In Indonesia, for decades, people have experienced structured violence in a massive, systematic, and structured basis. Kidnappings, arrests of people without trial, evictions, and forced coercions are terrorizing the wider community. The impact suffered by the survivors are not only from the violence that they experience, but also the accumulation from daily problems, such as financial problems, personal problems, family problems, and problems with the community.

For survivors, discriminations and social sanctions usually do not only affect themselves, but also their families. For example, they are imprisoned and tortured for decades. Their families cannot go to school or get jobs with the reasons of them being associated with Indonesian Communist Party members or former political prisoners. As a result, they cannot get decent living for generations. These problems are very difficult and intense for survivors and their families.

Pulih, as a Center for Psychosocial Empowerment for Violence Trauma Survivors and Disasters, care to help survivors in the context of psychosocial recovery. For that, Pulih is developing various programs for survivors and advocates of structural violence.

In 2003, Pulih conducted a support group several times for structural violence survivors. The activity run for six months, working with ICMC. Other than that, Pulih also compiled a book “Pemulihan Psikososial Berbasis Komunitas” with LSM KontraS. In 2007-2009, Pulih starts building a recovery model for survivors through Focus Group Discussions and interviews with sources of information who have collaborated with post conflict survivors.

In 2009, Pulih conducted 2 series of training on psychosocial empowerment and the basics of counseling, along with monitoring and evaluating session. Pulih conducted support groups for survivors humanitarian caregivers. Pulih also wrote a booklet on recovery of Survivor of Torture. Pulih organized a psychosocial-based training module for humanitarian workers. Pulih also made a model on psychological recovery for survivors and caregivers.

Services in Program Survivor of Torture that can be accessed in Pulih:

1. Individual counseling for survivors and caregivers on issues involving severe human rights violations.
2. Group counseling for survivors and caregivers.
3. Training on psychosocial empowerment for survivors of severe human rights violations

Training on the basics conversational skills on giving help, expanding the support systems between survivors or between caregivers.