Promoting A Psycho-Legal Framework To Reduce Torture and Organized Violence in India

FINAL EVALUATION REPORT Promoting a Psycho-Legal Framework to Reduce Torture and Organized Violence in India
RCT - PVCHR 2010 - 2012
Loreine B. dela Cruz

November 14, 2012
List of Acronyms and Abbreviations

CSO DASHRA EU KAP NATT NHRC OD PVCHR RCT TOV ToT TT VMG Civil Society Organizations Dalit Association for Social and Human Rights Awareness European Union Knowledge, Attitude, Practices National Alliance on Testimonial Therapy National Human Rights Commission Organizational Development People's Vigilance Committee for Human Rights Research and Rehabilitation Centre for the Victims of Torture Torture and Organized Violence Training of Trainers Testimonial Therapy Vision, Mission and Goals
Acknowledgments
I wish to thank Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi and Ms. Shirin Shabana Khan for facilitating everything to make the evaluation mission successful. The two were with me in all my meetings and interviews with key responders in New Delhi. They also tried to work out all my schedules for the evaluation mission. My grateful appreciation also to the management and staff of PVCHR who were all generous with their time, sharing and inputs in my data collection process. I was greatly inspired with the sharing and testimonies of the community partners of PVCHR as they passionately shared how they were transformed and empowered with the activities and undertakings facilitated by PVCHR. The staffs commitment and dedication in the delivery of the expected outputs and outcomes for the program can never be measured and had all paid off. My sincere thanks and appreciation also goes to Mr. Erik Wendt for considering me and facilitating everything by providing all the needed documents in relation to the project and for monitoring the goings on, before, during and after the evaluation. Most of all, my heartfelt thanks to all the key informants that I have interviewed for their time, generous sharing of their knowledge, insights and observations about PVCHR as an organization and its work. They have all provided an honest to goodness inputs and noholds barred conversation and exchange. Lastly, my grateful appreciation to my eldest daughter for making my graphs and to my youngest daughter for helping me to design the cover of this report. Loreine B. dela Cruz
Final Evaluation Report
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Table of Contents
Executive Summary.......................................................................................................................4 Introduction..................................................................................................................................7 Brief Background...........................................................................................................................8 The Partnership Project.................................................................................................................9 Purpose of Evaluation..................................................................................................................12 Approach and Methodology........................................................................................................14 Findings.........................................................................................................................................15 Lessons Learned..........................................................................................................................34 Recommendations.......................................................................................................................36 Conclusion....................................................................................................................................38 OD Outcome for PVCHR..............................................................................................................39 About PVCHR...............................................................................................................................44
Attachments:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Program of the Evaluation Mission List of Key informants/Responders List of Model Villages and Blocks Covered by the Project On Data Collection Matrix of Outputs Post OD Organizational Diagnosis (tool used) The Future of PVCHR: Phase 2
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Executive Summary
This final report contains the end-line evaluation findings of RCT and PVCHR's TOV program dubbed as Promoting a Psycho-Legal Framework to Reduce Torture and Organized Violence (TOV) in India. The programs over-all objective is ensuring a strong and well-organized testimonial campaign that contribute to eliminate impunity for perpetrators of torture in India. The program had developed the capacity of PVCHR as a knowledge centre that promotes the testimonial therapy for psychosocial rehabilitation of the torture survivors and advances advocacy for the prevention of torture. The program likewise utilized the testimonial therapy as a psycho-legal intervention implemented at the individual and community level for healing and empowerment. The testimonial therapy had served as a bridge between rehabilitation and advocacy in the fight against torture in India.
Key Findings
The program is relevant, effective and efficient with clear sustainable outcomes on the basis of achieving the programs set general and specific objectives including the outcome indicators. This RCT-PVCHR project can serve as a model of an innovative and unique program intervention for the survivors of torture, their families and communities. A program that addresses the needed healing, empowerment and development of the survivors and their communities. The program components had responded both to the immediate and shortterm needs of the survivors and their families in the communities but with longer-term outcomes and sustainability as well. The model is unique in several dimensions: 1. As a holistic and comprehensive approach combining short-term and longer-term target outcomes among focus sector (survivors of torture) and its community that combines services with advocacy. 2. Covers and implements four inter-related areas of concerns for the well-being of the survivors: policy to practice -- the establishment of villages free from torture and organized violence; people's advocacy; organization building and capacity building; and NATT collaboration. 3. Promotes healing, empowerment and development of the survivors of torture, their families and communities. 4. Reaches out to the marginalized section of the population that are in dire poverty and have been victimized by state perpetrators with impunity. The outcomes are impressive. There were several outcomes that can be attributed to the project which include:
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a. Transforming private pain brought about by torture into political campaign thereby breaking the culture of silence and brokenness of the survivors and developing and transforming them as human rights defenders. b. The survivors as human rights defenders assume the role of leading their community, encouraging their fellow community members towards building solidarity with other communities and strengthening further their unity. c. Greater awareness and consciousness among community people and they now regularly collect information and proactively intervenes whenever news of human rights violations crop up in their communities. d. The women folk school on neo-dalit is a great opportunity to unite the women and the community on the basis of reconciliation, democracy, secularism and nonviolence. It is forging the unity of all poor from all communities against their suffering brought about by the neo-liberal policy. e. Making the state accountable and ensuring the visibility of the torture issue at the country level and international level. The over-all expected outcome has been achieved to a significant extent particularly the healing and transformation of the survivors of torture. Survivors of torture have been healed and transformed as human rights defenders; they are fearless and now ready to face and confront their perpetrators; they are now in a better position to reclaim and attain their rights. Such can be attributed primarily to the program. This, despite the fact that the elimination of impunity in the country is still far-fetched. The contextual adaptation of the testimonial therapy in the country is truly effective. It has empowered the survivors' well-being (Agger, et al). As the survivors gained control after converting the traumatic event to a story of survival and share it to the public through an honour ceremony, it then provided support for the survivors' search for truth and meaning. The survivors gained empowerment when they have reclaimed their voice by becoming advocates/defenders for those who are still in pain and suffering.
Key Recommendations
Quite a good number of recommendations were drawn up with some of the key points outlined here. Some of the aspects of the program that need to continue include:
1. More sustained capacity development for the victims and survivors in focus communities with paramount consideration to women and children in a more purposive manner. Their participation, empowerment and development need greater reinforcement in normal times and more so in difficult situations such as in period of witch hunting, during militarization of communities and in armed conflict situations. 2. The NATT is a viable and suitable alliance set up for purposes of linking and engaging the communities and civil society groups in a planned and programmatic way. This is replicable in other community situations such among indigenous peoples and among
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minorities and also in South Asian countries especially the ones near the border of the country. 3. The community planning as a partnership endeavour between PVCHR and the communities is to be sustained in an annual kind of arrangement either within the tactical or strategic frame. 4. Continuous undertaking of freedom from TOV awareness and campaign in the covered villages and blocks in more sustained manner. There is a need to sustain the reaching out of the local media, utilizing the role of traditional and opinion leaders in the locality and strengthening the role of women, youth and children in decisionmaking in relation to torture and other human rights issues affecting the communities in the locality. Some of the aspects that need refinement include: 1. A freedom from TOV project that utilizes TT as a psycho-legal form of intervention is somewhat innovative, unique and important. This can further be enhanced and enriched through time. With more practice i.e., continuous piloting and testing its suitability and appropriateness in particular contexts, this can be mainstreamed in the programming cycle and process of civil society and non-government organizations. 2. Strengthen gender perspective in the whole program cycle: from assessment, analysis to strategy, and activities up to monitoring. Such enhances the effectiveness and relevance of the program and its components. 3. Grassroots, women and childrens participation in the whole program processes. This is from assessment of the situation to program design. There are still lots of growth areas when it comes to participatory processes. There is more space provided to people, women and children in decision making with higher level of participation 4. With increased participation from stakeholders, the role of external agents shifts from being actors to just facilitators. Therefore, with higher level of participation by people, women and children comes the requirement of more knowledge, skills and capacities on the part of community people, women and children. They need to be continuously equipped and trained. The aspects that need to be introduced: 1. Understanding the social ecology putting emphasis and importance 0n the cracks in the social fabric. It is an important consideration in addressing the community wellbeing and their need for protection, healing, empowerment and development. 2. Framing and utilizing the human rights based approach in developing and designing program for survivors of torture and the communities affected by TOV. 3. A participatory process of monitoring and evaluation of the development process and progress of community peoples and their undertakings.
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Hope, Honour, and Human Dignity Evaluation Mission RCT and PVCHR Partnership Project Introduction
As always, the ultimate extent of how well a project made an impact is in measuring the outcomes and impact in the lives of the partner-beneficiaries and of the communities. In the context of this partnership project between PVCHR and RCT, three important words aptly capture the general outcome and changes in the lives of people brought about by the project: Hope: the partners helped and assisted by the project spoke highly of hope that see them through amidst torture experience and prolonged imprisonment. Never was hope erased from their memory and system. Hope was always present as a longing and a yearning. It speaks of one's personal spirituality and provides strength and comfort to survive in any difficulties, trials and adversaries. It is in fact, holding on to the attitude of never giving up in a situation despite all odds. It is having the faith that the situation will change for the better at the dawning of each new day. Honour: the ceremonies honouring the survivors after the process of testimonial therapy was such an empowering and endearing moment and milestone in the lives of the survivors. It was a real recognition of the integrity of the survivors as human beings, that they possess value in every community and in society and they have right to be honoured in his/her community. The society provides acknowledgment and understanding of the survivors' suffering and the necessity for healing and reparation. This was a celebration of their breaking of silence towards achieving empowerment. Human Dignity: this is the connecting thread between the partners and PVCHR. They all spoke of human dignity as an important value that must be adhered to and recognized for all human beings. It is actually the measuring of treatment of human beings and his/her right to life. It is valuing his/her right to be treated with respect by any person in whatever culture s/he belongs. This 3H (hope, honour and human dignity) rightly sums up the healing and empowerment outcome of the project in the lives of the survivors served by the project. Mohammad Aamir Khan is a classic example of a survivor, now a human rights defender who never for a while loses hope despite his 14 years imprisonment.
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Brief Background
India is a huge country in South Asia. It is the seventh largest in terms of land area but the second largest in terms of population. It has 1.2 billion people and the most populous democracy in the world. Owing to its diversity as a country and its societies, it has a secular image and considered to be a very inclusive society -- multi-ethnic, multi-religious, multi-linguistic and multi-cultural society. The country has projected a 9% development index but can be considered far worse than the Sub-Saharan countries due to its failure to address the malnutrition and starvation in many parts of the country. Considering its vast geography and population, India remains to be divided, discriminating and intolerant even to its own citizenry and among fellow citizens. Marginalization continues to punctuate as the most significant problem in the whole of Indian society affecting major sections of the population such as caste, the Muslims, and various ethnic groups, including the vulnerable ones such as women, children, and the elderly. The caste hierarchy has divided and separated Indian society for decades. Despite several laws and Constitutional guarantees, caste lines and caste discrimination became the defining situation in India. It is reflected across societal spectrum and so evident that it identifies the great inequalities of caste based practice in the whole society. Caste is the final and ultimate indicator of everything that is happening in India. The caste based discrimination is reflected in both the private and public life of the Indian people. Its influence radiates in politics, administration, including the economic growth of the country. It thus affect the high percentage of the population of the country and is actually practiced in the educational system, places of work, in villages and districts and even in courts of justice. The most dehumanizing impact of the caste based discrimination is starvation and malnutrition. The Dalit peoples continued to experience discrimination, exploitation and oppression as this is sustained by the corrupt criminal justice delivery mechanism in the country. This is very evident in the context of Uttar Pradesh where PVCHR is mainly
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operating its programs and projects. In this state, policing suffer from impunity and police officers enjoy the corrupt practices at the expense of the most marginalized section of the population not only in this state but in other parts of the country. Torture and police atrocities further aggravate the already dire poverty situation and marginalization of the downtrodden people in majority of the villages in different parts of the country. Torture normally happens in the rural areas, in the far-flung villages of the country where Dalits, the lower caste and the minority people could not effectively fight for their rights. They are the primary targets and victims of torture by the police. Without awareness yet of their rights, these marginalized peoples suffer in silence and brokenness. But injustice and exploitation of the people cannot always proceed smoothly unscathed. Small steps for justice can accumulate and result in qualitative change in due time.
The Partnership Project

