The Effects of Torture in the Context of COVID-19 and Continuous Type III Trauma's Variants: The Peri-Post Type III Trauma Mental Health Syndrome in Syrian Torture Survivors

The goal was to explore the applicability of the continuous traumatic stress type-III paradigm to the torture's interface with other ongoing traumatic stressors (e.g., COVID-19 and discrimination) and other adversities' impact. On a sample of 891 Syrian internally displaced (461 torture survivors), we measured cumulative trauma, COVID-19 stressors, and the peri-post type III trauma syndrome (i.e., CPTSD, PTSD, depression, anxiety, and executive functions). We conducted t-test and structural equation modeling. Torture predicted higher COVID-19 stressors and the peri-post type III trauma syndrome. Intersected discrimination amplified the effects of torture. The conceptual and clinical implications of these findings were discussed.

Using COVID-19 to Address Environmental Threats to Health and Leverage for Prison Reform in South Africa, Malawi and Zimbabwe

Health rights of prisoners has long been a neglected political issue in Africa, where over one million people are detained, and almost half of whom are in pre-trial detention. African prisons constitute high-risk environments for communicable disease transmission. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the public health literature on African prison responses focused on preparedness as it related to testing capacity, quarantine practices and personal protective measures to mitigate disease spread. This article combines the right to health as narrowly defined by a prisoner's right to access non-discriminatory equivalent health care, with a broader focus on assessing normative standards of detention. A comparative legal realist assessment of prison operations in South Africa, Malawi and Zimbabwe during COVID-19 state disaster measures is presented, focusing on the environmental determinants of health (ventilation, minimum floor space, water, sanitation, hygiene and nutrition) in prisons. It reveals the inherent tensions in ensuring a balance between respecting the fundamental rights of people living and working in prisons, ensuring adequate environmental health standards and mitigating disease during public health emergencies. Despite insufficient government resourcing and inadequate coverage of COVID-19 responses, few severe outbreaks were reported. This could be due to lack of testing, reporting or other factors (asymptomatic infection, acquired immunity). Prison congestion and unrest however affected prisoners and staff fearful of hazardous living and occupational health conditions. COVID-19 as public health emergency amplifies the need to address systemic deficits in infrastructure, resourcing and efficiency of criminal justice systems. Policy level and pragmatic recommendations for enhanced human rights practice are outlined.

COVID-19 and Torture

Over the past few weeks, and with the Editorial already at completion, the COVID-19 pandemic has invaded our lives. Its systemic impact has affected, and continues to affect in equal measure the provision of rehabilitation to victims of torture. Amongst the many areas in which COVID-19 has impacted the field of prevention and rehabilitation of torture survivors, at least 8 areas of concern can be highlighted. 1. Attacks on basic fundamental rights and unnecessary increase in social control measures (Human Rights Watch, 2020a) 2. Increases in cases of ill-treatment or torture linked to the pandemic itself. For instance, various media sources have reported cases related to the dissemination of information in countries where this was considered to be against the interest of the State (Wang, 2020;Human Rights Watch, 2020b;Amnesty International, 2020a) 3. Respect for the rights of detainees and COVID preventive measures in detention settings that are compliant with human rights (Council of Europe, 2020;OHCHR, 2020;Council of Europe, 2010) and especially amnesty processes for political prisoners or the use non-custodial measures (Comninos, 2020;Amnesty International, 2020b). 4. Increases in cases of gender-based violence (Ford, 2020;UNFPA, 2020;UN Women, 2020) and assaults on homeless populations (Phasuk, 2020;Hartley, 2019), both related to fear and isolation. 5. Relapse of symptoms, especially night mares, flashbacks and somatic symptoms, in survivors that were ill-treated or tortured while in custody, due to COVID- related self-confinement or measures of medical isolation. 6. The reshaping of society: Will there be a change in values towards more egalitarian, empathetic and supportive societies? Or an evolution towards a more fearful society with an increasing lack of solidarity as fear instils? 7. The use of warlike metaphors (the “war” on the Coronavirus) as a prelude to restrictions in freedoms, censorship or authoritarianism in the name of the collective good (Human Rights Watch, 2020a). 8. Cutting budget allocations for the most disadvantaged, vulnerable groups in general and survivors of torture specifically, in favour of security policies or market-based post-COVID decisions (UNDP, 2020;European Council, 2020). These are some of the many areas of reflection on COVID-19 as a global crisis in the field of human rights and the prevention of torture and rehabilitation of torture victims. Torture Journal invites our readers to share your experiences, reflections, research and data in the form of a Letter to the Editor, News or Research Report for inclusion in future issues of the Journal. This is a global crisis which may, in turn, foster a shared learning opportunity for all. © 2020, International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims. All rights reserved.

