Comprehensive Report on JanMitra Nyas Case Follow-Up and Impact Evaluation of Testimonial Therapy (TT) Funded by the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture

 

I. Introduction

JanMitra Nyas (JMN) organized a systematic follow-up of 172 cases from 2023 and 12 cases from 2024, across multiple dates in February and March. This initiative was underpinned by the use of Psycho-social support through Testimonial Therapy (TT), consisting of four sessions per case. Additionally, the project involved evaluating meta-legal and legal interventions and verifying compensation for victims.

II. Project Background

The initiative is supported by The United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture, a trust fund managed by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. This fund is essential for providing medical, psychological, legal, and social assistance to nearly 50,000 survivors annually, contributing significantly to the rehabilitation of individuals affected by torture.

III. Testimonial Therapy (TT) and Its Efficacy

TT has been utilized as a core component of the psycho-social support offered. It involves survivors sharing their trauma stories in a structured environment, which aims to alleviate psychological distress. The therapy has shown significant improvement in several outcome measures:

• WHO-5 Well-Being Scale: Improvement from an average of 14.8 pre-therapy to 50.2 post-therapy.
• P-Scale: Shows a decrease in perceived social stigma and limitations, from 36.1 pre-therapy to 13.9 post-therapy.
• Pain Analogue: Reduction in reported pain levels from 3.1 to 0.94.
• Anger Analogue: Decrease in anger levels from 3.46 to 0.93.

These outcomes underscore the therapy’s effectiveness in enhancing the well-being and social participation of torture survivors.

IV. Qualitative Insights and Community Impact

In-depth interviews conducted with survivors provided additional insights into the therapy's long-term effectiveness and its broader impact on community empowerment. These qualitative accounts suggest that TT not only aids individual recovery but also fosters community solidarity and action towards social justice and rehabilitation.

V. Limitations and Future Directions

While the results are promising, the study acknowledges certain limitations:

• Design Concerns: The pre-post test design limits the ability to draw definitive causal conclusions about TT's efficacy.
• Drop-out Analysis: A low drop-out rate was noted, but reasons for discontinuation were not thoroughly analyzed, which might provide deeper insights into the therapy’s impact.
• Measurement Tools: The P-scale, though useful, requires further validation for this specific application.

VI. Ethical and Methodological Considerations

Future research should consider more comprehensive randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to better establish TT's effectiveness. However, ethical and resource considerations in conducting RCTs need careful planning, potentially using waiting-list controls to mitigate ethical concerns.

VII. Conclusion

JanMitra Nyas’s follow-up on torture cases using TT has contributed significantly to the recovery of survivors, both at individual and community levels. The support from the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture has been crucial in this endeavor. Continued research and adaptation of the therapy based on comprehensive analysis and feedback will further enhance its applicability and effectiveness in rehabilitating survivors of torture.

VIII. Acknowledgments

Gratitude is expressed to the team members, interviewees, and especially the survivors who shared their experiences, enabling this comprehensive evaluation and ongoing improvement in therapy and support mechanisms.

JanMitra Nyas organized systematic follow-ups for 172 cases from 2023 on February 26, February 28, February 29, March 2, March 4, March 7, March 8, March 9, March 11, and March 15. The JMN team also discussed follow-ups on 12 cases from 2024. Additionally, we called 63 victims to the office for further consultations.

The evaluators, Shrin Sahaban Khan and Lenin Raghuvanshi, bring extensive experience and specialized expertise to the project. Shrin Sahaban Khan holds a master's degree in Social Work with a special focus on psychology and has 17 years of experience in the field. Lenin Raghuvanshi, on the other hand, has a Bachelor's degree in Ayurveda, Modern Medicine, and Surgery, with 30 years of experience. Together, they pioneered the use of Testimonial Therapy, a brief narrative therapy that provides psycho-social support to survivors.

It is noteworthy that Testimonial Therapy, as a brief narrative approach for psycho-social support to survivors in the Asian context, was developed by Lenin Raghuvanshi in collaboration with Danish psychologist Dr. Inger Agger.