The partnership project between PVCHR and RCT contributes to the achievement of the set policy targets of RCT which include the following: 1. In rehabilitation practices as target 1. The project utilizes the testimonial therapy (TT) in the Indian context. It was adapted and innovated to suit the purpose of the community that are in silence due to torture, marginalization, exploitation and discrimination. The use of TT has helped healed and empowered the communities to assert and fight for their rights as they are transformed from victims to survivors and in the process as human rights defenders in the course of their active participation in community undertakings asserting their rights. The testimonial therapy is a short psychological approach to trauma that utilizes the testimony method. The testimony is the truth telling and emotion-pain sharing of the survivors with which truth is an important aspect of the justice process. The testimony is viewed within the broad framework of social construction and provides valid information of human rights violations without humiliating the witness. More often than not, it resulted in the survivors overcoming of depressive symptoms and cope with difficult situation. Survivors rediscover self worth and dignity. They regain self-esteem through recording of their stories in a human rights context, as such, private pain is reframed with a political meaning1. In Indian context, it has acquired psycho-legal form that emphasises denunciation of human rights violation and initiates advocacy for justice. It has three elements2:
1
2
Voice of Voiceless, PVCHR regular publication

Ibid
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Private: Psychological rehabilitation of the survivor leads to certain degree of restoration of physical and mental state. This opens the possibility of his/her participation in a community movement and ultimately becoming a human rights defender. Legal: The testimonies provide a lot of subjective information about the plight of the victim which help the court to take into account when the bail application of the victim is considered. The human sufferings are never recorded in the court proceedings. However, these references of human sufferings often go in favour of the victim in front of the well prepared perpetrator. Political: within testimonial therapy, public ceremonies are organized to honour the survivors of torture. These ceremonies provide an opportunity to bring back the survivor to the same community/society that has isolated him/her for being tortured. The testimonies are read out in the presence of the villagers, invited guests, local politicians, elected representatives, and local media creating debate and discussion at the local level because it contains human sufferings, institutional malpractices, and failure of constitutional guarantees. Testimonies can be used as urgent appeals and for advocacy work. 2. Community empowerment as target 2. The TT was uniquely incorporated into the unique advocacy and educational model of the targeted torture free model villages in the covered blocks of the project. In the process, they were able to protect and expand their basic human rights and have fought against impunity of the police who were the main violators in the context of India. The 'torture free' model villages within blocks provide the symbol and concrete expression of protective space for the community peoples to continuously and in a sustained manner raise the awareness of the local population on the prevalence of torture and organized violence (TOV) and their right to be free from TOV. Once declared as 'torture free' villages, there is likelihood of a recognition from state and police authorities that the community peoples are aware of their rights and they would fight for it to its conclusion. 3. Sustainable organizational strategies as target 3. PVCHR has utilized the Danish concept of folk school for the purpose of the community in terms of awareness building, capacitating the different sections of the population of the community including women, children and young people. The TT served as a bridge for the healing (psychological component) and justice (the legal component) in line with advocacy. The 'folk school' in the Indian context has served as a forum where the marginalized peoples like Dalits, the Mushars, and the Muslims meet, where they are treated equally and could freely voice their problems and concerns. The 'folk school' helps to
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improve equality by improving the capacity of the marginalized peoples to speak. In the short but Intense process of the school, they can speak without fear and without the threat of humiliation. In said process also, they are able to create a two-way discourse in the society wherein the so-called weak are brought to social discourse. The more silent the poor and the weak are, the less they get from society. For example, in creating a discourse on justice and human rights issues related to caste discrimination, it is very important to accumulate information and protect the efforts in documentation. A. General and Specific Objectives The project's general objective is to put up a strong and well-organized testimonial campaign that will help contribute to the elimination of impunity for the perpetrators of torture in India. There are three specific objectives: 1. Develop the capacity of PVCHR as knowledge centre that promotes testimonial therapy for psychosocial rehabilitation of torture survivors and advocates for prevention of torture 2. Optimize testimonial therapy as a psycho-legal intervention with emphasis on individual and community healing and empowerment 3. Utilize testimonial therapy as a bridge between treatment and advocacy against torture in India. B. Significant Components:
The significant components are suitable and appropriate within the framework of prevention and access to justice in the fight against torture. a. Policy to Practice: Establishment of villages free from torture and organized violence
Policy changes are brought down on the ground with a tedious process towards the establishment of torture free villages. The use of the testimonial therapy in the villages will to a certain extent change people's perception on the issues of TOV. It would be the people that has key responsibility in working on and declaring torture-free villages in many societies. When villages become torture-free villages, they will be able to seek legal redress and build solidarity. They can likewise advocate for institutional reform where they will ultimately be the main beneficiaries of said reforms. The integration of TT in the folk school provides the venue for the community people for a sharing of the pain
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and suffering of the victims. The survivors are educated on torture prevention and received compassion and empathy from fellow community members if not a shared pain and suffering. b. Peoples Advocacy The communities and partners of PVCHR in the National Alliance on Testimonial Therapy (NATT) will bring forth the documentation and learnings from the grassroots for enhanced advocacy to bring about policy changes that will improve the criminal justice system, at the same time building a better governance for torture prevention. Such need for voices of change from the affected communities requires greater support at varying levels with various instrumentalities and champions within and outside the country. The use of communication tools and media will have a bearing for the target of a wider reach from various stakeholders for torture prevention and advocacy. The rich experience of PVCHR with the use of the new media will be a great help for this component of people's advocacy. c. Organization Building and Capacity Building The enhancement of the capacities of both PVCHR and NATT as an alliance formation for the purpose of promoting testimonial therapy is to be undertaken continuously within the project period. Such is going to boost the skills and competencies of the people working on TTs. Supervision and orientation in the covered blocks of the project will also be undertaken for purposes of sustainability at this level. The training of trainers (ToT) for the NATT will help strengthen the capacity of the NATT as a coalition at the country level. d. NATT Collaboration This coalition or alliance formation for TT is still a loose one. It needs continued strengthening and consolidation to better assume its role for the benefit of the survivors and partner-communities. There is need for greater collaboration with different types of organizations to move the advocacy campaign forward in solidarity with the survivors.
Purpose of the Evaluation