Interrogating and recuperating masculinities in therapeutic practice

In this invited commentary I reflect on issues concerning masculinities in therapeutic spaces. I draw on contemporary masculinity concepts as well as the psychonalytic, postmodern and post-qualitative aspects of the various articles. I consider how traditional and modern expectations concerning masculinities create problems and possibilities for men in different situations, for example men from different generations (e.g. me, my father, my son). Similarly, I discuss how therapists might unwittingly [re]construct traditional masculinities in their practice – but are also ideally positioned to deconstruct masculinities which are implicated in their client’s suffering. At the same time, I note that the promotion of healthy, caring and inclusive masculinities need not be confined to the therapy room since there are now various mental health intervention which are community-based, entail peer support and which are tailored to specific constituencies of men. (English) [ FROM AUTHOR] RESUMEN Este estudio explicó la importancia del enfoque de la Terapia Breve Centrada en Soluciones (SFBT) en el trato con las personas para encontrar soluciones tanto después como durante la ocurrencia de la ansiedad psicológica, la aplicación de SBFT se puede hacer de manera práctica, efectiva y eficiente. Este estudio utiliza un análisis comparativo, que se refiere a varias publicaciones relevantes entre SFBT y la ansiedad psicológica, especialmente en el brote de COVID-19 en forma de artículos de revistas científicas, libros de referencia y otra información de fuentes confiables. Los resultados revelaron que existe una correlación significativa entre las teorías, tanto los supuestos básicos como los conceptos relacionados con el proceso de intervención de SFBT en un esfuerzo por ayudar a las personas a encontrar soluciones a los problemas que experimentan o experimentarán. Este estudio puede entonces ser una referencia científica para la aplicación del enfoque SFBT como un esfuerzo para mejorar la capacidad de encontrar soluciones. (Spanish) [ FROM AUTHOR] ABSTRAIT Cette étude a expliqué l'importance de l'approche de la thérapie brève axée sur les solutions (SFBT) dans le traitement des individus pour trouver des solutions à la fois après et pendant l'apparition de l'anxiété psychologique, l'application de la SBFT peut être effectuée de manière pratique, efficace et efficiente. Cette étude utilise une analyse comparative, qui fait référence à diverses publications pertinentes entre SFBT et l'anxiété psychologique, en particulier dans l'épidémie de COVID-19 sous la forme d'articles de revues scientifiques, d'ouvrages de référence et d'autres informations provenant de sources fiables. Les résultats ont révélé qu'il existe une corrélation significative entre les théories, les hypothèses de base et les concepts liés au processus d'intervention SFBT dans le but d'aider les individus à trouver des solutions aux problèmes qui sont ou seront vécus. Cette étude peut alors constituer une référence scientifique pour l'application de l'approche SFBT dans le but d'améliorer la capacité à trouver des solutions. (French) [ FROM AUTHOR] ABSTRAKT Diese Studie erläuterte