ISIS from all affected communities, the statement added.