The evaluation's primary purpose is to assess the performance of the RCT partnerorganization with particular emphasis on the strategies applied to assist the victims of torture, their families and torture affected communities. The ultimate goal is to draw lessons to improve policy and practice and enhance accountability. The outcome is seen to
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contribute for a better understanding of the conditions for success of such work (best practices) and to draw strategic lessons for the future. The evaluation will focus on five areas/dimensions: 1) the application of the testimonial therapy approach including the bridging from testimonial therapy to collective, village and/or national based advocacy; 2) the strategic approach to building the national NATT network; 3) the role and functioning of the Folk School approach towards the participants and villages; 4) the connected documentation and advocacy activities; 5) the use of the social media for change; and the involvement of voluntary human rights workers (former victims) trained and under the supervision and support of the PVCHR; and 6) the status of the implementation of the OD plan of action in the PVCHR. Scope of Work The scope of work included but not limited to the following aspects:
a. An assessment of how PVCHR has contributed to the realization of the project b. c.
d.
e.
targets and RCT policy knowledge milestones; A documentation of lessons learnt and develop recommendations for future plans for RCT and its partners; An Assessment of PVCHRs ability to effectively mobilize, sustain and contribute to a new relationship and improved communication between the village community groups, and other stakeholders; Identification of potential opportunities for further collaboration between RCT and PVCHR. An examination of the issues of overall organizational and administrative performance of PVCHR as supported through the OD plan of action. A discovery of options available to RCT to strengthen partners capacity to link research and policy, and to deliver RCT development priorities. General objectives The general objectives set out for the evaluation are:
1. To provide support in the design, planning and implementation of Project Phase 2; 2. To establish if victims of torture and organized violence have enjoyed improved wellbeing and functional capacity; 3. To further develop PVCHR capacity so as to be able to function as an Indian hub for psycho-legal rehabilitation of victims of TOV; 4. To further develop the community program so as to enhance the identification and correct assistance of victims of TOV;
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5. To establish if the awareness in the Indian community of the effects of torture on persons and communities has increased.
Approach and Methodology

The evaluation methodology had included the following: a) advance review of PVCHR-related documents in relation to the project document and documentation and the implementation of the OD plan b) management and staff interviews and observations at PVCHR c) external interviews to assess PVCHRs collaboration and coordination with other stakeholders d) focus groups discussions with various village leaders and key members from the five model blocks. e) key informant interviews with representatives from the legal profession and with representatives from other CSO and HR groups as well as with the EU delegation in Delhi f) informal presentations of case material by staff, facilitated systematic review of the impact and content of RCT training missions, observation of general working practices, and in depth discussions with senior staff Lessons learned workshops were the particular methodology utilized for PVCHR. For the victims, families in the communities and with NATT, group interviews were utilized for the purpose of data collection. The lessons learned workshop for PVCHR staff and management have covered the needed information using the 7Cs-model in addition to the traditional areas for evaluation including the aspects and dimension of the project: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Context Coordination Concerned Interventions Capacity building Collection of systematic data Community oriented approach and Continuity and Sustainability.
The areas of inquiry above were organized into themes and sub-themes to ensure that everything is covered. The lessons learned workshops have covered the following key components: a. The Knowledge, Attitude and Practices (KAP) mapping b. Drawing lessons on the basis of the defined themes and sub-themes from 7Cs and
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evaluation areas including key components of the project c. SWOT within the frame of the PVCHR d. Recommendations that cover the needs to be continued in knowledge and practices; what needs to be enhanced; what needs to be stopped as they become irrelevant or obsolete and what new knowledge and practices need to be introduced. Plus some key areas of the project for future consideration.
Findings
A. On KAP Mapping 1. Knowledge Development The evaluator had witnessed that there were new knowledge discovered by the organization and their existing knowledge was enhanced in the process of undertaking the project. PVCHR was able to deepen its knowledge and understanding about testimonial therapy. As a brief narrative therapy it was able to integrate healing from suffering brought about by torture and organized violence. This is quite different in India's context and culture where people do not in any way practice confession. Actually, it can be viewed that such culture somehow contributes to the factors and reasons for the prevalence of the culture of silence in majority of the marginalized communities all over India. The inputs and sharing of the responders were clear, culturally, Hindus would almost always opt to hide their pains. They are in fact, an enduring people. As one of the community leaders from Pindra block had clearly articulated in the process of focus group discussion with them, he shared the following with confidence: 'we are illiterate who belonged to the marginalized communities,
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it may take time for things to develop for us, but we can continue with the efforts and activities that we are doing so far. We look forward to the building of a broader alliance from among the villages similar to us and like ours'. The honour ceremonies undertaken became safe and transformative spaces for the survivors and their families and fellow community members for truth and meaningful action that may be taken. For the whole project period, there were 27 honour ceremonies held in different villages and model blocks. These ceremonies were able to reach to 143 villages in 14 blocks with 3,419 people participating. See matrix of outputs in the attachment. In one of the high profile honour ceremony held in Varanasi on 18th July 2010, one of the survivors honoured, Mahatim was proud to address the participating guests and invitees. He shared his delight with the process of honouring the survivors and he fearlessly narrated in front of the media his experience and suffering with the mafia. At the end of his testimony, he reaffirmed his conviction to fight his perpetrator, the mafia don Munna Bajrangi to the very end until the case has succeeded and concluded. The twelve survivors honoured in said ceremony had committed to fight against impunity. What was unique in their context and practice is that, they were able to transform ones private pain into a political campaign. Such contributed to the breaking of the culture of silence and brokenness of the survivors. They were developed and transformed in the process into human rights defenders. The TT's nature of honouring the victims in his society becomes the driving force for the victim to pursue his case and become survivors and human rights defenders in the process. As a survivor that had managed to reclaim his voice, he gained empowerment and become a defender for his fellow victims who still may not overcome yet his pain and suffering. The folk school became a complementary support venue to the TT in creating evidence-based outcome of the healing process and empowerment. The survivors in
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undergoing the intense process of the folk school become ready to take on the role as leaders and as human rights defenders in their community, encouraging fellow community members towards building solidarity and strengthening their unity. They are now doing what previously the PVCHR staff are doing for them. When they were developed and ready, they are now doing it for their community and for the other communities as a way of solidarity with fellow survivors and as human rights defenders. One of the community leaders interviewed for the purpose of evaluation from the village of Mangari, had shared below: 'Before, I could not speak and make my voice heard to pursue my rights due to fear. But after knowing that we have rights and we can use it because it is for all of us, I thought, if I would not overcome my fear, how could I take action to reclaim my rights, our rights. I really gave it much thought and regularly attended the folk school. Slowly, I started to voice my opinion in community meetings until the time that I became ready to face my perpetrator. I took the initiative of taking my community to file complaints to the concerned police station and state authorities. I also led my community to make the follow up on our cases with support from PVCHR.' With community leaders and community people now starting to speak up, they become fully aware of the atrocities happening in their society. With the new-found consciousness and awareness of their rights, the survivors' belief on the rule of law was enhanced. They are now uniting and fighting for their rights both as individual and as a people. They are now able to dial 100 and report cases of abuse, torture and violence in their communities. At the same time, they can now send telegram to report cases happening in their village. The Kajari Mahotsav was able to facilitate the elimination of the caste feeling as both the upper and lower caste are able to participate together in said festival. With the Right to Information also discussed in their folk school, the leaders are well utilizing it for their purpose.
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The project was able to generate a significant amount of knowledge products that are worth sharing. They have a regular publication, the Voice of the Voiceless that comes out twice annually. It becomes more often if the organization thinks that there are important issues and concerns that need to be shared to the broader public and the civil society. During the project period, there were two issues of the publication that came out in 2010; three issues in 2011 and two issues in 2012. The September issue in 2011 was dedicated to the testimonies of the survivors of torture and organized violence. Fifteen testimonies were featured in said issue. A book published by the May 18 Memorial Foundation on State Violence and Human Rights in Asia had included the ED of PVCHR's article on the Overview of the Human Rights in India. Said article had detailed the various human rights issues in the country mainly the marginalization of a significant section of the population. It also highlighted the culture of impunity in the country as primarily practiced by the police in authority. For the project in particular, the Manual on the Testimonial Therapy was published in four languages with 1,000 copies each per language: in English, in Manipuri for Manipur, in Hindi and in Kannad. See matrix of outputs. 2. Attitude change and enhancement Complementary to knowledge development, the evaluator had seen some notable changes in the attitude and mindset of the some of the staff and the community people interviewed and interacted with in the evaluation process. There is an ongoing process in changing the mindset of people. The ultimate test is how they will be able to face their perpetrator. The folk school, the community meetings and the TT, all contributed in the process of making the community people developed courage and become fearless towards confronting the police as their perpetrators. The testimony became an instrument for nurturing hope and regaining honour towards achieving justice.
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There were attitudinal changes that can be attributed to the project that happened among the staff. First and foremost is the humanistic relationship developed with and among the downtrodden people while they are working with them. Farhat, one of the staff assigned in the model block and villages shared: 'it takes time to build rapport with the community people. I need to spend time in sharing and interacting with them. I need to make them feel that I am one with them. When they were sharing their testimony in the folk school, that's when they have started to generously share and speak. For those that continue not to share, I need to continue spending more time with them. The experience, I must say, had somehow developed my patience'. The staff's attitude towards the Muslim weavers have changed significantly and they are now starting to work with them on human rights. Another staff also shared his experience: 'in the past, I have no trust with this people. But in the course of sitting and eating with them and in the process of facilitating some activities for them, I was able to build rapport and good relationship with them. Through months and years of dealing with them, I started to appreciate their uniqueness and particularity as a people and as a minority.' Their view and understanding of Dalits have also changed. The staff assigned in working among Dalits shared his satisfaction in working with them. With fulfilment in his face and excitement in his voice, he shared: 'It was quite fulfilling to help the Dalits overcome their silence. As I speak about their situation and help those who were falsely implicated in cases, i experienced joy and satisfaction in knowing that I was able to help them.' They have also developed their capacity for interacting and conversing with older people and with elders in the village. For the project staff, it was their first time for some of them to work with the people in the community. In such situation, they themselves have also gone transformation that can be attributed to the project.
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Before joining the project, they were just hearing about the dire situation of the communities. When they have started to immersed with the communities, it was then, that they have developed their confidence in dealing with and talking with these people. After continuous meeting with them, they are now candidly speaking and sharing about their situation and on issues and concerns that beset them. They are now proactively doing the follow up of their cases. The staff were also pleased to see changes in attitude happening among community people. With self-confidence slowly developing in them, they are now able to speak with government officials. They now have the strength to face the police when they go to police stations. In fact, they can already do the gherao (a public gathering) in front of a police station. They can also do the dharna (protest) on tehsil (sub-divisional district administrative office). On the other aspects of their community life, the community people shared that they are now taking care of their cleanliness and hygiene. They are now sending their children to school as they now put value in education. The tribal groups also had started to avail of the medical facilities in the vicinity which in the past they would not do. Due to many superstitions, in case of sickness, they would opt to go to Ojha and Sokhas. The staff shared with the evaluator their observations in the communities. These recent observations include: a) the community people are now speaking more gently and respectfully with one another; b) the leaders had started taking the initiative of organizing the community meetings; c) during meetings, they are mindful of resolving disputes that are happening in their communities and those presented for resolution. As best as possible, they are trying to manage their own problems. On the whole, the people's fear of the police have greatly decreased. Solidarity among women had started to take root. During the festival of Kajari Mahotsav, dalits women have provided solidarity to the upper caste women who were facing domestic violence.
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The staff continued to share the observable changes that they see among the community people. There were quite a good number of legal cases filed from the different model blocks to concerned state authorities including the national human rights commission. They attributed this to the breaking of silence of the community people. As their silence was broken, there is renewed feeling of healing and confidence to assert one's right and firm position. Their ideas which were fragmented before was slowly put to proper framework and focus that provided an understanding of what they have experienced so far. One of the community leaders interviewed by the evaluator from Guljarpur was charged and incarcerated for being a leader in his village. He fought for his rights. He was convicted for life imprisonment and has two other pending cases. But soon he was released and in fact, the evaluator was talking and listening intently to all his sharing. The evaluator saw no regrets and pains from his experience. He is looking forward to continuously help his fellow community members. 3. Practices development and enhancement
There was no doubt that the evaluator saw improvements in the practice and experience of PVCHR as an organization. The project was very challenging for an organization like them and the experience with the project had brought forth the organization to a different level. They have demonstrated professionalism and seriousness in the kind of work that they do. Lots of practices that were developed and gained by PVCHR are worth sharing to fellow human rights organizations and members of civil society groups and formations. The evaluator had observed the enhanced capacities and practices of the staff. She noted from the staff's sharing the unique application of the testimonial therapy and its complementation with the folk school. The staff articulated that they needed to enhance their capacities and improve their practices to deal more effectively with community people for their healing and empowerment. At the start when some of them were still feeling their
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way and adjusting in the different situations of the communities, but in the process of undertaking the work, there was more clarity and deeper understanding on how to go about the implementation of their activities. They were sensitized in the process and their elite feeling at the start was put behind and they are now forging a more egalitarian relationship with the community people. The many good practices of the villages that were shared by the community partners interviewed and they are now starting to integrate into the regular routines and schedules of the community were the following: a. street plays on the issue of torture and organized violence b. door to door campaign c. the holi festival celebration that promotes the elimination of the caste-based discrimination d. the stickers campaign e. the honour ceremony. The community partners were quick to share that they have become more conscious of the various issues and now regularly collects and intervenes whenever there are news of human rights violations in their communities. The community leaders also shared that PVCHR tried to train more and more leaders to take on the more responsible role and assignments for the benefit of their communities. They continued to share that the women folk school on neo-dalit became a great opportunity to unite on the basis of reconciliation, democracy, secularism and non-violence. At the end of the process, people lighted up the candles to usher the forging of unity of the people who experienced brokenness. It is a unity against the caste system - the historical system of exclusion. It is also a unity of all poor from all communities against suffering. One of the woman leaders that participated in the focus group discussion, shared how she loves to come and visit the office of PVCHR. She was able to participate in many of its activities including the National Consultation on Testimonial Therapy. She was beaming
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when sharing her excitement with the different kinds of people that she was able to meet. She expressed appreciation and gratefulness in meeting fellow survivors and learning about their experience. She can see that they have different experiences but they have some commonalities as well. She felt a kind of renewed strength whenever she hears positive experience and new learnings. PVCHR's partnership with the Dalit Association for Social and Human Rights Awareness (DASHRA) was mutually beneficial and enriching. The Executive Director, Mr. Uday Kumar shared his appreciation of what he learned from PVCHR's program and activities. He shared: 'I had developed my appreciation on the mental health aspect of the work after I've heard about testimonial therapy. It has filled an important gap in addressing the situation and need of the torture victims. This is very important for the Dalit peoples who become victims of torture '
B.
On 7 Cs Approach to Evaluation
