Building Capacity for Change: Strengthening Psycho-Legal Support to Combat Torture in India






 Training Report with Analysis (1 January – 31 December 2025)

Project: 993-DA-2: Promoting a Psycho-Legal Framework to Reduce Torture and Other Violence (TOV) in India
Organization: Jan Mitra Nyas
Supported by: UN Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture

1. Introduction

Capacity building is a core component of effective psycho-legal intervention and victim support. During 2025, Jan Mitra Nyas organized a series of structured training programs to enhance staff competencies in monitoring, evaluation, medico-legal practices, intervention strategies, and public advocacy. These trainings aimed to strengthen institutional response mechanisms for survivors of torture and other violence while improving program implementation.

2. Training Overview

According to the training report covering 1 January – 31 December 2025, a total of 7 training programs were conducted with 178 participants, including 126 male and 52 female participants. Most trainings were internal, ensuring consistent organizational learning, while one specialized session was delivered by an external expert. 

3. Key Training Areas

The programs focused on the following thematic areas:

  • Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation (PME)

  • Torture intervention strategies

  • Work evaluation and presentation skills

  • Testimony therapy and medico-legal documentation

  • Skill development

  • Public advocacy and community engagement

These areas directly support the development of a psycho-legal framework by improving both technical knowledge and field-level responsiveness. 

4. Participation Analysis

Gender Distribution

  • Male: 126 (≈71%)

  • Female: 52 (≈29%) 

Analysis:
While male participation was significantly higher, the presence of female participants across all trainings indicates progress toward inclusivity. However, increasing female representation should be prioritized to promote gender-balanced service delivery, particularly when working with women survivors of violence.

Training Reach

  • Total trainings: 7

  • Total participants: 178

  • Average participants per training: ~25

Analysis:
The average participation rate reflects strong staff engagement. The December training on effective public advocacy alone trained 72 participants, demonstrating expanded outreach and organizational scaling toward the end of the year. 

Internal vs External Expertise

  • Internal trainings: 6

  • External trainings: 1 

Analysis:
Heavy reliance on internal trainers highlights strong in-house expertise and sustainability. However, periodic engagement with external specialists can introduce innovative methodologies and global best practices, particularly in trauma care and medico-legal documentation.

5. Chronological Learning Progression

The training design reflects a logical capacity-building pathway:

✅ Early Year: Focus on planning, monitoring, and intervention fundamentals.
✅ Mid-Year: Advanced technical skills such as testimony therapy and medico-legal work.
✅ Late Year: Large-scale public advocacy training to strengthen community impact.

Analysis:
This progression suggests a strategic approach—building foundational knowledge first and then expanding toward external engagement and advocacy.

6. Organizational Impact

The training initiatives contributed to:

  • Improved documentation and case handling

  • Stronger psycho-legal support mechanisms

  • Enhanced staff confidence in addressing torture-related cases

  • Better monitoring and evaluation practices

  • Increased readiness for public awareness and advocacy

Overall Assessment:
The structured training approach indicates that Jan Mitra Nyas is actively investing in institutional strengthening, which is essential for delivering survivor-centered services and ensuring accountability.

7. Challenges Identified

  • Gender imbalance in participation

  • Limited exposure to external expert-led sessions

  • Potential need for more advanced trauma-focused training

  • Opportunity to integrate digital tools into monitoring and documentation

8. Recommendations

  1. Increase Female Participation: Encourage more women staff and stakeholders to join future trainings.

  2. Engage External Experts: Particularly in trauma psychology, forensic documentation, and international human rights standards.

  3. Introduce Advanced Modules: Specialized courses on survivor rehabilitation, mental health, and legal remedies.

  4. Conduct Post-Training Evaluations: Measure knowledge retention and field application.

  5. Adopt Blended Learning: Combine in-person sessions with digital resources for continuous learning.

The 2025 training programs demonstrate a strong commitment by Jan Mitra Nyas to professional development and institutional effectiveness under the psycho-legal framework project. With 178 participants trained across critical thematic areas, the organization has strengthened its capacity to prevent torture, support survivors, and promote justice.

Strategic improvements—particularly in gender balance and expert engagement—can further enhance the long-term impact of these initiatives.

Link for details of training in Hindi: https://www.scribd.com/document/994087732/Training-Report-with-Analysis-1-January-31-December-2025

For more insights on the urgent need to eliminate torture and strengthen survivor-centered justice, read the full blog titled “Towards a Torture-Free Society: A Call for Justice, Humanity, and Reform.” The article highlights PVCHR’s observance of the UN International Day in Support of Victims of Torture and outlines key legal, social, and institutional reforms needed to build a more humane and accountable society. Access the complete blog here: https://testimonialhealing.blogspot.com/2025/06/towards-torture-free-society-call-for.html

For a detailed understanding of the Human Rights Defenders’ Training Programme held from 9–12 December 2025 at the PVCHR office in Varanasi, read the full report titled “Comprehensive Report on Human Rights Defenders’ Training Programme.” Organized by the People’s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR) with support from the Gwangju Human Rights Peace Foundation (GHRPF), the four-day programme focused on strengthening defenders’ capacity through constitutional values, UN human rights frameworks, and the Sustainable Development Goals. The training witnessed consistent participation: 11 participants (4 women, 7 men) on Day 1; 13 participants (9 women, 4 men) on Day 2; 25 participants (4 women, 21 men) on Day 3; and 23 participants (7 women, 16 men) on Day 4, reflecting strong engagement throughout the programme. Access the complete report here: https://testimonialhealing.blogspot.com/2025/12/comprehensive-report-on-human-rights.html



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