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Upcoming Events
January 31-
Stage One, Humanitarian Outreach & International Disaster Relief. Held
at Fordham University. For more information, please e-mail
[email protected]
February 28-
Kieger Essay Contest deadline. For more information, please contact
[email protected]
March 1-
Sunday Workshop from Association for Spirituality & Psychotherapy
(ASP), 'Transforming Fear and Panic'. For more information, please
e-mail [email protected]
March 1-15-
United Nations, CSW 53. 'Commission On The Status of Women'. For more
information, please visit www.un.org
March 12-25-
Mission to Sierra leone. For more information, please e-mail
[email protected]
April -
AASSSG, Outstanding Achievement Award to Elie Weisel. For more
information, please e-mail [email protected]
April 23-25-
ASA Conference at Columbia University. For more information, please
visit www.columbia.edu
May 15-30-
Dr. Kalayjian presents in a lecture tour throughout Australia. For
more information, please e-mail [email protected]
June 15-28-
MHOP Mission to Armenia. For more information, please e-mail
[email protected]
July 1-5-
ICP Conference in Mexico City.
September 2-6-
United Nations DPI NGO Conference held in Mexico City. For more
information, please visit www.un.org
Past Events
October 19-
CUNY, Dr. Kalayjian is key note speaker on 'Crisis and Mass Trauma:
Healing and Meaning-Making'
November 14-
20th Greater New York Conference on Behavioral Research. Held at
Fordham University.
November 22-
Dr. Kalayjian holds training session.
December 11-12-
Workshop on humiliation and Violent Conflict. Dr. Kalayjian presented
on 'Challenged to Transforming Humiliation'. For more information,
please visit http://www.humiliationstudies.org/whoweare/annualm eeting10.php
Announcement for Internship Availability!!
All internships are conducted under the supervision of Dr. Ani
Kalayjian - Founder and Director of the ATOP.
Internships include the following:
Fundraising
Public Relations
Videography & Photography
Research
Any creative contributions are welcomed and greatly appreciated A
preceptor will guide you initially and as needed throughout your
term. Kindly send your resume and short statement of purpose and
length and kind of internship.
E-mail: [email protected]
_____________________
Please visit:
http://www.tcneaa.org/images/
Spring_2008_L R_www.pdf
and read about Dr. Kalayjian receiving Teacher's College Alumni Award!!
_____________________
Humanitarian Outreach Training Class, Fordham University, October 2008
December 5th Solstice Celebration, United Nations committee for
Spiritual Values and Global Concerns
Speakers following UN presentation at Uganda House, left to right,
Aiyoka Quinones, Joy Carol, Dr Ani Kalayjian, John Bolling, Georgina
Galanis
Week of Spirituality United Nations Committee for Spiritual Values and
Global Concerns Oct 2008 left to right Georgina Galanis, Ambassador
Chowdhury, Dr Ani Kalayjian
ATOP Outreach Project to Sierra Leone
As many of you are aware, the economic and social situations in
Sierra Leone are unstable. The population in Sierra Leone is
6,144,562, and according to the Central Intelligence Agency World Fact
Book, 44.8% are between the ages of 0 and 14. The death rate is 22.64
deaths per 1,000; while the infant mortality rate is 158.27 deaths per
1,000. HIV/AIDS is also a devastating problem in Sierra Leone with 7%
of the adult population struggling with the disease. In 2001 alone,
there were 170,000 people living with it and approximately 11,000 died
from it. The literacy rate of individuals over the age of 15 is also
at a low of 35.1% of the population. Too often children are abducted
from their homes to serve as child soldiers. There are currently
300,000 child soldiers fighting in 30 countries. 10,000 child soldiers
fought in Sierra Leone 's 10-year civil war, and an additional 500,000
are in paramilitary groups (www.un.org). These children are left to
face a grim future with little help or support from their government.
Although the civil war ended in 2002, the effects are still being
experienced. An estimated 50,000 people died during the war. Sierra
Leone is now facing new challenges and is on the long road to
recovery. The war has left thousands of people without homes,
families, and hope. In addition, the war has left the educational
system in deplorable condition. Residents of Sierra Leone are now
facing the challenges of trying move forward with little support from
their country. Meaningful World seeks to aide in this process;
however, we cannot do so without your support.