The 7C's approach was utilized to obtain substantial information from various stakeholders and actors engaged in the project. 1. Contextual Development and Relevance
From those who were interviewed for the purpose of the evaluation, they have very clear appraisals of the situation of the country with regards to human rights and freedom from torture. For the journalist, he was very clear that the Indian human rights situation is terrible on two counts: first the police enjoys impunity, as they mob the marginalized communities and second, the police save the people from high caste hierarchy. As he actively shared his views, he said that the police usually pin down people with false cases just to showcase that they are doing something when there are complaints. In other words, it was like the police are acting exactly as organized goons and gangsters. They have put the Muslims behind bars. The police commits extra judicial killings and if that is protested, that was dubbed as anti-nationalist. As far as the media is concerned, there are sensitive journalists who would like to assume and exercise their role in pushing for stories that tell the truth. And for him, it is the women that are in real terrible state in the context of Indian society. From civil society perspective, the person interviewed shared that their society is ruled by the guns. Unfortunately, the people living in the rural areas do not know the guidelines. This is the reason why for him education is very important. He also highlighted that information technology can be utilized at this point in time to build broader alliance
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using facebook and twitter. He could imagine that broader and greater unity can be achieved by connecting the different parts of the country through information technology. When asked about the police, he shared that the problem with them is that, they never listen. He continued to share that in far flung areas, the village has an active role to play in settling disputes between and among villagers. The person from the academia echoed the same sentiment as with others that it was the police that is the cause of torture. They never search, never investigate, they just pick up innocent people. He added that there were lots of people dying in jails. Why the government has not done anything about these important concerns? It is simply because they are rocked with corruption. They are protecting the elites and the big people. The representative from the European Union delegation in the country shared that as far as the EU is concerned, it is responding to the situation of the country. The EU's global policy is translated and seeps through at the country level. In the context of India, they conduct human rights dialogue on a yearly basis participated in by key government agencies such as the Ministry of External Affairs, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the National Human Rights Commission and the EU country representatives. In said dialogues, the government of India has changed from the more defensive posturing to a more open and frank stance. The EU also has more frequent mechanism operating in between dialogues, the human rights working groups that meet monthly on the operational level. On top of dialogues, the delegation likewise file diplomatic complaints. And they have special events like for instance, freedom from torture. When asked about their appraisal of the government in terms of its fulfilment of human rights in the country, the representative said that India has constraints; it has systemic inconsistencies; and it is trying its best to do the pro-human rights approach. But generally, she is somewhat disappointed or rather frustrated. But she cannot offer any solution to such problem.
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As such, the PVCHR assessment of the situation and positioning itself to undertake policy development and changes at the national level with complementation at the grassroots level is such an appropriate and suitable approach to the country's human rights situation. By helping to empower the communities towards healing, community development and empowerment, they are enabling them to become co-burden bearers in the fight against the oppressive abuse of power and to enlighten and raise their awareness to fight for their rights as individual and as a people. The partnership project is very relevant in the context of torture and organized violence in India and the pursuit of freedom from torture and human rights for the survivors of TOV in the Indian society. There is no organization in India that puts such focus on TOV and human rights. It was notable that PVCHR has managed to exert influence among civil society groups and government agencies including the national human rights commission to consider torture and human rights as an urgent development agenda. 2. Concerned Interventions
The concerned interventions are clearly described in significant components of the project such as policy to practice that puts focus on reaching out to communities in identified model blocks and villages; people's advocacy; organization building and capacity building; and the NATT collaboration. Through the project, there was growing appreciation from among the partners engaged by PVCHR including the NATT network of the need for mental health intervention in the context of torture survivors. The role of the testimonial therapy has filled that gap if rehabilitation is not undertaken as part of addressing the situation and needs of the torture victims. Mr. Tarun Kanti Bose, an independent journalist shared his appreciation of PVCHR and the role that it plays in the Indian society. He remembered how the PVCHR ED was
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instrumental in the release of the children as bonded labour. He took note of PVCHR's work among the poorest of the poor, how the organization intervenes with them and how they disseminate information at the national and international levels in a creative way. He also expressed his positive experience in participating in consultations on testimonial therapy. He shared: 'I remember the sharing of the community people from the villages that were selected by PVCHR. They all shared how the organization tried to build rapport with them; how they instill confidence through the folk school; how they were transformed as human rights defenders after honouring them and capacitating them. To me, it is a real serious effort to transform the marginalized peoples. And I commend them for doing such.' When Mohammad Aamir Khan was released from prison, after fourteen years of incarceration remaining innocent all throughout, PVCHR recognized and honoured his courage and conviction in a ceremony where the organization provided him with an amount of money for his mother's treatment. His mother got sick due to his prolonged imprisonment and his father died also while working for his release. This is what he had to say about his experience and about the organization: 'Despite what happened to me, how can I be against my country? I am proud of the Constitution of India. Its democracy and human dignity serves as my inspiration. As a human rights defender now, I will work with the grassroots, create awareness among them and uphold human dignity. He is grateful to PVCHR for the help and he would want to serve as a uniting factor for the Muslim people. It is along this direction that he wanted to work in partnership with PVCHR.' Because PVCHR deals with communities, the testimonial therapy approach became effective for the individual survivors and for the communities as well. TT reaches out to individual survivors but the impact of such therapy process for the individuals also impact to the families concerned. The experience of survivors that were shared in honour ceremonies were echoed to the communities and to the greater public. Such provides mirroring of the experience and the healing process radiates to the communities thereby achieving community healing and empowerment. PVCHR had heightened its advocacy and had utilized the voices of the people in the pursuit of policy changes at varying levels. Such visibility of the organization had provided the leverage for its positioning and proactive role in relation to the Torture Prevention Bill. It is significant to note that RCT provided substantial inputs to the draft bill that PVCHR had utilized in its policy and advocacy interventions.
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Such proactive role has made PVCHR one of the very few organizations that are being consulted for inputs in the final framing of the bill. At the same time, PVCHR is now sitting as CSO representative to the consultative body created by the NHRC for human rights issues and concerns. Even the country's known parliamentarian, Rahul Gandhi had asked for a meeting with PVCHR's executive director after reading the value of the testimonial therapy. This 2012, it was the first time that the June 26 commemorative event has been held in different areas of Uttar Pradesh and in other states of the country. It has been a great occasion and an opportunity to highlight and punctuate the right to be free from torture in the country. The event coincides with the annual anniversary of PVCHR as well. From such very positive experience, the event can become an institutionalized activity for the villages and many civil society groups who participated in such significant global event. As the survivors and the communities had started to speak up and reclaim their rights, more and more legal cases were filed with the concerned states and authorities. So far, a total of 138 legal cases were filed by the various model blocks and villages covered by PVCHR and even outside of its current focus blocks. PVCHR's strength on media projection and media relation was put to good use. The organization, its activities and the important issues and concerns that it brought to the attention of the greater public are covered by the media both by the local and national dailies. So far, for the period covered by the evaluation, PVCHR had landed on the media on various human rights concerns that it carries. There were coverage on paper cutting; on testimonial therapy and honour ceremony; on bonded labour; custodial death; human rights meetings; and stakeholders interface. One of the most significant coverage was the order of the National Human Rights Commission for monetary relief to a victim due to police atrocity. For broad human rights issues, PVCHR has for three years appeared on media at least fifteen (15) times. On the average, it was five times a year of media coverage.
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PVCHR is one of the few organizations that have been good in utilizing the social media for its purpose. The organization urgently and in a timely manner issues statements, publish articles, comes out with press releases in its blogs, twitter, and facebook. These technological networks of the organization has significant following from different parts of the globe. PVCHR's blogs, facebook, and twitter are regularly visited by internet enthusiasts from the US, Europe and countries in Asia. All the various interventions undertaken by PVCHR has contributed in making the state accountable for the state of TOV in the country. It also contributed in making the issue of torture visible at the country level and international level as well. Highlighting the stories of the survivors has proven to be effective from the experience of PVCHR as it contributed to their healing and empowerment utilizing the testimonial therapy. 3. Capacity Building
There were valuable capacity building activities undertaken that provided growth and development both for the staff and the community people. The staff shared that they have enhanced their knowledge on various government social schemes and its implementation procedures including law and interventions. In going through the trainings on testimonial therapy, the staff had feedbacked that they have better understood the pain that the survivors have experienced. As they continued, 'when the victims tell their stories, we clarify to them that what they have been sharing are treated with utmost confidentiality.' When the victims understood such, they proceeded with the sharing of their innermost feelings and their private pains and suffering. The survivors on the other hand, shared that they felt good when their stories and testimonies were published. They valued its significance in the pursuit of advocacy. They understood that their case stories are important for the advocacy in various villages. It is truly important to share their story to peers. It was clear to them that their testimony is a hope for justice.
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They have learned and fully maximized the use of SMS for urgent information dissemination and quick reaction to an issue or community concern. Almost all the staff had new-found skills in writing particularly on writing complaints to be filed with the concerned state and police authorities. Related to such, there was improvement in the quality of documentation that happens in the communities. The documents help the staff to better understand the discrimination happening among villagers and the downtrodden people. PVCHR has utilized the folk school and community meetings to plan out the education and awareness raising of community people. The community meetings were undertaken to tackle and process community issues, at the same time when situation warrants, to thresh out disputes and problems affecting community people. The project with its components and activities had strategically positioned PVCHR to assume the role as a knowledge centre and an Indian hub for the purpose. It had been a great opportunity for the organization to undertake cooperation, collaboration and coordination; an opportunity to engage various government agencies including the national human rights commission at the local and country levels; an opportunity to raise and represent the voices of the communities. On the other hand, it was also an opportunity for PVCHR to gather the strength of the communities in a convention where various representatives of the villages meet and learn from one another. 4. Coordination and Collaboration
Coordination and collaboration was such a positive experience within the project period. There were established coordination and collaboration at varying levels: between communities and PVCHR; between and among communities within the model block and between model blocks; between and among civil society groups within the NATT and in line with freedom from torture agenda; with government authorities at different levels, from state level to national level; with the United Nations and with regional and international bodies. One of the partners of PVCHR in the pursuit of testimonial campaign among its communities covered was SICHREM that is based in Bangalore. The Executive Director, Mr. Matthews Philip shared his collaboration and coordination experience with PVCHR: 'I had three to four opportunities to visit their office and that provided me the occasion to know the team. I truly appreciate the grassroots based perspective of the organization. I must say, I value how the organization takes strong position politically as an opportunity to represent the communities. The organization combines both activism and professionalism in the conduct of their work. As an organization, they need to build upon such rich experience with the grassroots and among various marginalized communities. I'm really proud to be a partner of PVCHR.'
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PVCHR managed to establish a fast, fully working communication lines with various concerned government agencies, national human rights commission and civil society groups for quick response to whatever complaints and issues surfacing in the focus model blocks and villages. Even for those outside the current blocks and villages, PVCHR responds to the urgent issues and complaints of the victims. The 24/7 hotline established was very well utilized for the purpose. PVCHR shared that the challenge of promoting the testimonial therapy in the context of India with and among civil society groups, with government agencies and parliamentarians and within villages and blocks as well was not an easy job. There is the cultural transformation that needs to happen so that these stakeholders would become open for such kind of intervention. And the formation of the National Alliance on Testimonial Therapy was a milestone and had served as a demonstration of the Alliance appreciation of the value of a psycho-legal form of intervention for the survivors of torture, their families and communities. The collaboration and coordination established within the National Alliance was a good head start for the continuing challenges in the work on torture and organized violence. 5. Community-based approach
The village people are generally illiterate. They are marginalized by the bond system and patriarchy that is permeating in the whole social fabric of the society. They understand that there is a need to break that cycle of marginalization in order to improve themselves. They have likewise understood that every person has selfdignity and they can work out issues and concerns on caste discrimination. Complaints can be filed by the community for atrocities committed by the fascist feudal forces. The key to the oppressor's power over the victims is isolating them from those who might be able to intervene on their behalf. As long as the victims are cut off from those who might be able to expose the oppressor's deceptions, violations and introduce a counteracting power to protect the victims, oppressors are free to abuse the weak.
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As such, the first step is to enable the human rights defenders to break down the isolation of the vulnerable is to deploy psychosocial and community workers into these communities, into every village and blocks and states. As such, the oppressed would not feel alone. These workers will develop the eyes to see and ears to hear about the injustices in these communities. From the rich experience in working in communities, the most powerful way to understand the situation of the victims is to listen with a careful ear to the injustice that the community had experienced. It is to bear their burdens as it is to hear the stories of those who were burdened by the oppressive abuse of power. These bring compassion and empathy to the staff. At the same time, their commitment and dedication is nurtured for the cause of the marginalized communities. The various forms of assistance planned and implemented within the project framework was no doubt correct. From experience in various contexts, they are the ones needed by the victims in order to survive the difficulties they are facing. The medical and legal forms of assistance was notable as they were able to help the victims and their families on that most important occasion in their lives. The many legal cases and complaints filed with the police as the main perpetrators was a good starting point towards their journey in achieving healing and justice. The level of community awareness achieved within the project period cannot be over-emphasized. While the project only targeted five model blocks, the voices of change in many honour ceremonies held in various states had reverberated in many other states in different parts of the country. The June 26 commemorative event had also provide a follow through to this development process of the many communities in many parts of India. There are five (5) model blocks planned within the project framework covering fifty (50) villages. Within the project period, both the blocks and villages have achieved varying levels of development. The villages in the covered model blocks can be categorized into
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three categories: the more advanced; the mid-level and the relatively backward. There are eleven (11) villages that are already in the advanced stage. This means, that PVCHR can already plan an exit in these villages but they may need to continue their monitoring and evaluation for about a period of one year. The middle level has twenty-four (24) villages. This requires continuation and greater efforts if ever there is a new project period so that they will be elevated to the more advanced level. The relatively backward villages due to various factors is fifteen (15) which need greater and enhanced planning to fast track the development process of these villages. The list of the model villages in various stages of development are in the annexes. The concept and experience of torture free villages has varying dimensions and levels of development. Generally, from experience, the folk school is utilized for people to testify about their suffering and in return, they receive support from the group. The folk school may deal on conflicts with the village head or any other experience of torture. The TT has been integrated into a unique advocacy and educational model within which torture free villages are organized and empowered to protect, expand basic human rights and fight impunity of the violators at this context. The pain and suffering expressed and captured in the testimonies have helped to inform and convince the judiciary and human rights institutions about the injustice committed against the plaintiff. 6. Collection of data
The systematic collection of data undertaken by the organization was in line with detention watch. In last year's documentation and monitoring of cases of detention, at least 700 were documented and monitored by the organization in police stations; filed with the national human rights commission and institutions and in urgent appeals with the United Nations. When files were checked on the matter, the voluminous files contained the first part with 343 cases mostly of reported fake encounters and custodial deaths in different detention centres. There is only one case of reported police torture. On the second part, that involved 58 cases reported to the National Human Rights Commission, majority of cases were of custodial deaths plus 12 cases of
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police torture. On the whole, this is a very non-expensive approach. The organization simply monitors the cases and reports to proper authorities and then make follow up on what concerned authorities have done. 7. Continuity and sustainability
There is some kind of intrinsic continuity and sustainability in the efforts and initiatives of the organization in helping to heal and empower the communities. The same with conducting the training and capacitating the civil society partners who are a part of the National Alliance on Testimonial Therapy (NATT). Such efforts and initiatives already provide the sustainability for the efforts done at the initial project term. With or without the project, as the survivors and the communities have already been healed, empowered and capacitated, they can very well continue with the work and in fact, developed them further for greater impact. The communities' healing and empowerment may be considered a hallmark of an effective outcome of an intervention that made a difference in the lives of the people and to the communities where they belong. It is a demonstration of a positive outcome that can become infectious to the rest of the communities in similar situations. They found strength in achieving their very own unity in solidarity with the rest of the people working for the same direction and goal. Such outcome and impact provided greater commitment among the various stakeholders engaged in the project that such efforts can produce lasting dedication and perseverance from everyone involved in various undertakings related to the project. The changes in the lives of the survivors, their families and among communities can bring about more changes in their lives, in their families and in the communities. The breaking of their silence towards asserting their rights had brought so much joy and greater
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strength that they can do something to change their situation. The release of those detained due to false accusations; the action taken to the filed complaints and their new found capacity and daringness to protest in front of the police and concerned authorities are all demonstrations of empowerment and development for the people and the communities.
Unintended Outcomes
Surely, as there are intended outcomes clearly outlined in the formulation of the project, there are still unintended outcomes that also comes out in the process as byproduct of the dynamics and the various factors that come into play into the whole schemes of things. One of these outcomes is the solid foundation achieved in many of the communities. This was not the original intent but this was achieved due to various interventions and activities undertaken and the communities discovered the significance of their strength as a community and therefore they need to consolidate such foundation of their strength. From among civil society groups, it was PVCHR who gained the recognition and respect of the National Human Rights Commission due to their unwavering commitment and relentless support for the marginalized communities particularly the Dalits, the Mushars, the Muslim minorities, etc. The closer collaboration established provided the ease and urgency in responding to complaints brought to their attention and action. The growing recognition and acknowledgment of various civil society groups and government authorities of the value and significance of the mental health component for the survivors of torture can be considered a milestone in freedom from torture efforts in the country. It was PVCHR that became instrumental in bringing such to the fore. As such, the value of healing, the needed psychosocial support and the importance of psycho-education cannot be overemphasized in the various concerned interventions of the work.
Lessons Learned
Considering the vast population of the Indian society and its role to play in South Asia, a good modelling of an intervention within the frame of torture and organized violence is significant to note. The PVCHR model of TOV programming has clear prospect of replicability. Such programming may be utilized in similar situation elsewhere in South Asia or the whole of Asia. The vertical and horizontal approach applied to TOV, such as building the strength and capacities of the communities to heal and empower themselves for their own benefit complemented by the national level policy advocacy and some initiatives at the international level is almost always a good model; its efficacy is built on the uniqueness of the situation and particularity of people and communities involved. The interconnectedness of the various project components provided the condition for greater impact in as far as addressing the issue of torture and organized violence and the
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role of communities in shaping public opinion and in bringing to the attention of the concerned authorities the plight and dehumanizing effect of torture on the victims and survivors. The poverty approach to torture and organized violence is such a significant and smart effort by putting focus on the marginalized sections of the population. By highlighting their dire situation and plight, it contributes to shaping public opinion in favour of addressing the issue of torture and organized violence. It is in effect creating the condition for changing their very situation and a transformation proceeds at varying levels: at the individual, at family and at the community level. Torture is a strategic issue. It reflects the values and development agenda in a social fabric of a society. It mirrors how a society values its people. It is a manifestation of the progress of civilization in a given society. When torture is still an acceptable practice in a society and is perpetrated by authorities with impunity, then said society has not progress yet that much as torture is a practice of barbaric nation-states. The elimination of the practice of torture is as much a poverty issue and a matter of justice. Its ultimate impact should redound to the well-being and quality of life of the marginalized peoples. The process of transforming the victims to survivors to human rights defenders is a critical development process for any victim or community that is affected by torture and organized violence. The ultimate healing and achieving justice is demonstrated in the victims and the communities fighting for their rights and overcoming their fear and dehumanization to face their perpetrators and reclaiming their rights as human beings with dignity and honour. The community healing, empowerment and development became the bedrock of the survivors' hopefulness for a better tomorrow. They are holding to the fact that they are the ones that can make history, the ones that can change their situation for the better. This is the outcome of the interventions provided to them through the testimonial therapy, through the folk school, through community meetings, through neo-dalit solidarity and action. The adaptation of the testimonial therapy in the context of India is truly effective. It has empowered the survivor's well-being (Agger, et al). With the survivors gaining control of their situation after converting the traumatic event to a story of survival, then shared to the public through the honour ceremony, such had provided support for the survivors' search for truth and meaning. The survivor gained empowerment in the process when s/he has reclaimed his/her voice by becoming a defender for those who still continue to suffer in pain. PVCHR's commitment and values are notable and significant as it permeates and radiates to everyone that it meets, to everyone that it works with and collaborate with, to everyone that it targets for lobby and advocacy. It is in fact a conduct and a character that
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shapes the organization's reason and state of being and quality within the indian tradition and culture but incorporating the lessons and gains of other organizations in similar field.
Recommendations
On the basis of the findings, these recommendations are suggested for reflection, future consideration and action. Aspects to Continue 1. Continuous and more sustained capacity development of the victims and survivors in focus communities with paramount consideration of women and children in a more purposive manner. Their participation, development and empowerment need greater reinforcement in normal times and in difficult situations such as in period of witch hunting, in cases of militarization of communities and in armed conflict situations. 2. The NATT is a viable and suitable alliance set up for purposes of linking and engaging the communities and civil society groups in a planned and programmatic way. This is replicable in other community situations such as South Asian countries especially the ones near the border of India. 3. The community planning as a partnership endeavour between PVCHR and the communities is to be sustained in an annual kind of arrangement either within the tactical or strategic frame. 4. Continuous undertaking of freedom from TOV awareness and campaign in the covered villages and blocks in more sustained manner. There is a need to reach out to the local media, utilizing the role of traditional and opinion leaders in the locality and strengthening the role of women, youth and children in decision-making in relation to torture and other human rights issues affecting the communities in the locality. 5. The positive collaboration and partnerships between and among the community and civil society groups operating in the local state need to be sustained and replicated in similar settings and situations. The village leaders, the school and the academia together with the professionals in the locality require closer coordination and collaboration. 6. The positive engagements of PVCHR with state authorities, with parliamentarians, with the National Human Rights Commission and with civil society groups needs to be continued and scaled up for greater collaboration.
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7. The organization's strength in utilizing the mainstream, social and alternative media must continue. This just needs improved planning and programming. Aspects to Refine/Enhance 1. A freedom from TOV project that utilizes TT as a psycho-legal form of intervention is innovative, unique and important. This can be further enhanced and enriched through time. With more practice i.e., continuous piloting and testing its suitability and appropriateness in particular contexts, this can be mainstreamed in the programming of various organizations with similar situation. 2. Strengthen gender perspective in the whole program cycle: from assessment, analysis to strategy, and activities up to monitoring. Such enhances the effectiveness and relevance of the program and its components. 3. Grassroots, women and childrens participation in the whole program processes. This is from assessment of the situation to program design. There are still lots of growth areas when it comes to participatory processes. There is more space provided to people, women and children in decision making with higher level of participation. 4. With increased participation of various stakeholders, the role of external agents shifts from being actors to just facilitators. Therefore, with higher level of participation by people, women and children comes the requirement of more knowledge, skills and capacities on the part of community people, women and children. They need to be continuously equipped and trained. 5. Sustaining women and childrens participation and empowerment. New channels of involvement may be designed by the community with women and childrens active participation in the process. 6. The organization can refine and enrich the protocols that they are using in relation to community partners. New Aspects to Introduce 1. Understanding the social ecology highlighting the cracks in the social fabric is important. It is an important consideration in addressing the community well-being and their need for protection, healing, empowerment and development. 2. Framing and utilizing the human rights based approach in developing and designing program for survivors of torture and communities affected by TOV.
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3. As a response to the community peoples clamour for greater solidarity among communities and in learning from each other and gathering strength from one another, the Survivors' Alliance as a possible formation for the survivors from the various communities in the country may be given a thought. 4. Gender mainstreaming as always enhances the effectiveness of a holistic and comprehensive program. Addressing poverty with both short-term and long-term targets is important to sustain. 5. Designing simple feasibility studies for livelihood ventures appropriate for community groups and associations is a challenge. This is a significant component of the empowerment program for the communities. 6. Introducing and institutionalizing the learning approach. This will create opportunities for knowledge generation and development through assessments of lessons learned from a program participated in by all the stakeholders engaged in the program. The learning culture is instilled in the process with partners and stakeholders engaged in the program or project.
Conclusion
What does it entail for PVCHR to make a difference in the lives of the survivors of torture amidst TOV? It is becoming co-burden bearers, sharing their pain and suffering and in the process helping to heal, empower and develop them as rights holders reclaiming lost awareness, understanding and opportunities to better their lives as citizens of a democratic nation. Their well-being needs to be improved together with their functional capacity and in the process achieve empowerment and development. The experience and practice of PVCHR in working with survivors of torture engaging their communities makes the work of the organization more relevant and meaningful not only for them but for those who have been partners and networks of the organization as well. While it was true that there were other organizations in the country working on torture issues and with the victims, but the work of PVCHR utilizing the psycho-legal framework and implementing testimonial therapy for healing and justice is somewhat unique and innovative in the context of the situation of India which was rather vast and huge. As such, the efforts of PVCHR to undertake healing within the framework of rehabilitation but not in the clinical perspective contributed to the victims overcoming of distress and anxiety brought about by the TOV experience. The breakthrough experience of PVCHR in integrating TT into healing and justice within a program framework for the victims of TOV is worth reflecting and learning for. It is a model of programming that covers the three significant pillars of TOV work, that of healing
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and rehabilitation, achieving and having access to justice and prevention so that the practice and phenomenon of torture should be eliminated from the face of the earth. The testimonial therapy adaptation in the context of India is worth sustaining and replicating. It is a model of the transformation of a victim to a survivor and from being a survivor to a human rights defender. The process that the victim had underwent to become a defender is a real development and empowerment process not only for the victims, but their families and communities as well.
Post Organizational Development (OD) Diagnosis of PVCHR

