REVIEWS

PST Quarterlyinaugural issue: vol 1, no. 1, April-June 1996The Psychosocial Trauma and Human Rights Programme, Centre for Integrative and Development Studies. University of the Philippines, Diliman 1101 Quezon City, Philippines.
Amar Jesani

With the publication the inaugural issue of thePST Quarterly, a need for a forum discussing the psychosocial impact of violence on individuals and society in the Asia- Pacific region of the world, has been met.

The inaugural issue of thePST Quarterlyreplaces the newsletter of the Secretariat and announces the shifting of the Secretariat office to the Phillipines.

The phenomenal increase in violence all over the globe has resulted in a large number suffering from its impact. The editorial declares psychosocial trauma as an injury caused by an event, whether man-made or natural, which result in temporary or permanent mental, emotional, spiritual, or moral dysfunction or maladjustment and which impairs a person’s capacity to resume a healthy and meaningful life.

An increasing number of health workers are called upon to provide treatment to the sufferers of the psychosocial trauma. June Lopez, Angela Guilar et al. discuss findings from their survey of 383 physicians of the Philippine Medical Association on their knowledge, attitudes and practices towards the sufferers of psychosocial trauma. They found that almost one fifth of doctors in the Philippines have treated a detainess, while 55% are aware of the occurrence of torture. Most of the doctors surveyed did not agree with the statement that torture is an extrmely rare practice in the Philippines.

Caroliza Pateros asks, ‘Did doctors take part in the torture of prisoners? ’ She suggests that the medical associations should issue guidelined specifying that doctors should not be involved in torture. She also informs us that most doctors in the Philippines cannot identify signs of torture, a not uncommon finding in India as well. There is also an essay on the Draft Platform of Action of the Beijing conference, analysing its position on the violation of human rights of women.

The journal also gives information on research in progress, news and a calendar of world events on psychosocial trauma, thus making every useful to concerned prolfessionals and researchers. A list of eight centres (including CEHAT in Bombay) doing work on PST in the Asian region is provided.

It also announces an educational programe for health professionals in the Asian region on Medical Ethics, Torture and Rehabilitation to bc held in Bangkok, Thailand, in October 1996. All those interested in participating arc requcstcd to contact the editors of PST Quarterly. This twenty-four- page journal maintains high production standards. Details on subscription and the cost of a single issue arc not provided. Individuals interested in getting a free copy of the journal should write to CEHAT, 519 Prabhu Darshan, S. S. Nagar, Amboli, Andheri West, Mumbai 400 058.

Amar Jesani

Directory of persecuted scientists, engimers and health prqfessionals. Publisher: Science and Human Rights Programme, American Association for the Advancemcnt of Science. Washington, DC, USA. 1995. Pages: 220. Price $10.
Dr Amar Jesani

Scientists and health professionals do not work in a social vacuum. They are influenced and constrained by the social and political environment . If the goal of science and health care is to empower people, issues related to scientific freedom and social responsibility should be of central concern to scientists and health care professionals. It is therefore imperative that professional organisations of scientists and health workers continuously monitor freedom and social responsibility within themselves and in society at large.

The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) has a permanent Committee on Scientific Freedom and Responsibility. In 1976 this committee began a worldwide programmc, titled ‘Science and Human Rights Programme on behalf of scientists, engineers and health professionals whose human rights have been violated. This programme is based on the premise that scientific socictics should encourage international rcspcct for human rights standards, as embodied in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international treaties, as a matter of scientific freedom and responsibility.

Since 1992, each year the Science and Human Rights Programme publishes a Directory of Persecuted Scientists and Enginners and Health Professionals.

The latest directory, released in June 1995, described cases of 524 professionals from 36 countries whose human rights have been violated. It provides detailed information on each professional, including name, profession. affiliation (university, hospital, health care centre...), the type of human rights violation (arrest, torture. disappearance . ..). date(s) on which the violation took place, charge, sentence, present status of the individual and the date on which the AAAS began action in defense of this person.

The directory also gives names and addresses of the relevant authorities to whom protest letters could be sent. In fact, one of the objectives of publication of this directory is to encourage letter writing so that pressure is exorted on government to stop human rights violations. A sample letter for this purpose is provided.

The directory has succinct information on the status of human rights in India.

AAAS uses Science Human Rights Action Network (AAASHRAN) for building international campaigns for these professionals. The analysis of cases taken up by AAASHRAN is also included in the directory. It tabulates these cases into 74 professional categories. Of the 524 documented casts of professionals in the directory, 35.5% are engincers and 33.3% are health professionals. Thus, one third of the professionals suffering worldwide from human rights abuse are those providing health care. Such high vulnerability of engineers and health professionals is of great concern.

This directory is a must for all professional associations, human rights and other organisations and all concerned individuals. The professional associations in our country can learn much from it. They, too, must document violations of human rights and be counted in defending and extending the rights of our people. If we fail to do so, professionals would neither be able to safeguard themselves nor would they find it easy to preserve their professional ethics.

Dr Amar Jesani,Co-ordinator, CEHAT, 519 Prabhu Darshan, S. Sainik Nagar, Amboli, Andheri (W), Mumbai 400 058