Healing Wounds, Empowering Voices

  Varanasi, August 2026 — Survivors of human-rights violations, torture, violence, discrimination and social exclusion came together in Varanasi to make a powerful collective statement: rehabilitation is not charity—it is a constitutional and human right. The Survivor Alliance Meeting–2026 , held at Paradkar Smriti Bhawan, Maidagin, Varanasi, brought together survivors, human-rights defenders, social workers, journalists, students and community representatives around the theme “Survivors Leading Change: Rehabilitation, Dignity and Justice.” The meeting was organised by the People’s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR) and Jan Mitra Nyas (JMN) with support from the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT) and the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture (UNVFVT) . A growing public conversation on survivors’ rights The meeting generated significant attention from both online news portals and print newspapers . The media coverage reflected...

  On 11 August 2026 , at Paradkar Bhawan, Maidagin, Varanasi , the Survivor Alliance Meeting 2026 brought together survivors, community leaders, human rights defenders and supporters for a day of solidarity, dialogue and collective strength. One of the most meaningful moments was the Karma Dance presented by members of the Ghasia community of Sonbhadra . The performance was not simply a cultural programme. It represented a much longer journey of struggle, dignity, survival, cultural identity and human rights advocacy . For PVCHR, the presence of the Ghasia community at the Survivor Alliance was deeply connected with its own history. From Struggle to Cultural Expression PVCHR has worked with the Ghasia community of Raup/Rop village in Sonbhadra for many years. The community has faced severe marginalization, poverty, inadequate access to land and basic services, malnutrition, educational exclusion and allegations of police violence and torture. Historical PVCHR documentation re...

  Field Report Information Leaflet and awareness Campaign for survivors’ alliance in 10 Model Villages of Sonbhadra Date: 19 May 2026 Project: IRCT Project – Empowering Voices: JMN Survivor Engagement and Leadership for Rehabilitation and Justice Implementing Organisation: Jan Mitra Nyas (JMN), in collaboration with the People’s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR) Location: Sonbhadra District, Uttar Pradesh, India Villages/Bastis Covered: Barkara, Babhanouli, Mamuwa, Tiyara, Barela, Jamgai, Jait, Ghasia Basti, Hinduwari and Lodhi Basti 1. Background As part of the IRCT-supported project Empowering Voices: JMN Survivor Engagement and Leadership for Rehabilitation and Justice , Jan Mitra Nyas undertook a patrol and information leaflet campaign across 10 model villages in Sonbhadra on 19 May 2026. The project is designed to strengthen survivor engagement and provide holistic, trauma-informed rehabilitation through psycho-social support, Testimonial Therapy, ...