Introduction
Research and documentation centre is a project that works for multidimensional objectives. Being an interdisciplinary human rights organization, this project of Voice Against Torture, undertakes the responsibility of proliferation of human rights awareness, as an important component of its work.
Research and documentation centre focuses primarily on the documents that keep in view the medical aspects of torture, medical ethics, posttraumatic stress disorders, humanitarian and gender-related issues, violation of the rights of children, and national and international bylaws dealing the human rights. Documentation material is available for reference use by the general public and other organizations for information on torture related topics.
Research and documentation centre of VAT is an active member of “International Torture Documentation network” coordinated by International Rehabilitation Council for the Torture Victims (IRCT). The services are open to health professionals, lawyers, intellectual and human rights activists who are working or intend to work for the prevention of torture and rehabilitation of torture victims. Researchers are welcome to visit the documentation centre by appointment and consult the required material. Request for photocopies is also entertained.
The areas of services of VAT Research & Documentation Centre is not limited to Pakistan only, but extends to the whole world with over 2000 list of various national and international professionals and organizations. Research and Documentation Centre consists of the following six sections:
The library has a multidisciplinary collection of literature on different aspects related to human rights. Immense importance has been given to the disciplines related to rehabilitation and treatment of torture survivors. Torture, rehabilitation of torture survivors, psychology, law, religion, women issues, children issues, and human rights in general, are some of the subjects on which multiple literature is available in the library. The library has a fairly large collection of articles, which relate to the issues of torture and human rights.
Press Clippings
In this section, clippings from different national and international newspapers and journals are preserved. These clippings are classified in different folders related to human rights issues. Some of the topics related to torture, cruel punishments, police atrocities, women rights, and the rights of children are preserved. These clippings are classified in an order so that they may be available at the time of reference. Special files are being maintained about the country-specific information where the torture survivors and refugees come to Pakistan and are being provided services for rehabilitation at RAHAT. Information from these files gives the exact picture of the country and its crisis to our health professionals. Ultimately, this knowledge helps in providing better rehabilitation and health facilities to the torture survivors.
Similarly, being part of the “Regional Asian Secretariat for Rehabilitation of Torture Survivors” files on human rights situation in different Asian Countries are also maintained. A complete list of the topics is also available on request.
Audio Visual Material
Audio visual section includes video films, audiocassettes and slides. The material in this section is classified into educational material and factual documentation of human rights violations. The staff of VAT prepares a large proportion of this material and part of it is acquired from other sources. The audio-visual material in VAT’s documentation centre has been extensively used in different seminars, workshops and conferences both nationally and internationally.
The material in this section is categorized into different sections. Audio Visual section consists of educational material, related with children education. The other section consists of factual documentation of human rights violations; and another section consisting of documentaries, prepared by Voice Against Torture, which delineates the participation of doctors in torture and cruel punishments in Pakistan. “Stolen Dreams” is another documentary that has been prepared as a result of joint efforts of Voice Against Torture and RCT, depicting the condition of children in Pakistani prisons.
Publications
The research and documentation centre is also engaged in research and educational activities. Publications include the quarterly Voice Against Torture “Newsletter” and “RAHAT Medical Journal”. RAHAT Medical Journal, which is a unique effort, as it exclusively addresses the subject of trauma of torture and instructs medical profession in torture and rehabilitation of torture survivors.
VAT’s documentation centre through its publications has not only provided services to health professionals, researchers and organizations who are dealing with torture survivors in order to broaden their vision and facilitate the eradication of torture, but also kept on positively feeding the aspirations of torture survivors that some concerted effort is being made in the direction of alleviating their sufferings.
Research
Research is an ongoing activity of Research and Documentation unit at Voice Against Torture [VAT]/School of Human Rights[SHR]. The Purpose of research activities is to generate research based knowledge to underpin advancement of human rights.
VAT/SHR sponsors10- 12 researches per year, with copyrights reserved in its name. The research support provided by VAT includes a modest funding in the form of per month honorarium for the researcher plus logistic & research related expenses. Other facilities for researchers include use of SHR library and Research Desk equipped with Computer and on-line access.
Students from different universities and development practitioners working in NGOs, public and private sectors apply for research support through online registration at our website or in response to the research announcement made in the leading local daily newspapers from time to time. A standard procedure follows the receipt of application. Applicants have to go through an aptitude test for research and interview. Later concept papers are called for further assessment. Final decision is made on the basis of collective performance in test/interview and the quality of the concept paper.
Research Coordinator and VAT/SHR team provide inputs toward finalization of research topic and development of research methodology. Research topics are approved keeping in view the researcher’s personal areas of interest and their relevance to the cause of human rights. A provisional list of priority areas is developed by VAT/SHR through participatory need assessment exercise. Proposals on topics other than the ones listed in the priority areas are also considered and funded subject to the quality of the proposal and its relevance to the cause. Quality of the research project is maintained through regular monitoring and evaluation by the Research Coordinator.