Supervision and Orientation Workshop: Art for Healing, Human Dignity, and Justice

Supervision and Orientation Workshop: Art for Healing, Human Dignity, and Justice

Implementing Organisation
Janmitra Nyas
Partner Organisations
United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture
Mirza Ghalib Literature & Art Global Club
Location
Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
Date of Activity
10 January 2026
Reporting Period
January 2026

1. Background and Rationale

Survivors of torture and organized violence often face prolonged psychological trauma, social exclusion, and barriers to justice. In alignment with the mandate of the United Nations, there is growing recognition that rehabilitation must be holistic, integrating psychosocial care, community support, cultural expression, and human rights education.

Art-based approaches, including testimony therapy and creative expression, are increasingly recognized by UN mechanisms as effective tools for healing, restoring dignity, and enabling survivors to reclaim agency. Against this backdrop, Janmitra Nyas organized a Supervision and Orientation Workshop to strengthen the capacity of human rights workers and artists engaged in victim-centered rehabilitation and advocacy.

2. Objectives

Overall Objective

To contribute to the rehabilitation of victims of torture and organized violence through a rights-based, survivor-centered approach integrating art for healing, psychosocial support, and human rights education.

Specific Objectives

  1. To strengthen the conceptual and practical understanding of torture, organized violence, and victim rehabilitation among participants.

  2. To promote art and cultural expression as tools for healing, testimony, and social transformation.

  3. To enhance coordination, ethical practice, and accountability in field-level human rights interventions.

3. Target Group and Participation

  • Total Participants: 38

  • Male: 30

  • Female: 8

Participants included human rights defenders, social workers, artists, educators, and community facilitators from Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Sonbhadra, working directly with survivors of torture and violence.

4. Description of Activities

Key activities conducted during the workshop included:

  • Orientation sessions on the UN definition of torture, organized violence, and victim-centered rehabilitation

  • Supervision discussions on testimony therapy, ethical engagement, and psychosocial care

  • Art for healing sessions, highlighting creative practices as non-verbal testimony and trauma processing tools

  • Felicitation ceremony, recognizing lifelong contributions to art, peace, and human dignity

  • Strategic planning for 2026, including timelines, division of responsibilities, and reporting mechanisms

5. Results and Outcomes

Key Results Achieved

  • Improved understanding of torture, organized violence, and survivor rights

  • Increased capacity of participants to use art-based and testimony-oriented healing approaches

  • Strengthened regional coordination and role clarity among field teams

  • Renewed commitment to ethical standards, transparency, and timely reporting

Immediate Outcomes

  • Participants demonstrated enhanced sensitivity toward survivor narratives

  • Greater integration of art, culture, and psychosocial support into rehabilitation strategies

  • Reinforced solidarity between human rights defenders, artists, and community workers

6. Gender and Inclusion

The programme actively promoted gender-sensitive engagement, recognizing the specific vulnerabilities of women survivors of torture, custodial violence, and gender-based violence. Efforts were made to ensure women’s participation and to address gendered dimensions of trauma and access to justice.

7. Alignment with the UN Mandate and SDGs

The workshop directly contributed to the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

  • SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-being: Psychosocial care, testimony therapy, and trauma-informed practices

  • SDG 5 – Gender Equality: Inclusion of women survivors and focus on gender-based violence

  • SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities: Support to marginalized and conflict-affected communities

  • SDG 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: Human rights education, accountability, and non-violence

  • SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals: Collaboration between civil society, international mechanisms, and cultural actors

8. Sustainability and Follow-up

The workshop laid the foundation for sustained impact through:

  • Ongoing supervision and evaluation mechanisms

  • Integration of art-based healing into regular field programmes

  • Strengthened regional coordination and shared learning

  • Planned activities for 2026, including Lok Vidyalaya, testimony therapy, and public awareness initiatives

The Supervision and Orientation Workshop reaffirmed that healing, justice, and dignity are interconnected. When art, human rights, and survivor voices converge, they create powerful pathways toward peace, resilience, and social transformation. The programme stands as a meaningful contribution to the UN mandate and the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals.






Logical Framework (Logframe) Linked to SDGs

Intervention LogicIndicatorsMeans of VerificationAssumptions / RisksSDG Link
Overall Goal: Improved well-being, dignity, and access to justice for victims of torture and organized violenceImproved psychosocial well-being of survivors; increased survivor participationProgramme reports, survivor testimonies, evaluationsContinued civic space for human rights workSDG 3, SDG 16
Purpose/Outcome: Strengthened capacity of human rights workers to apply art-based and rights-based rehabilitation approaches% of participants applying testimony/art methods in fieldworkFollow-up reports, supervision notesParticipants remain engaged in field activitiesSDG 3, SDG 10
Output 1: Participants trained on torture, organized violence, and UN standards38 participants oriented (30 men, 8 women)Attendance sheets, session documentationAvailability of participantsSDG 16
Output 2: Art for healing approaches promoted and understoodArt-based methods integrated into rehabilitation plansTraining materials, field case studiesCultural acceptance of art-based healingSDG 3
Output 3: Strengthened coordination and ethical practiceClear role division and action plan for 2026Action plans, meeting minutesEffective internal communicationSDG 17
Activities: Workshops, supervision sessions, art-based dialogues, planning meetingsNumber of sessions conductedActivity reports, photographsTimely resource availabilitySDG 3, 16, 17

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