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The training titled “Capacity Building of Media Professionals: Psychosocial Influence and Reporting of Torture and Inhuman Treatment” was held at Hotel Russia in Tsaghkadzor on June 3, 2018.

The training was organized by Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly-Vanadzor and the Georgian Centre for Psychosocial and Medical Rehabilitation of Torture Victims (GCRT) in the framework of the project titled “Fight against Torture and Ill-treatment in Georgia, Armenia and Ukraine”, which is being implemented with funding from the European Union.

It constituted a part of a four-day training and was preceded by a training pertaining to the theme of investigative journalism on human rights in closed institutions as well as in special schools and special care institutions in Armenia. The latter was organized by the Public Journalism Club and the educational centre “For Equal Rights.”

On June 3, the fourth day of the training, Maia Tsiramua and Khatuna Chkoidze, psychologists at the Georgian Centre for Psychosocial and Medical Rehabilitation of Torture Victims (GCRT), conducted a training for the representatives of the Armenian media outlets.

First, psychologists spoke about the causes of stress, their manifestations and impact on our lives. Then, they touched upon torture and inhuman treatment, presented their definitions and mentioned their types and potential reasons.

They tried to explain in practice what torture survivors feel, and what hardships journalists may encounter when working with them.

With the help of the psychologists, 4 journalists tried to experience the previously presented real story through their own senses.

In addition, they spoke about their senses in the role of a victim and then in the role of a journalist.

Psychologist Maia Tsiramua guided them as to how the barrier created during an interview with a torture survivor should be overcome, and what should be avoided when communicating with them.

Each participant presented their own “tools” for overcoming psychological hardships and tried to apply them in simulated situations.

Journalist Gohar Abrahamyan is one of the 4 participants in the psychological experiment. She is impressed with the training and places importance on the application of an interesting methodology and the involvement of the audience.

Gohar believes that she will use the methods suggested by the journalists in her professional activity. “Through her professional skills, the trainer evoked very sharp experiences and senses, which was very influential and unforgettable. I think I will use this very method, which gave the impression of a little self-cleansing, in my further work with vulnerable groups.”

Nelli Mirzakhanyan, who is one of the participants in the psychological experiment, also underlines the significance of feeling the experiences of victims on one’s “own skin”.

“A practical game, during which you already feel the situation of a person who ends up in prison and is subjected to humiliation and ill-treatment. To me, it was really impressive. The psychologists were able to make us feel those hardships although not in reality but mentally,” mentioned Nelli and added, “Since I do not have experience working with convicts and persons subjected to torture, it was equally interesting to be in the role of a journalist.”

Nelli also placed importance on the theoretical part of the training, during which the participants formed a common understanding of psychological terms and situations.

The participants maintain that such trainings are a necessity especially for journalists working with vulnerable groups, as it is highly important to adhere to the ethical norms and not to harm the person when covering those themes.

Gohar highlighted interesting messages regarding the principles for working with vulnerable groups and mentioned a few of them: “Avoid asking the question “why” since it is painful for the victim and may cause a sense of fault. Besides, refrain from comparing their experience with your experience or someone else’s experience.

It was an interesting observation that there is no physical violence without psychological violence.”

The psychologists of the Georgian Centre for Psychosocial and Medical Rehabilitation of Torture Victims presented a number of principles for working with victims. The list of these principles may certainly be completed through personal experience and conclusions.

1. Show respect and care for the interlocutor.
2. Maintain eye contact.
3. Introduce yourself and provide personal information to the interlocutor.
4. Remember that in situations of shock people’s memory and perception of events may be distorted. Get an agreement before the interview, familiarise them with the prepared material and get an agreement on publishing it.
5. Do not give false promises. If you have gained trust, do not lose it.
6. Be sincere. Offer your condolences if the interlocutor has had a loss.
7. Do not try to provide psychological assistance in situations of crisis. Remember that there are other specialists for that.
8. Allow the interlocutor to control the interview process (choose the place and time of the interview and so forth).
9. Ask clear and open questions. Refrain from the question “why”; it may be painful and may cause a sense of fault.
10. Listen carefully and maintain your confidence and calmness.
11. If the interlocutor gets emotional, do not avoid pauses but do not use that part in your material.
12. Be an active listener, repeat their words and try to clarify whether you understood them correctly or not.
13. Do not compare your experience or someone else’s experience with that of the interlocutor. Refrain from the expression “I know what you feel.”
14. Do not compare the situation with a worse situation and refrain from the expression “It could have been worse.” It reduces the importance of their experiences.
15. Do not try to comfort them with “wise words”, which may make the interlocutor feel better temporarily.
16. Take care of your own senses and emotional experiences and take security measures.
17. Pay attention to minor details (for instance, when interviewing a widow, avoid having a phone conversation with your husband).

HCA Vanadzor has announced a competition of journalistic materials on the situation of the realisation of the absolute right to freedom from torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. The competition has been announced in the following categories:

– Best TV report

– Best radio report

– Best investigative material

– Best article/human story

– Best blog post

In order to participate in the competition, fill in the ONLINE APPLICATION FORM by November 5, 2018.

More details on the competition and the project are available here.

See more photos from the training here.