Workshop on Psychosocial Support for victims of ethnic violence in Osh, Kyrgyzstan

22.02.2013📷

In 7-9 November 2012 the association "Family and Society", with the support of the Program East-East beyond Borders "Soros Kyrgyzstan" held a seminar on the organization and providing of sustainable psychosocial support to victims of violence in emergencies.

The workshop brought together partners from Georgia, Chechnya, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan.

It is well known that there were military and ethnic conflicts in these countries. These events set target to develop sustainable forms of psychosocial care. Partners shared their experiences in organising assistance and services; they established relationships, planned collaborative projects. In the close future it will allow to introduce a new approach to the organization of psychological and psychiatric care at the community level.

From 18 to 25 November was made site visit to Georgia. The visit was attended by a large delegation from Kyrgyzstan. A wide range of questions was presented: the formation of “new type professionals” in psychiatry, psychology, social work, the new approaches to the organization of psychological assistance to victims of violence, as well as new approaches for the social rehabilitation of persons with mental disabilities and orphans with disabilities.

The site visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina is planned to early 2013, its aim is the studying of the experience of Bosnia in eliminating the consequences of ethnic conflict.

- Lilya Panteleeva, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan