"Empowering Survivors, Bridging Justice: A Three-Day Workshop on Victim Support and Systemic Change (25–27 June 2025)"


 Three-Day Training Workshop Report

📅 Date: 25–27 June 2025
📍 Venue: PVCHR Office, Varanasi

Organized by:

Jan Mitra Nyas (JMN) and People’s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR)

With Support From:

  • UN Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture
  • International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT)
  • Gwangju Human Rights Peace Foundation (GHRPF)

This workshop was a core activity under the ongoing project:

“Empowering Victims of Torture by Strengthening Victim Support and Building Information Bridges”

It was conducted as part of Project Monitoring and Evaluation (PME) and capacity-building, contributing to the development of a survivor-centered and technology-enabled ecosystem.

Project Context

The project aims to enhance legal and psycho-social services for survivors of torture, especially from marginalized communities such as Dalits, Adivasis, and minorities. Key components include:

  • Connect+ ICT Platform for real-time victim support

  • Testimony therapy and trauma-informed healing

  • Capacity building of human rights defenders

  • Legal interventions and institutional advocacy

  • Documentation, research, and communication for systemic change

Day 1 – June 25, 2025

Morning Session:
Participants introduced themselves and shared insights into their fieldwork.
Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi opened the workshop with a session on organizational values, democratic resistance, and survivor-centric strategies. He emphasized the integration of testimony therapy, PME tools, and Connect+ for impact measurement and survivor empowerment.

Afternoon Session:
A participatory discussion on values vs. ethics was followed by the screening of “Police Atrocities in Uttar Pradesh” (by Newslaundry). It prompted deep reflection on custodial abuse and the justice system.

Day 2 – June 26, 2025

Morning Session – UN International Day in Support of Victims of Torture:
A tribute was held to honor survivors across Uttar Pradesh.

✨ Shaheeba Bano: From Injustice to Inspiration

🏅 Recipient of Jan Mitra Samman by PVCHR
📍 Venue: PVCHR Office, Varanasi
📅 Date: 26 June 2025

🌺 A Story of Courage:
Shaheeba Bano, widowed after her husband Ibrahim died in suspicious police custody, was honored for her resilience. Refusing to be silenced by stigma, she began driving his auto-rickshaw to support her children.

Award Citation:

"For your unyielding bravery in the face of systemic oppression, for turning grief into strength, and for lighting a path for countless others..."

The award was presented by PVCHR intern Ms. Sanjana Shukla, and captured in a short documentary by Ankit Singh (Delhi School of Social Work).

📜 NHRC Action:
PVCHR filed a complaint, resulting in:

  • ₹5,00,000 compensation

  • Recognition of custodial negligence

  • NHRC Case Nos. 5884/24/69/2021-JCD & 8408/24/69/2023-AD

💰 In September 2025, she will receive ₹10,000 in Sonbhadra as a follow-up honor.

Afternoon Session:
Trauma survivors were presented. A deeply distressed woman received emotional counseling before bravely narrating her ordeal. Legal action planning followed.
Khushi Yadav and Aditya Mishra gave educational presentations on anti-torture mechanisms.

Day 3 – June 27, 2025

Morning Session:
Ankit Singh presented on the South Korea-supported Connect+ platform, emphasizing its integration of testimonial healing, real-time support, and capacity building.

Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi led a session on:

  • Drafting survivor-centric project proposals

  • Budget planning aligned with PME frameworks

  • Sustainability strategies for legal aid, education, and community reintegration

Testimonies from survivors were recorded as part of documentary-based advocacy and healing.

Conclusion & PME Integration

This workshop not only enhanced knowledge but also contributed directly to the Project Monitoring and Evaluation (PME) of the GHRPF-supported initiative. It bridged field realities with technology, law, and care systems through:

  • Outcome tracking using Connect+

  • Documented testimonies and follow-ups

  • Community feedback for future planning

Through voices like Shaheeba Bano, the project reaffirms the transformative power of solidarity, story, and systemic change.

Workshop Analysis:

Three-Day Training Workshop (25–27 June 2025)

Venue: PVCHR Office, Varanasi
Language: Original report in Hindi

🧭 Overall Purpose & Context:

The workshop was part of a broader initiative supported by Gwangju Human Rights Peace Foundation, UN Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture, and IRCT, under the project titled:

“Empowering Victims of Torture by Strengthening Victim Support and Building Information Bridges”

The core objectives were:

  • Enhancing capacities of field actors and survivors

  • Promoting testimonial therapy and trauma-informed care

  • Sharing tools for legal intervention and victim documentation

  • Strengthening project monitoring and evaluation (PME)

🗓️ Day-Wise Breakdown & Insights:

✅ Day 1: June 25, 2025

  • Session 1:

    • Introductions and sharing of work experiences

    • Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi gave an overview of PVCHR’s history and struggles

    • Highlighted goal setting, self-assessment, and the leadership of Shruti Nagvanshi

  • Session 2:

    • Reflections on ethics vs personal values

    • Screening of Newslaundry documentary: “Police Atrocities in Uttar Pradesh”

    • Open discussion on police torture and state responsibility

📌 Analysis:
The day set the tone for experiential learning. The focus on values and ethics aligned well with trauma-informed advocacy principles. The film created space for truth-telling and collective reflection, a key feature of testimonial healing.

✅ Day 2: June 26, 2025

📌 Analysis:
The second day was the emotional heart of the workshop. The honoring of Shaheeba Bano linked symbolic justice with public storytelling — aligning with testimonial therapy principles. The trauma-sensitive facilitation of survivors created space for healing and voice recovery.

✅ Day 3: June 27, 2025

  • Session 1:

    • Ankit Singh presented the South Korea-supported Connect+ Project

    • Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi provided training on:

      • Budget design

      • Project proposal writing

      • Funding structures and donor engagement

    • Testimonies of survivors from Varanasi were recorded

📌 Analysis:
This session transitioned from emotional healing to technical capacity building — equipping participants with tools to lead advocacy, fundraising, and PME independently. Testimonial collection aligned with the documentation and dissemination goals of the project.

📌 Strengths Observed:

  • Clear alignment with project objectives under GHRPF and UNVFVT

  • Strong integration of trauma-informed practices, especially on Day 2

  • Survivor leadership promoted through testimonies and symbolic recognition

  • Practical skills imparted: PME, budgeting, proposal writing

  • Use of Connect+ and documentation platforms for sustainability

⚠️ Areas for Further Strengthening:

  1. Monitoring & Learning Loop:
    Documentation of learning outcomes, such as pre/post evaluations or feedback loops, would improve PME transparency.

  2. Gender-Sensitive Analysis:
    While women's voices were present, more structured gender-disaggregated analysis could deepen impact evaluation.

  3. Digital Inclusion Metrics:
    More detail on how marginalized survivors access and use the Connect+ platform would be beneficial.

📊 Conclusion:

The workshop was highly relevant, well-structured, and emotionally resonant. It successfully combined survivor-centered storytelling with technical capacity building. The inclusion of Shaheeba Bano's recognition and trauma healing practices exemplified best practices in victim empowerment, documentation, and community-based justice.

"Empowering Survivors, Bridging Justice: A Three-Day Workshop on Victim Support and Systemic Change (25–27... by pvchr.india9214 on Scribd

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

“The Station House Officer said: ‘We will not let your son become an MBBS doctor.’”

Image
  “The Station House Officer said: ‘We will not let your son become an MBBS doctor.’” My name is Chakradhari Yadav. I am 51 years old and a resident of Village Madhi, Police Station—Newadia, District—Jaunpur. My father’s name was the late Nandlal Yadav. My wife’s name is Sitamuni. I belong to the Ahir (Yadav) caste. I support my family by working in the fields. I have two sons and two daughters. The eldest daughter is Neetu (28 years old), my second child is Pradyumn (26), the third is my daughter Rishu (23), and the youngest is my son Pravendra. One Diwali, I decided to bring my son home from college—a decision that turned out to cost me dearly. I had no idea that this simple, affectionate act would become the cause of such immense trouble. Had I known, I would never have called him home. That night changed everything. As I was sleeping on a cot in our home, my younger son Pravendra came running and told me, “Papa, a man has fallen off a motorcycle.” Hearing this, I rushed to t...
Read more

Towards a Torture-Free Society: A Call for Justice, Humanity, and Reform

Image
  Towards a Torture-Free Society: A Call for Justice, Humanity, and Reform By PVCHR (People’s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights) Date: 26 June 2025 – UN International Day in Support of Victims of Torture On 26 June 2025, PVCHR marked the UN International Day in Support of Victims of Torture with a powerful appeal for justice, dignity, and reform. Founder Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi and National Coordinator Mr. Onkar Vishwakarma issued a heartfelt video message, amplifying the voices of survivors and calling for systemic change. The video was curated by PVCHR intern, Mr. Ankit Singh , as part of the organization’s commitment to stand with survivors and advocate for a torture-free world . The Deep Roots of Non-Violence in Indian Tradition India’s ancient Sanatan and Shraman traditions uphold Ahimsa (non-violence) and the intrinsic dignity of every human being. These principles resonate with the global ideal of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam —the belief that the whole world is one family. N...
Read more

For a Few Rupees: The Tragic Death of Ibrahim and the Global Fight Against Custodial Torture

Image
 Dependent Receiving Compensation at District Magistrate Office, Sonbhadra Link:  https://medium.com/@lenin_75290/for-a-few-rupees-the-tragic-death-of-ibrahim-and-the-global-fight-against-custodial-torture-28ee6607a65d On February 7, 2022, a routine day turned into a nightmare for Sahiba Bano , a resident of Banaura village in Uttar Pradesh, India. Her husband, Ibrahim, a hardworking man who earned a living as a tempo driver, was detained by the police under dubious circumstances. What followed was a harrowing tale of corruption, extortion, and state-sanctioned violence — culminating in his death in judicial custody. When Ibrahim was arrested, the police demanded a bribe of 10,000 rupees (approximately $120) for his release. When Sahiba pleaded for mercy, the police mocked her, stating, “If you do not pay, your husband will be killed.” Days later, she received a devastating phone call — her husband had allegedly committed suicide in jail. But when his body was retur...
Read more