Still Waiting – Ecuador (AEMPPI-Ecuador)

Name of the activity: Still Waiting

Country/NMO: Ecuador (AEMPPI-Ecuador)

Program: Ethics & Human Rights in Health

Contact information: [email protected]

Type of the activity: Campaign

General description:

This activity will last around 4 hours, divided in 2 parts that will be carried out in a single day. Part # 1 will begin with the screening of the documentary film “Con mi Corazón en Yambo”, after this, participants will exchange opinions about the main subject of the documentary film throught a forum. This part is complemented by 2 symposiums, the first one, about “Crimes against Humanity: Forced Disappearance of Persons”, the second one, about psychological repercussions on relatives of desapeared persons, in charge of a Psychologist or Psychiatrist, such as depression, anxiety and suicide , its prevention, characteristics and following up.
Part # 2 is an activity in commemoration of victims of forced disappearance, for this, each participant will print a poster of an official page (http://www.desaparecidosecuador.gob.ec/) and create a mural with these pictures and finally exhibit it in crowded places of University or city.
For regional collaboration, NORP of AEMPPI Ecuador will be in contact with SCORP RA in order to contact NORPS of the others NMOs in America. The NORPs that want to participate, have to publish a poster about a case or event related to Crimes against Humanity: Enforced Disappearance of People in their country. The publication date of these posters will be in the time range of this activity.

Focus area:

Rights of patients, doctors and medical students

Problem statement:

Throughout Ecuador´s history, and most of the American countries, the “crimes against humanity” have drastically affected populations. Within the Crimes against Humanity, enforced disappearance, has a common factor in all countries, there are still open cases, without a solution to the relatives of the victims, leaving them in uncertainty, which not only affects them in an emotional, but also in the psychological way. It´s important to remember that disturbing events, such as Crimes against Humanity, have an impact on the mental health of the affected people, whether in short or long term, it´s therefore important to address this issue from an educational point of view for academic training of the medical students.
According to the 2014 Disappeared Report, in Ecuador, the required psychological assistance to family of the disappeared persons is greater than the assistance they currently receive. The psychological assistance cannot be an option for these people, but a service provided by the Government, free of charge and specialized and accessible from the first moment of the disappearance.

Target groups and beneficiaries:

Target group: Medical students of the Universities of Ecuador in all education levels
Beneficiaries: Ecuadorian population, families and friends of people who have disappeared under unjustifiable circumstances.

Objectives and indicators of success:

To empower approximately 240 medical students in Ecuador about mental health repercussions of forced disappearance in families of the victims through a film – forum and symposium, in charge of health care professionals and people related to the subject, organized in 2 parts.
Indicator: minimum 280 participants.
To train LORPs about “Crimes against Humanity: Enforced disappearance” through a Webinar.
Indicator: online survey will be sent (google forms), positive result with correct answers> 50%
Make a cinema – forum through the screening of the documentary “Con mi Corazón en Yambo”
Indicator: active participation of participants without ask them constantly about their opinion.
Online Campaign with the collaboration of NORPs of different NMOs of America
Indicator: participation of 5 or more NMOs

Methodology:

First, an online campaign will be carried with support of others NMOs in America. Part # 1 consists of a cinema – forum: screening the “With My Heart in Yambo”, an ecuadorian documentary film, after this, participants will exchange opinions about the topic. Then 2 symposiums will be held, on the first one, the topic is going to be “Crimes against Humanity: Forced Disappearance of People”; on the second one, the topic is going to be “Psychological repercussion in family members of the disappeared persons” in charge of health care professionals, Psychologist or Psychiatrist, such as depression, anxiety and suicide, its prevention, characteristics and following up.
Part # 2 is an activity in commemoration of victims of forced disappearance, for this, each participant will print a poster of an official page (http://www.desaparecidosecuador.gob.ec/) and create a mural with these pictures and finally exhibit it in crowded places of University or city.
For regional collaboration, NORP of AEMPPI Ecuador will be in contact with SCORP RA in order to contact NORPS of the others NMOs in America. The NORPs that want to participate, have to publish a poster about a case or event related to Crimes against Humanity: Enforced Disappearance of People in their country. The publication date of these posters will be in the time range of this activity.

Plans for evaluation:

Before: Through a Google forms, participants will answer questions about the role of the International Court, types of International Crimes, types of Crimes against Humanity, select the correct definition of “Forced Disappearance of People” and mention a case / event related to the Crimes against Humanity in Ecuador.
During: Number of participants on the projects.
After: A google forms will be sent with similar questions to the first in order to measure the level of knowledge acquired. Event´s opinion of the event will be also included.