After two and a half years, it was good to see how PVCHR had developed and come this far. A quick post OD organizational diagnosis was undertaken to see the level of development of the organization after few years. There are primarily six areas that are being looked at in this diagnosis. The six areas establishes a systematic approach for analyzing the relationships among variables that influence how an organization is managed. It provides for an assessment of formal and informal activity in six areas namely: purposes, structure, relationships, rewards, leadership, and helpful mechanisms. The attitude towards change is just a bonus.
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The PVCHR's organizational diagnosis has twenty-three (23) respondents. Over-all, the staff's responses are in agreement with the various organizational elements of PVCHR. The responses mainly revolve with either in strong agreement or just agree. The strong disagreement was very few and mainly responded in terms of the attitude towards change. There was no score above 4 in the seven-point scale with 7 being the 'strongest disagreement' and 1 'the strongest agreement'.
It was a surprise that purposes scored a bit inconsistent in relation to the other elements of the six areas. When this was checked, the response of the organization was that, the statement that they are responding may not be too clear for them. Leadership In PVCHR, the leadership norm is highly intertwined with its avowed hierarchy of goals. The unity in vision, the centrality of mission and the commitment to goals is a major element in the organizations leadership norm. For the respondents, PVCHR's leadership function is generally perceived to be providing enough in terms of work guidance and support.
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The clarity of formal and informal set up and arrangement need to be worked out and communicated starting with the Management and down to the staff. The formal set up and relationship of the structures need to be first and foremost observed and respected by the managers and leadership themselves to set as an example and a model for the other staff to follow. Structure On the whole, the structure was relevant and attuned to reaching the goals affirmed by PVCHR. Within the organizational framework, structural integrity and unity calls for better harmony and esprit d corps, particularly in the context of high external stress such as the environment where PVCHR operates. Having a peaceful and harmonious internal environment makes a big difference in the disposition and conduct of individual staff in the organization. Difficulties brought about by the external environment may be facilitated and handled carefully with a helpful and conducive internal environment. Nevertheless, the key finding rests on strong organizational structure and helpful mechanism and the staffs agreement with them. These two qualities side by side, serve as main leverage in dealing with organizational challenges. Purposes The organization has clear VMG statements with ethical guidepost. They are observed by all the staff at varying levels of understanding and application. The Values statements on the other hand, are expected to be reflected in the attitude and behaviour of the staff. The goals and structure are bridged by the important role of planning. An effective interface between the two is what good planning should strive to accomplish. Plans that are unfit results to structural tension or unaccomplished goals. Plans are meant to ensure deliberateness of actions and risk reduction by being proactive. PVCHR might need to review its planning bases and processes especially with regards to addressing the balance of institutional capacities and its goals. The current strategic plan is sound and appropriate and provides a clear flow and direction to the work of PVCHR. The strategic plan needs to be operationalized by an annual tactical plan on the basis of a yearly monitoring and evaluation process of the organization. Relationships Relationships in the organization are generally agreeable. Individual, Interpersonal and intra program unit relations reflect a positive quality. Camaraderie and cooperation is of high initial value in the secretariat.
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It can be said that overall, the good relationship stands. As a matter of principle and policy, the unit itself is encouraged to tackle conflicts at its own level. The value of unitoutsider (preferably a higher authority) in facilitating decisive resolution or conflict transformation cannot be underestimated however, especially if the unit is caught in an intricate bind. Helpful Mechanisms Ideas, information and interpersonal ties are the key elements that facilitate the helpful relationship in PVCHR. These elements have to be pushed and instituted as planning, control, and coordination mechanisms in order to be of maximum value. The all-embracing functional complexity of the work of PVCHR warrants a more systematic approach at this point in time. The exposure and experience of the field staff provides opportunities to gain positive work values and understanding for the individual staff. Rewards Though it is a rather difficult to be promoted in the organization because it is basically flat, nevertheless the whole range of work has lots of rooms for growth and development. The staff rated their pay and benefits as quite equitable. The next challenge for the leadership structure is addressing the harmonization of seniority and competency requirements for the nature of work, the professional and industry standards.
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The salary and benefit package of field workers may require review given their task environment which requires appropriate measures to address risks and contingencies such as health, security and psychological well being. Adherence to professional standards and practice is a matter of course.
Summary of Recommendations
Generally, the current leadership and goals have strong potentials in becoming the main drivers of the continued organizational changes. These two organization elements should be harnessed to address the issues and in enhancing PVCHR's sense of rewards, effective structure, and strengthened relationships. Below are the recommendations that are deemed critical to instituting key changes that will eventually facilitate other improvements in other aspects in the organization. These are mainly directional and do not preclude recommendations that have to be detailed in subsequent change management plans.
Structure
o Greater integration and differentiation between formal and informal structure and functions. o A harmonious internal environment / structure to facilitate positive dealing with tasks-related concerns and challenges. o Having a strong and compact management center for prompt and effective function. o Planning bases and process that address the balance between institutional capacities and goals o Developing better individual task arrangement and clear Job descriptions o A stronger human resource development program
Rewards
o Review and harmonize the salary and benefits structure especially with regards to premiums (seniority, professional competency, etc) o Considering the nature of work and the required commitment to each staff, the suitable and appropriate work arrangements.
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About the Organization