The Association for Trauma Outreach & Prevention (ATOP), and
Meaningful World, a New York based organization devoted to fostering a
meaningful, peaceful, and just world, have collaborated with Njala
University (NU) in Freetown, and Saving Lives Through Alternate
Options (slao.org) for a mission in Sierra Leone to conduct the Mental
Health Humanitarian Outreach Trainings.
This mission is vital to ensure that our aide and efforts can be
delivered to these children in need. We will be flying directly to
Freetown conducting trainings and then we will be traveling to Bo (4
hours away) and will conduct trainings to the professionals as well as
conducting healing and processing groups for adults and children in
two different refugee camps. This mission however cannot be
successful without your support. Therefore, we are kindly asking for
any donations that you are able to give to ensure that this trip is
productive.
If you would like to help support ATOP on the outreach mission,
please send donations to: (checks payable to ATOP). Meaningful World,
c/o Dr. Ani Kalayjian, 139 Cedar Street, Cliffside Park , NJ
07010-1003
Biopsychosocial & Eco-Spiritual Model Goes To United Nations
The Mental Health Outreach Program developed by Ani Kalayjian
utilizes this model, a series of consecutive seven-steps through which
various aspects of traumatic exposure are assessed, identified,
explored, processed and worked through. The following are the seven
steps of the Biopsychosocial, & Eco Spiritual Model:
1. Assess Levels of Post Traumatic Stress: Participants will be given
a written questionnaire, the Reaction Index Scale, revised and used by
Dr. Kalayjian in previous disasters to determine the level of
posttraumatic stress symptomatology.
2. Encourage Expression of Feelings: One at a time, each member in
the group is encouraged to express their feelings in the `here and
now,' in relationship to the disaster they have experienced.
3. Provide Empathy and Validation: Survivors' feelings will be
validated by the group leaders using statements such as `I can
understand...,' or that `It makes sense to me....' and sharing
information about how other survivors from around the world have
coped.
4. Encourage Discovery & Expression of Meaning: Survivors will be
asked `What lessons, meaning or positive associations did you discover
as a result of this disaster?' This question is based on Viktor
Frankl's logotherapeutic principles: That there could be a positive
meaning discovered in the worst catastrophe. As well as the Buddhist
assertions that it takes darkness to appreciate and reconnect with
light. Again, each member of the group will be invited to focus on
the strengths and meanings that naturally arise out of any disaster
situation.
5. Provide Didactic Information: Practical tools and information are
given on how to gradually move back to one's home or work place
utilizing the systematic desensitization process.
6. Eco centered processing: Connecting with Gaia, Mother Nature.
Discussions and exercises around environmental connections. Ways to
care for one's environment are shared. List of mindful acts are shared
to help co-create an emerald green world.
7. Provide Breathing and Movement Exercises: Breath is used as a
natural medicine, and a healing tool. Since no one can control
nature, others and what happens outside of one's self, survivors are
assisted in controlling how they respond to the disaster. This will
be an experiential section of the model.
November 22, 2008 Training
On Saturday, November 22, 2008, ATOP and Meaningfulword.com
presented Stage III: Cultivating A Meaningfulworld View and Seeds of
Forgiveness Training at Fordham University from 10:00am to 5:00pm. The
day was kicked off by a beautiful breakfast that included; bagels,
fruit, juices, coffee in addition to more exotic provisions such as
specialty teas and a unique honey spread. After breakfast Georgi read
a prayer and Dr. Kalayjian began the didactic portion of the
presentation. Everyone in attendance was actively engaged and
Dr. Kalayjian's PowerPoint on the environmental and technological
effects prompted several questions from participants.
After the release and validation, the next step in the
Biopsychosocial and Eco Spiritual Model is learning a positive lesson,
and discovering a new meaning from their negative experiences.
Participants were asked to search for a deeper lesson to replace the
negative feeling that was just released. The following positive
lessons were learned: to identify and appreciate aspects of ourselves
of which we are proud, to be grateful for being here and to allow
ourselves to be free from reoccurring thoughts about the past, to look
past our apprehensions of the future and to find faith in not only
those around us, but also within ourselves.
The last step of the model focuses on therapeutic use of breath;
therefore the group progressed to a group meditation. The participants
collected themselves emotionally and intellectually while listening to
a fifteen minute guided meditation conducive to both introspection and
relaxation. Dr. Kalayjian then asked all participants to stand up in a
circle and while holding hands and connecting on the soul level each
participant shared their feelings of gratitude. The workshop
concluded with one of the participants shared a song he had composed
in response to the election of President-elect Barack Obama. His
performance was especially moving, and a very appropriate way to
conclude such a spiritual day.
Research Panel on "Trauma Across The Nations"
New York , NY : On Friday, November 14, faculty, students, and
researchers gathered at Fordham University from numerous universities
to celebrate the 20th Greater New York Conference on Behavioral
Research. Dr. Kalayjian and Elissa Jacobs ( Columbia University )
organized and co-chaired a research panel on Trauma across Nations:
Lessons from Armenia , Iraq , India , Pakistan , Lebanon , as well as
on Gun Control around the Globe.
The presentations were delivered with clarity and enthusiasm by a
diverse student panel. They presented using PowerPoint didactic
information, researched facts and photographs to give attendees a
comprehensive view of "Trauma across Nations.' From Pakistan to
Armenia , to the Middle East , and across the globe, the jarring facts
of war and conflict prevailed, but not without the hope of healing and
peace.
First, Elissa Jacobs introduced the panelists. Then, Dr. Kalayjian
spoke about the humanitarian outreach groups organized by the
Association for Trauma Outreach & Prevention (ATOP) and the
interventions of the Mental Health Outreach Project (MHOP) in over
twenty disaster/war areas.
Christina DiLiberto, presented a paper on `Gun Control around the
Globe.' Her work covered policies of nations such as the United States
, Canada , Australia , Europe, South Africa , Nigeria , China , India
, and the Middle East .
Shivani Nath, Adjunct Assistant Professor at Kean University ,
presented her research on the `Intergenerational Transmission of
Trauma among Indians and Pakistanis,' since the Partition of British
India in 1947. Her research demonstrated the continuing challenges of
reconciliation and that the pain of unresolved trauma still persists.
Bindia Patel presented on the research that she and Dr. Kalayjian
are conducting on the `Post Traumatic Stress in Iraqi Refugees in
Armenian.' She was challenged to find up-to-date estimates of human
losses in the US Iraq invasion, however stated that in 2003 the number
of human losses was 30,000.
The last presenter was Katie Czado, a senior at Fordham University
who presented on `Post War Recovery: A Lesson from Lebanon 's Mental
Health Professionals.' The MHOP team was invited to Lebanon to
conduct post war recovery and training for the Lebanese Psychological
Association as well as faculty of American University of Beirut .
Dr. Kalayjian's Bio-Psychosocial and Eco-Spiritual Model was the
answer to PTSD and intergenerational transformation in the
aforementioned countries. In combination with conflict resolution
techniques, peace-building leadership, compassion and empathic
listening exercises, the Mental Health Outreach Program provides tools
to hone skills and direct passion into service for the greater good.
Women's Rights ARE Human Rights
The 61st Annual UN DPI NGO Conference took place at UNESCO in Paris
. Around 2,000 NGO's from over 90 countries were present.
Dr. Kalayjian organized and Chaired a workshop on Women's rights ARE
Human Rights. This workshop was sponsored by Armenian International
Women's Association (AIWA), cosponsors were: World Wide Network for
Gender Empowerment (WNGE), Association for Trauma Outreach &
Prevention (ATOP), MaMa Na DaDa, AframGlobal Organization, Inc. Int.,
and Meaningfulworld.com. Although there were 13 concurrent sessions,
over 150 people attended. Dr. Kalayjian began the session with a
gratitude as she lit 6 candles (one for each decade) celebrating the
60th anniversary of the Human Rights Declaration. Although sixty
years have passed, she noted that the Declaration unfortunately is at
its infancy in many countries. Then she highlighted all the
advancements and efforts of AIWA on behalf of Armenian women around
the globe.
