About

Owing to the diverse academic expertise and field experience of our team, the Program has already had great success in pushing through traditional disciplinary boundaries in translating and applying  the science of trauma within the human rights context. We have broad and deep experience in collecting, synthesizing, and appropriately applying our current understanding of human trauma to justice mechanisms at various stages, from initial evaluations of victims to advocating for therapeutic reparations. Since our conception, we have been largely successful with numerous projects and consultations with advocates representing victims of human rights abuse in the United States, Sierra Leone, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mexico, the Central African Republic, Cambodia, Kenya, Fiji, among others. In doing so, we have also worked with a wide range of clients, from local non-governmental organizations to multilateral institutions (see Our Partners).

Essentially, we bridge the long-standing gaps between international human rights systems and psychiatric science around trauma, relying both on our own clinical and professional experience and analytical interpretation of the vast scientific literature. Our team provides:

• Expert testimonials and consultative reports, often based on primary psychiatric evaluations  and interviews with relevant local stakeholders

• Evaluation of programs and broader operating environments to understand how they enhance or detract from human rights protections

• Training and resource development for partners, such as field guides for investigators on trauma-informed approaches or guidance for lawyers on how to capture “victim impact” in the form of emotional and psychological outcomes