PVCHR is a people's organization that was conceived and committed to make a difference in the lives of the marginalized section of the population in many communities in various states of India. It particularly helps and assists the Dalits, the Mushars, the Muslim minorities and the indigenous peoples. Being truthful to its name, PVCHR has been through the years ever vigilant in fighting for the rights of the marginalized peoples including the highlighting of the right not to be tortured. As the organization grew and developed within its approved mandate, the head of its organization has an ardent desire to level up and professionalize the whole workings and conduct of the organization by going through an organizational development process. And so this happened three years ago. The rest is history. PVCHR is right now recognized and in a better position to promote human rights including freedom from TOV in the context of India. It has developed a unique and innovative program that promotes the testimonial therapy through a national campaign that contributes to the healing, empowerment and development of the survivors of torture, their families and communities. This is a clear model or an example of an organization that has undergone a thorough-going transformation -- from the more activist positioning and perspective to a more professionalized conduct of promoting human rights in this new generation. Such decisive action of PVCHR is in keeping with the challenges of the signs of the times. Today, the organization is better equipped and are more professional for the greater challenge of assuming the leadership role in the context of India and South Asia. The organization can serve as a knowledge hub serving not only India but the sub-region (South Asia) or even the whole region (Asia) as well.
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Promoting A Psycho-Legal Framework To Reduce Torture and Organized Violence in India

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Promoting A Psycho-Legal Framework To Reduce Torture and Organized Violence in India

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FINAL EVALUATION REPORT Promoting a Psycho-Legal Framework to Reduce Torture and Organized Violence in India

RCT - PVCHR 2010 - 2012

Loreine B. dela Cruz

List of Acronyms and Abbreviations

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The Partnership Project

Voice of Voiceless, PVCHR regular publication

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Purpose of the Evaluation

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Approach and Methodology

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