Dr. Kalayjian reviewed the violations of human rights in six
regions, including North America, Europe, Asia, Latin America, Middle
East, and Africa . Examples of violations include: Female genital
cutting has been a crime since 1965, punishable by life in prison or
death, but in 40 years, no case has ever been brought to trial and the
UN Children's Fund says 99% of women in Guinea are cut, a rate
unchanged for decades. Family matters in Iran , Egypt , Israel ,
Lebanon , Pakistan , Afghanistan , and Saudi Arabia are governed by
religion-based personal statues codes; many of these laws treat women
essentially as legal minors under the eternal guardianship of their
male family members. In Latin America , the most pernicious types of
women's human rights abuses are in women's reproductive and sexual
health and rights, discrimination, and violence against women in the
workplace and home. Women's employment among regular workers has
dropped drastically by 20%, indicating the higher rates of
retrenchment, while that for men dropped by only six percent in South
Korea . Human trafficking violence against women and social
protection of women from minority groups are still areas of concern in
many parts of Europe.
UN Workshop on "Seeds of Foregiveness"
As part of the United Nations Week of Spirituality, under the
auspices of the Committee of Spiritual Values and Global Concerns, the
working group of Health Transformation and Spirituality presented
`Cultivating the Seeds of Forgiveness: Transforming Trauma to Meaning
Making and Peace Building.' This presentation held at the Uganda
House was chaired by Dr. Ani Kalayjian, an internationally recognized
expert on the psychological effects of trauma in disaster victims.
She has worked extensively with veterans of the Gulf and Vietnam wars,
with survivors of the Holocaust and Ottoman-Turkish Genocide of the
Armenians, and with survivors of earthquakes and hurricanes.
Dr. Kalayjian began by creating a setting of peace and tranquility
with a moment of silence observed. A Forgiveness Altar was lit with
colorful persimmon candles and a festive autumnal runner. Placed in
the center of the large conference table, the altar included items
from multiple denominations; Hebrew, American Indian, nature inspired,
Orthodox, Islamic, Buddhist, Hindu, and Shinnyo-en. Unique
representations of interfaith included saraswati, the goddess of
abundance, a stone buddha, hand painted Greek icons, Islamic poetry, a
Burmese communal plate, an American Indian doll and terra cotta
rabbit, a brass tooled Indian candle bed, cherry blossom leaves, and
seeds of forgiveness. After a short introduction, discussant, and
sacred activist Georgina Galanis honored Eleanor Roosevelt with a
historical quote and tribute centering on human rights. She then
introduced the speakers, with a brief highlight on their work and
focus for the presentation.
This message was sent by: Association for Trauma Outreach and
Prevention, 185 E 85 Street, New York, NY 10028
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January 31-
Stage One, Humanitarian Outreach & International Disaster Relief. Held
at Fordham University. For more information, please e-mail
[email protected]
February 28-
Kieger Essay Contest deadline. For more information, please contact
[email protected]
March 1-
Sunday Workshop from Association for Spirituality & Psychotherapy
(ASP), 'Transforming Fear and Panic'. For more information, please
e-mail [email protected]
March 1-15-
United Nations, CSW 53. 'Commission On The Status of Women'. For more
information, please visit www.un.org
March 12-25-
Mission to Sierra leone. For more information, please e-mail
[email protected]
April -
AASSSG, Outstanding Achievement Award to Elie Weisel. For more
information, please e-mail [email protected]
April 23-25-
ASA Conference at Columbia University. For more information, please
visit www.columbia.edu
May 15-30-
Dr. Kalayjian presents in a lecture tour throughout Australia. For
more information, please e-mail [email protected]
June 15-28-
MHOP Mission to Armenia. For more information, please e-mail
[email protected]
July 1-5-
ICP Conference in Mexico City.
September 2-6-
United Nations DPI NGO Conference held in Mexico City. For more
information, please visit www.un.org
Past Events
October 19-
CUNY, Dr. Kalayjian is key note speaker on 'Crisis and Mass Trauma:
Healing and Meaning-Making'
November 14-
20th Greater New York Conference on Behavioral Research. Held at
Fordham University.
November 22-
Dr. Kalayjian holds training session.
December 11-12-
Workshop on humiliation and Violent Conflict. Dr. Kalayjian presented
on 'Challenged to Transforming Humiliation'. For more information,
please visit http://www.humiliationstudies.org/whoweare/annualm eeting10.php
Announcement for Internship Availability!!
All internships are conducted under the supervision of Dr. Ani
Kalayjian - Founder and Director of the ATOP.
Internships include the following:
Fundraising
Public Relations
Videography & Photography
Research
Any creative contributions are welcomed and greatly appreciated A
preceptor will guide you initially and as needed throughout your
term. Kindly send your resume and short statement of purpose and
length and kind of internship.
E-mail: [email protected]
_____________________
Please visit:
http://www.tcneaa.org/images/
Spring_2008_L R_www.pdf
and read about Dr. Kalayjian receiving Teacher's College Alumni Award!!
_____________________
Humanitarian Outreach Training Class, Fordham University, October 2008
December 5th Solstice Celebration, United Nations committee for
Spiritual Values and Global Concerns
Speakers following UN presentation at Uganda House, left to right,
Aiyoka Quinones, Joy Carol, Dr Ani Kalayjian, John Bolling, Georgina
Galanis
Week of Spirituality United Nations Committee for Spiritual Values and
Global Concerns Oct 2008 left to right Georgina Galanis, Ambassador
Chowdhury, Dr Ani Kalayjian
ATOP Outreach Project to Sierra Leone
As many of you are aware, the economic and social situations in
Sierra Leone are unstable. The population in Sierra Leone is
6,144,562, and according to the Central Intelligence Agency World Fact
Book, 44.8% are between the ages of 0 and 14. The death rate is 22.64
deaths per 1,000; while the infant mortality rate is 158.27 deaths per
1,000. HIV/AIDS is also a devastating problem in Sierra Leone with 7%
of the adult population struggling with the disease. In 2001 alone,
there were 170,000 people living with it and approximately 11,000 died
from it. The literacy rate of individuals over the age of 15 is also
at a low of 35.1% of the population. Too often children are abducted
from their homes to serve as child soldiers. There are currently
300,000 child soldiers fighting in 30 countries. 10,000 child soldiers
fought in Sierra Leone 's 10-year civil war, and an additional 500,000
are in paramilitary groups (www.un.org). These children are left to
face a grim future with little help or support from their government.
Although the civil war ended in 2002, the effects are still being
experienced. An estimated 50,000 people died during the war. Sierra
Leone is now facing new challenges and is on the long road to
recovery. The war has left thousands of people without homes,
families, and hope. In addition, the war has left the educational
system in deplorable condition. Residents of Sierra Leone are now
facing the challenges of trying move forward with little support from
their country. Meaningful World seeks to aide in this process;
however, we cannot do so without your support.
The Association for Trauma Outreach & Prevention (ATOP), and
Meaningful World, a New York based organization devoted to fostering a
meaningful, peaceful, and just world, have collaborated with Njala
University (NU) in Freetown, and Saving Lives Through Alternate
Options (slao.org) for a mission in Sierra Leone to conduct the Mental
Health Humanitarian Outreach Trainings.
This mission is vital to ensure that our aide and efforts can be
delivered to these children in need. We will be flying directly to
Freetown conducting trainings and then we will be traveling to Bo (4
hours away) and will conduct trainings to the professionals as well as
conducting healing and processing groups for adults and children in
two different refugee camps. This mission however cannot be
successful without your support. Therefore, we are kindly asking for
any donations that you are able to give to ensure that this trip is
productive.
If you would like to help support ATOP on the outreach mission,
please send donations to: (checks payable to ATOP). Meaningful World,
c/o Dr. Ani Kalayjian, 139 Cedar Street, Cliffside Park , NJ
07010-1003
Biopsychosocial & Eco-Spiritual Model Goes To United Nations
The Mental Health Outreach Program developed by Ani Kalayjian
utilizes this model, a series of consecutive seven-steps through which
various aspects of traumatic exposure are assessed, identified,
explored, processed and worked through. The following are the seven
steps of the Biopsychosocial, & Eco Spiritual Model:
1. Assess Levels of Post Traumatic Stress: Participants will be given
a written questionnaire, the Reaction Index Scale, revised and used by
Dr. Kalayjian in previous disasters to determine the level of
posttraumatic stress symptomatology.
2. Encourage Expression of Feelings: One at a time, each member in
the group is encouraged to express their feelings in the `here and
now,' in relationship to the disaster they have experienced.
3. Provide Empathy and Validation: Survivors' feelings will be
validated by the group leaders using statements such as `I can
understand...,' or that `It makes sense to me....' and sharing
information about how other survivors from around the world have
coped.
