[psych-hr] 6th International Conference for Health and Human Rights

INVITATION AND CALL FOR PAPERS

6th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE FOR HEALTH AND HUMAN RIGHTS
Communities in Crisis: Strengthening Resources for Community Reconstruction
20 - 24 June, 2001, Cavtat, Croatia, Europe


FOR FULL SECOND ANNOUNCEMENT PLEASE VISIT THE CONFERENCE WEB SITE AT:
http://www.ishhr-conf-2001.org

Or mail for more information to: organiz@ishhr-conf-2001.org


CONFERENCE OUTLINE

The main focus of the conference will be to look into ways of offering
support and aid to communities affected by violence and conflict from
crisis to disasters, to old and new ways of reconstructing societal ways
of living. The conference will deal with the short and long term
consequences of conflict and develop ways to address destabilized
communities from the human rights violations and health perspectives. A
special emphasis will be given to torture and trauma, especially
vulnerable populations including children, adolescents and elderly. The
present international political situation regarding refugees, internally
displaced persons and asylum seekers with relation to their health will be
looked at specifically. Gender issues will be raised in relation to the
subjects discussed. Also the effects of truth and justice processes on
health of affected people on community, family and individual level will
be discussed.

The conference is a part of the lasting development process to help
empower the local care providers and develop local resources in
communities in crisis. As such, it will provide a forum for professional
exchange and for building networks to work together at regional and
international levels.


MAIN CONFERENCE THEMES:
	
>From crisis to reconstruction: psychosocial and mental health care
interventions on community level, specific needs of children, adolescents,
victims of sexual violence and torture, and returnees.

The consequences on health of the current interpretation and
implementation of the Refugee Convention in the various regions of the
world.

Truth, justice and social reconstruction: effects of truth and justice
processes on health of affected people on community, family and individual
level and social reconstruction process.


ORGANIZATION AND HOST

The conference is organised by the International Society for Health and
Human Rights (ISHHR) and is hosted by the Society for Psychological
Assistance (SPA), a Croatian non-governmental, non-profit mental health
organisation.

International Society for Health and Human Rights (ISHHR) organises health
professionals working in the field of human rights violations and health.
Primary aims are:
	-	Improve help for people suffering after human rights
violations
	-	Work for the eradication of these violations
	-	Promote public and professional awareness of the
consequences of human rights violations on health and communities
	-	Develop professional action, identification and assessment
of the consequences of organized violence and methods for intervention
	-	Strengthen communication and exchange of experience between
professionals in this field
	-	Support health workers, especially those hindered in or
persecuted for their activities 

Five international conferences have been held so far: France (1987), Costa
Rica (1989), Chile (1991), the Philippines (1994) and South Africa (1998).
More about ISHHR at the website: www.ishhr.org	

Society for Psychological Assistance (SPA) is the leading regional
non-governmental organization of mental health professionals in the South
East Europe. The SPA is providing comprehensive community-based mental
health assistance to victims of war and refugees, traumatized individual
and communities, abused children and family members. SPA also serves as
training, evaluation and supervision institution. Their skills building
courses have been completed by over 2,400 care-providers from Croatia,
Bosnia Herzegovina, Macedonia, Albania, Kosovo, Serbia and Russia. The
training efforts are targeted to empowerment, fostering systemic change,
increasing the quality of human services, and helping to build the civil
society. More about SPA at the website: www.dpp.hr


IMPORTANT DATES

Deadline for Abstracts ...........................January 15, 2001
Notification to authors..........................February 15, 2001
Deadline for reduced early registration fee..... March 31, 2001
Deadline for standard registration fee................June 1, 2001
Late and on-site registration fee.........  ......after June 2, 2001


MORE ABOUT THE CONFERENCE AT: www.ishhr-conf-2001.org

CONFERENCE CONTACT AT:  organiz@ishhr-conf-2001.org