The discussion aimed at exploring the lived traumatic experiences and tortures and the psychological effects on general population. Speakers in this event were Dr. Mimoza Shahini, psychiatrist and lecturer at the AAB college, Korab Krasniqi, project manager at forumZFD program in Kosovo and Selvi Izeti, psychologist and therapist at the Kosova Center for Rehabilitation of Torture Victims. The discussion was moderated by Dr. Naim Telaku, psychologist and lecturer at the AAB college.
The discussion emphasized the individual stigmas that survivors attribute to themselves and social stigmas. The discussion highlighted the research findings that allude the phenomena of transmitting trauma to others based on cortisol levels. A professional reflection was placed on the services provided by the state of Kosovo to survivors of trauma and violence by taking examples of experiences from practical work and the research findings pointing out the facts that partners of war veterans are more likely to have higher mental health difficulties compared to the veterans himself and their children. Therefore, the discussion called for trauma to be addressed as a dimension and not necessarily as a categorization.
Additionally, students were given the opportunity of exploring narratives of wartime sexual violence survivors and their families through publications: "I want to be heard" and "Beyond pain, towards courage!". The latter also touches upon the topic of interaction and relationship between survivors and the family, the community, revealing the individual, family and collective mechanisms of resilience and coping with trauma and the role of family support and collective recognition as a way of overcoming pain and transforming victim identity into active citizenry with private agency.
forumZFD program in Kosovo and the Kosova Rehabilitation Center for Torture Victims on the occasion of this event, donated several copies of two books published in partnership "Beyond pain, towards courage!" and "I want to be heard" for the rector, library and students of AAB college.