ABSTRACT
This chapter describes an innovative, interdisciplinary, integrated mental health and human rights approach toward reconciliation, justice, and prevention of future harm—both in terms of direct and vicarious trauma—in the wake of atrocity crimes in Ecuador. The psychological team of the Ombudsman’s Office for Redressing Victims of Serious Violations of Human Rights Law and Victims of Crimes against Humanity has been implementing an intervention to provide comprehensive assistance and accompaniment to victims of gross human rights violations and atrocity crimes in Ecuador. Working in collaboration with several state institutions, the team provides specialized care for victims with an innovative approach—training public health professionals and human rights advocates in deep understandings of historical contexts and individual narratives of atrocities in Ecuador under oppressive past regimes. Through such trainings, workers are able to provide proper assistance and care to survivors of serious human rights violations and atrocity crimes.