die Bedeutung des Ansatzes der lösungsorientierten Kurzzeittherapie (SFBT) im Umgang mit Einzelpersonen, um Lösungen sowohl nach als auch während des Auftretens von psychischer Angst zu finden. Die Anwendung von SBFT kann praktisch, effektiv und effizient erfolgen. Diese Studie verwendet eine vergleichende Analyse, die sich auf verschiedene relevante Literatur zwischen SFBT und psychischer Angst bezieht, insbesondere zum COVID-19-Ausbruch in Form von Artikeln in wissenschaftlichen Zeitschriften, Nachschlagewerken und anderen Informationen aus vertrauenswürdigen Quellen. Die Ergebnisse zeigten, dass es eine signifikante Korrelation zwischen Theorien, sowohl Grundannahmen als auch Konzepten im Zusammenhang mit dem SFBT-Interventionsprozess gibt, um Einzelpersonen dabei zu helfen, Lösungen für Probleme zu finden, die auftreten oder auftreten werden. Diese Studie kann dann als wissenschaftliche Referenz für die Anwendung des SFBT-Ansatzes zur Verbesserung der Lösungsfähigkeit dienen. (German) [ FROM AUTHOR] ΠΕΡΊΛΗΨΗ Αυτή η μελέτη εξήγησε τη σημασία της προσέγγισης της συνοπτικής θεραπείας με επίκεντρο τη λύση (SFBT) στην αντιμετώπιση ατόμων για την εξεύρεση λύσεων τόσο μετά όσο και κατά τη διάρκεια της εμφάνισης ψυχολογικού άγχους, η εφαρμογή της SBFT μπορεί να γίνει πρακτικά, αποτελεσματικά και αποδοτικά. Αυτή η μελέτη χρησιμοποιεί συγκριτική ανάλυση, η οποία αναφέρεται σε ποικίλη σχετική βιβλιογραφία μεταξύ του SFBT και του ψυχολογικού άγχους, ειδικά στην επιδημία COVID-19 με τη μορφή άρθρων επιστημονικών περιοδικών, βιβλίων αναφοράς και άλλων πληροφοριών από αξιόπιστες πηγές. Τα αποτελέσματα αποκάλυψαν ότι υπάρχει σημαντική συσχέτιση μεταξύ των θεωριών, τόσο βασικών υποθέσεων όσο και εννοιών που σχετίζονται με τη διαδικασία παρέμβασης SFBT σε μια προσπάθεια να βοηθηθούν τα άτομα να βρουν λύσεις σε προβλήματα που έχουν ή θα βιώσουν. Αυτή η μελέτη μπορεί στη συνέχεια να αποτελέσει μια επιστημονική αναφορά για την εφαρμογή της προσέγγισης SFBT ως μια προσπάθεια βελτίωσης της ικανότητας εύρεσης λύσεων. (Modern Greek) [ FROM AUTHOR] RIASSUNTO Questo studio ha spiegato l'importanza dell'approccio Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) nel trattare con gli individui per trovare soluzioni sia dopo che durante il verificarsi di ansia psicologica, l'applicazione di SBFT può essere eseguita in modo pratico, efficace ed efficiente. Questo studio utilizza l'analisi comparativa, che fa riferimento a varie pubblicazioni rilevanti tra SFBT e ansia psicologica, in particolare nell'epidemia di COVID-19 sotto forma di articoli di riviste scientifiche, libri di consultazione e altre informazioni da fonti attendibili. I risultati hanno rivelato che esiste una correlazione significativa tra le teorie, sia i presupposti di base che i concetti relativi al processo di intervento SFBT nel tentativo di aiutare le persone a trovare soluzioni ai problemi che sono o saranno vissuti. Questo studio può quindi essere un riferimento scientifico per l'applicazione dell'approccio SFBT come sforzo per migliorare la capacità di trovare soluzioni. (Italian) [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of European Journal of Psychotherapy & Counselling is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

