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Rehabilitation for Survivors of the 1994 Genocide in Rwanda: What Are the Lessons Learned?

Uwamaliya, P and Smith, GM (2017) Rehabilitation for Survivors of the 1994 Genocide in Rwanda: What Are the Lessons Learned? Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 38 (4). pp. 361-367. ISSN 0161-2840

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Abstract

Rehabilitation remains a significant concern among survivors of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. Rehabilitation falls under tertiary prevention, which is a core function of public health. Despite efforts to introduce various rehabilitation programmes for genocide survivors in Rwanda, these initiatives have often proved inadequate in meeting their long-term needs. The failure of the Rwandan Government, international community, United Nations, and other Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) calls into serious question their commitment to international human rights laws. Rehabilitation should be regarded as a free-standing human right for genocide survivors and a human rights-based approach to the rehabilitative process should incorporate measurable outcomes based on an agreed ethical framework. The author calls upon the international community to reiterate its concerns about genocide survivors and reaffirm its commitments to human rights. The main issues discussed in this article are: the long-term needs of survivors of the 1994 genocide; what is already provided, and the gaps; how Stucki's Rehabilitation Cycle framework (a problem-solving tool) can help improve current provision; the role of the international community, NGOs, and genocide survivors' organisations in advancing rehabilitation; and the need for a human rights-based approach to rehabilitation. A strong recognition of the right to rehabilitation is crucial. An ethical framework related to the human rights-based approach should also assist in setting outcomes that can be measured against agreed standards, ensuring: rights that have been violated are identified; the accountability of each service provider in promoting rehabilitation; rehabilitation which is inclusive and non-discriminatory; participation by encouraging collaboration with survivors rather than doing things for them; and empowerment by enabling survivors to understand their rights and have the confidence to challenge or question when their rights have been violated.

Item Type: Article
Additional Information: This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Issues in Mental Health Nursing on 5 Apr 2017, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/01612840.2017.1280574
Uncontrolled Keywords: 1110 Nursing
Subjects: H Social Sciences > HN Social history and conditions. Social problems. Social reform
Divisions: Nursing & Allied Health
Publisher: TAYLOR & FRANCIS INC
Related URLs:
Date Deposited: 03 Apr 2019 07:35
Last Modified: 04 Sep 2021 03:25
DOI or ID number: 10.1080/01612840.2017.1280574
URI: https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/7804
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