4. Encourage Discovery & Expression of Meaning: Survivors will be
asked `What lessons, meaning or positive associations did you discover
as a result of this disaster?' This question is based on Viktor
Frankl's logotherapeutic principles: That there could be a positive
meaning discovered in the worst catastrophe. As well as the Buddhist
assertions that it takes darkness to appreciate and reconnect with
light. Again, each member of the group will be invited to focus on
the strengths and meanings that naturally arise out of any disaster
situation.
5. Provide Didactic Information: Practical tools and information are
given on how to gradually move back to one's home or work place
utilizing the systematic desensitization process.
6. Eco centered processing: Connecting with Gaia, Mother Nature.
Discussions and exercises around environmental connections. Ways to
care for one's environment are shared. List of mindful acts are shared
to help co-create an emerald green world.
7. Provide Breathing and Movement Exercises: Breath is used as a
natural medicine, and a healing tool. Since no one can control
nature, others and what happens outside of one's self, survivors are
assisted in controlling how they respond to the disaster. This will
be an experiential section of the model.
November 22, 2008 Training
On Saturday, November 22, 2008, ATOP and Meaningfulword.com
presented Stage III: Cultivating A Meaningfulworld View and Seeds of
Forgiveness Training at Fordham University from 10:00am to 5:00pm. The
day was kicked off by a beautiful breakfast that included; bagels,
fruit, juices, coffee in addition to more exotic provisions such as
specialty teas and a unique honey spread. After breakfast Georgi read
a prayer and Dr. Kalayjian began the didactic portion of the
presentation. Everyone in attendance was actively engaged and
Dr. Kalayjian's PowerPoint on the environmental and technological
effects prompted several questions from participants.
After the release and validation, the next step in the
Biopsychosocial and Eco Spiritual Model is learning a positive lesson,
and discovering a new meaning from their negative experiences.
Participants were asked to search for a deeper lesson to replace the
negative feeling that was just released. The following positive
lessons were learned: to identify and appreciate aspects of ourselves
of which we are proud, to be grateful for being here and to allow
ourselves to be free from reoccurring thoughts about the past, to look
past our apprehensions of the future and to find faith in not only
those around us, but also within ourselves.
The last step of the model focuses on therapeutic use of breath;
therefore the group progressed to a group meditation. The participants
collected themselves emotionally and intellectually while listening to
a fifteen minute guided meditation conducive to both introspection and
relaxation. Dr. Kalayjian then asked all participants to stand up in a
circle and while holding hands and connecting on the soul level each
participant shared their feelings of gratitude. The workshop
concluded with one of the participants shared a song he had composed
in response to the election of President-elect Barack Obama. His
performance was especially moving, and a very appropriate way to
conclude such a spiritual day.
Research Panel on "Trauma Across The Nations"
New York , NY : On Friday, November 14, faculty, students, and
researchers gathered at Fordham University from numerous universities
to celebrate the 20th Greater New York Conference on Behavioral
Research. Dr. Kalayjian and Elissa Jacobs ( Columbia University )
organized and co-chaired a research panel on Trauma across Nations:
Lessons from Armenia , Iraq , India , Pakistan , Lebanon , as well as
on Gun Control around the Globe.
The presentations were delivered with clarity and enthusiasm by a
diverse student panel. They presented using PowerPoint didactic
information, researched facts and photographs to give attendees a
comprehensive view of "Trauma across Nations.' From Pakistan to
Armenia , to the Middle East , and across the globe, the jarring facts
of war and conflict prevailed, but not without the hope of healing and
peace.
First, Elissa Jacobs introduced the panelists. Then, Dr. Kalayjian
spoke about the humanitarian outreach groups organized by the
Association for Trauma Outreach & Prevention (ATOP) and the
interventions of the Mental Health Outreach Project (MHOP) in over
twenty disaster/war areas.
Christina DiLiberto, presented a paper on `Gun Control around the
Globe.' Her work covered policies of nations such as the United States
, Canada , Australia , Europe, South Africa , Nigeria , China , India
, and the Middle East .
