[psych-hr] Biodata for three more discussion group members

[***Note from the moderator: Over the last couple of days I have
received biodata from three members of the group: Viviana ValsGen (Peru),
Nora Sveaass (Norway), and Judith Thompson (United States), who I recently
invited to join the group. (Please note that I received Viviana's input
in Spanish and translated it into English. Again, Viviana, I hope I have
done you justice in the translation). I must say, reviewing the bio data
of these three people, plus that of the many others who have already
contributed bio information, I feel very privileged to have the
opportunity to moderate this group. Thought you might be interested in
learning about the backgrounds of these three people sooner rather than
later so decided to send it out now rather than waiting until I return to
the Washington in mid June. Warm regards to all, Marcy***]

VIVIANA VALS GEN

1. ABOUT VIVIANA

I am a clinical psychologist who operates as a psychotherapist. My
involvement in human rights in Peru, and specifically in both assisting
victims of rights violations as well as doing research, began in 1986. I
currently offer psychological assistance to victims of political violence. 
At the beginning my work was focused on people who were directly affected
by the violence. However, I and others soon saw the need to work with
groups that, from different perspectives, assist people and their families
who are directly affected by violence (human rights promoters, pastoral
agents, lawyers, among others). 

I have, since 1994, been a participant in a project which provides
psychological attention to victims of violence which is sponsored by the
Peruvian National Human Rights Coordinator (a network of 50 Peruvian NGOs
that was formed in 1986 to combat violence from wherever it might come). 
Within the team of psychologists working with the Peruvian National Human
Rights Coordinator I am responsible for training. While I use clinical
reflection to organize the workshops that a facilitate, I do not
characterize what I am doing as psychotherapy. I began my training as a
psychotherapist at the Peruvian Institute for Psychoanalysis. I am
currently teaching courses in clinical psychology. 

I and my fellow psychologists who provide our services through the
National Human Rights Coordinator are currently trying to create new ways
of organizing and consolidating our work.

2. WHY VIVIANA IS INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING IN THIS DISCUSSION GROUP

My interest in this discussion group is associated with a felt need to
find alternative approaches to dealing with victims of political violence
and those who help these victims--a challenge that is very urgent in our
country.

I believe that it valuable to have an opportunity, within this discussion 
group, to share and exchanging experiences in this important area.. I thank 
Marcy for agreeing to moderate this discussion group. 

NORA SVEAASS

1. ABOUT NORA

Nora Sveaass, Norwegian, Psychologist, graduated from the University of
Oslo 1975. Worked in out-patient clinics with children and families till
1984. Three years of working in a prison officer's training school
teaching psychology gave me important knowledge of prison life. From 1987
I have worked full time with refugees, at the Psychosocial center for
refugees, University of Oslo. But during the years prior to this, I worked
regularly with refugees, both professionally and politically, and for many
years I was engaged in Solidarity work with Chile. I grew up in Brazil, so
Latin America has always been very close to me - and in this connection,
it is tempting to add another personal information, namely that my son is
an Aymara from Puno (or actually a village closer to the Bolivian border )
- adopted 4 months old, 10 years ago. I thus spent 6 weeks in Peru in
1989. 

Presently I am a research fellow at the Institute of Psychology at the
University of Oslo, writing a thesis on psychosocial work with refugees
using both clinical material from Norway and interview data from
Nicaragua (see below), but will go back to my work as head psychologist
at the Psychosocial center hopefully next year.

Some words about the Psychosocial center for refugees: the center is a
national resource center and has as main objectives: an outpatient clinic
receiving traumatized refugees for therapy, training and supervising
mental health professionals working other places and research. My research
interest has mainly been linked to exploring family therapy interventions
with refugee families. A collaborative research project with UCA
(Universidad Centroamericana) has made research and teaching projects
between University of Oslo and Nicaragua possible - the aim of the project
is to study the psychosocial consequences of organized violence and forced
migration, and look into differences and similarities in two different
contexts - the exile context as described by us from Norway and the
post-conflict context of Central America. 

I will also add that I was recently elected general secretary of
INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN RIGHTS. This is an international
society, formally organized in 1993, based on a network of health workers
who in different places are working with victims of human rights
violations. A letter of presentation with more information is presently
being written, and will be distributed to the psychologists on this list
as soon as it is ready. But briefly it can be said here that, the aims of
the society is to improve help for people suffering from human rights
violations, and work for the eradication of these violations, by,
promoting public and professional awareness of the effect on people's
health of violations of human rights, disseminating and sharing
information about experiences and expertise, encouraging co-operation
among colleagues, contributing to the development of ethical codes etc. So
as can be understood, the experiences described from Peru are very
important information to our society and should perhaps be presented more
directly at the conferences - held every third year. We must come back to
this. 

2. WHAT NORA WOULD LIKE TO CONTRIBUTE TO AND GET OUT OF THIS DISCUSSION GROUP

I hope to be able to contribute as member of this list of experienced
psychologists in this area. Human rights and psychology have been my main
professional interest for a long time, and beside doing clinical work with
people exposed to violence, I have done some writing on these issues as
well. Some of the colleagues on the list I am glad to say I know
personally, others by their publications. 

JUDITH THOMPSON

1. ABOUT JUDITH

I may be the only one who is neither a psychologist or a therapist! So, I
beg your tolerance in my less than adequate grounding in the shared
language and frameworks. For the past twenty years I have been involved
in social justice, community empowerment, peace education and human rights
activism in different forms. I did my undergraduate work at Michigan
State University in criminal justice and religious studies and my Master's
at the School for International Training in International Management. I
spent a year at Radcliffe's Bunting Institute as the Peace Fellow
(1993-94) and currently I'm a doctoral student at Union Institute in Peace
Studies.

My work has ranged from student organizing against the war in Vietnam to
leading wilderness expeditions for court referred adolescents to cultural
reconstruction projects with Cambodian refugees to community empowerment
projects in a Palestinian village (Anwar, this was in the Galilee -- a
village called Ibillin). But my primary focus for the past twenty years
has been working with young survivors of political violence in ways which
combine therapuetic processes, peace education and movement building
strategies. I founded and directed Children of War (COW) for nine years
in the early 80's and recently finished launching Global Youth Connect, an
organization based on COW's model, which is just now piloting it's first
programs. Marcy has been involved in our design work, and the IPDEHP
model has been a useful addition to our inspiration. (We were recently
featured as the cover story for Parade Magazine in case any of your saw
it, or would like to -- I'd be happy to send it to anyone interested). 

2. JUDITH's COORDINATES

Judith Thompson
16 Osborne Road
Arlington, MA 02474
781 646 1276/781 646 9205 (fax)
judith@ziplink.net