The Effects of Torture in the Context of COVID-19 and Continuous Type III Trauma’s Variants: The Peri-Post Type III Trauma Mental Health Syndrome in Syrian Torture Survivors

The goal was to explore the applicability of the continuous traumatic stress type-III paradigm to the torture’s interface with other ongoing traumatic stressors (e.g., COVID-19 and discrimination) and other adversities' impact. On a sample of 891 Syrian internally displaced (461 torture survivors), we measured cumulative trauma, COVID-19 stressors, and the peri-post type III trauma syndrome (i.e., CPTSD, PTSD, depression, anxiety, and executive functions). We conducted t-test and structural equation modeling. Torture predicted higher COVID-19 stressors and the peri-post type III trauma syndrome. Intersected discrimination amplified the effects of torture. The conceptual and clinical implications of these findings were discussed. © 2022 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Human Rights and Systemic Wrongs: National Preventive Mechanisms and the Monitoring of Care Homes for Older People

Care homes for older people may become places of deprivation of liberty due to their residents' lack of capacity to consent to their stay. The Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture requires States Parties to establish National Preventive Mechanisms to undertake visits to all places of deprivation of liberty to prevent torture and other ill treatment. This paper discusses the ways in which National Preventive Mechanisms report on human rights concerns in older people's care homes across 26 Council of Europe states. A framework established by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture provides a starting point for this analysis. Common themes around restraint, ill treatment, safeguards for involuntary placements, and resourcing issues emerge. Against a backdrop of concerns heightened by the Covid-19 pandemic, the paper concludes that a narrow focus on individual human rights needs to be supplemented by addressing the structural issues on which the more broadly conceived rights of residents of care homes for older people depend.

THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS IN THE EU

The year 2020 and also 2021 brought both progress and setbacks in terms of fundamental rights protection. The COVID-19 Pandemic triggered multiple crises not only at the sanitary level. In this context, people in Europe and also all over the world had the impress that their fundamental rights are not respected and limited. The paper offers a perspective about the impact of COVID-19 on human rights and emphasis some highlights weaknesses.

Unsafe at home: the increased trend of domestic violence during the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh

PurposeThe pandemic situation has increased the domestic violence rate against women and children significantly around the world. However, it is difficult to measure the accurate rate of increased domestic violence because of restrictions and limited mobility in accessing help and reporting. This paper aims to highlight the current situation of the novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and domestic violence in Bangladesh. It also states the challenges of the unprecedented situation and how to encounter increasing domestic violence cases.Design/methodology/approachThis paper is a viewpoint of the COVID-19 pandemic and domestic violence situation in Bangladesh. Accordingly, this paper includes a comprehensive literature review that summarises related articles and newspapers on domestic violence.FindingsBangladesh is one of the most vulnerable countries to COVID-19 because of its most dense population. Currently, the COVID-19 virus is spreading rapidly in all parts of Bangladesh. In Bangladesh, the COVID-19 pandemic is increasing domestic violence for women and girls. Because of the lockdown, financial stress and livelihood scarcity, domestic violence rates show an increasing tendency that should not be overlooked to ensure the safety and security of women and girls in Bangladesh.Originality/valueThis paper delivers information about the current situation of COVID-19 in Bangladesh and the challenges of domestic violence that have risen. This paper will be helpful to policymakers, government and non-government officials for developing effective social safety net interventions.

Remote medico-legal assessment by telephone during COVID-19: Monitoring safety and quality when documenting evidence of torture for UK asylum applicants.

INTRODUCTION: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Freedom from Torture developed remote telephone assessments to provide interim medico-legal reports, ensuring people could obtain medical evidence to support their asylum claim. METHOD: To audit this new way of working, feedback was collected from the doctors, interpreters, individuals being assessed, and senior medical and legal staff who reviewed the reports. This paper presents findings from the first 20 assessments. RESULTS: Individuals assessed reported that the doctor developed good rapport, but in 35% of assessments reported that there were some experiences they felt unable to disclose. In 70% of assessments, doctors felt that rapport was not as good compared to face-to-face. In the majority of assessments, doctors were unable to gain a full account of the torture or its impact. They reported feeling cautious about pressing for more information on the telephone, mindful of individuals' vulnerability and the difficulty of providing support remotely. Nevertheless, in 85% of assessments doctors felt able to assess the consistency of the account of torture with the psychological findings, in accordance with the Istanbul Protocol (United Nations, 2004). Factors that hindered the assessment included the inability to observe body language, the person's ill health, and confidentiality concerns. CONCLUSION: This research indicates that psychological medico-legal reports can safely be produced by telephone assessment, but are more likely to be incomplete in terms of both full disclosure of torture experiences and psychological assessment. The limitations underline the need for a follow-up face-to-face assessment to expand the psychological assessment as well as undertake a physical assessment.