Shivani Nath, Adjunct Assistant Professor at Kean University ,
presented her research on the `Intergenerational Transmission of
Trauma among Indians and Pakistanis,' since the Partition of British
India in 1947. Her research demonstrated the continuing challenges of
reconciliation and that the pain of unresolved trauma still persists.
Bindia Patel presented on the research that she and Dr. Kalayjian
are conducting on the `Post Traumatic Stress in Iraqi Refugees in
Armenian.' She was challenged to find up-to-date estimates of human
losses in the US Iraq invasion, however stated that in 2003 the number
of human losses was 30,000.
The last presenter was Katie Czado, a senior at Fordham University
who presented on `Post War Recovery: A Lesson from Lebanon 's Mental
Health Professionals.' The MHOP team was invited to Lebanon to
conduct post war recovery and training for the Lebanese Psychological
Association as well as faculty of American University of Beirut .
Dr. Kalayjian's Bio-Psychosocial and Eco-Spiritual Model was the
answer to PTSD and intergenerational transformation in the
aforementioned countries. In combination with conflict resolution
techniques, peace-building leadership, compassion and empathic
listening exercises, the Mental Health Outreach Program provides tools
to hone skills and direct passion into service for the greater good.
Women's Rights ARE Human Rights
The 61st Annual UN DPI NGO Conference took place at UNESCO in Paris
. Around 2,000 NGO's from over 90 countries were present.
Dr. Kalayjian organized and Chaired a workshop on Women's rights ARE
Human Rights. This workshop was sponsored by Armenian International
Women's Association (AIWA), cosponsors were: World Wide Network for
Gender Empowerment (WNGE), Association for Trauma Outreach &
Prevention (ATOP), MaMa Na DaDa, AframGlobal Organization, Inc. Int.,
and Meaningfulworld.com. Although there were 13 concurrent sessions,
over 150 people attended. Dr. Kalayjian began the session with a
gratitude as she lit 6 candles (one for each decade) celebrating the
60th anniversary of the Human Rights Declaration. Although sixty
years have passed, she noted that the Declaration unfortunately is at
its infancy in many countries. Then she highlighted all the
advancements and efforts of AIWA on behalf of Armenian women around
the globe.
Dr. Kalayjian reviewed the violations of human rights in six
regions, including North America, Europe, Asia, Latin America, Middle
East, and Africa . Examples of violations include: Female genital
cutting has been a crime since 1965, punishable by life in prison or
death, but in 40 years, no case has ever been brought to trial and the
UN Children's Fund says 99% of women in Guinea are cut, a rate
unchanged for decades. Family matters in Iran , Egypt , Israel ,
Lebanon , Pakistan , Afghanistan , and Saudi Arabia are governed by
religion-based personal statues codes; many of these laws treat women
essentially as legal minors under the eternal guardianship of their
male family members. In Latin America , the most pernicious types of
women's human rights abuses are in women's reproductive and sexual
health and rights, discrimination, and violence against women in the
workplace and home. Women's employment among regular workers has
dropped drastically by 20%, indicating the higher rates of
retrenchment, while that for men dropped by only six percent in South
Korea . Human trafficking violence against women and social
protection of women from minority groups are still areas of concern in
many parts of Europe.
UN Workshop on "Seeds of Foregiveness"
As part of the United Nations Week of Spirituality, under the
auspices of the Committee of Spiritual Values and Global Concerns, the
working group of Health Transformation and Spirituality presented
`Cultivating the Seeds of Forgiveness: Transforming Trauma to Meaning
Making and Peace Building.' This presentation held at the Uganda
House was chaired by Dr. Ani Kalayjian, an internationally recognized
expert on the psychological effects of trauma in disaster victims.
She has worked extensively with veterans of the Gulf and Vietnam wars,
with survivors of the Holocaust and Ottoman-Turkish Genocide of the
Armenians, and with survivors of earthquakes and hurricanes.
Dr. Kalayjian began by creating a setting of peace and tranquility
with a moment of silence observed. A Forgiveness Altar was lit with
colorful persimmon candles and a festive autumnal runner. Placed in
the center of the large conference table, the altar included items
from multiple denominations; Hebrew, American Indian, nature inspired,
Orthodox, Islamic, Buddhist, Hindu, and Shinnyo-en. Unique
representations of interfaith included saraswati, the goddess of
abundance, a stone buddha, hand painted Greek icons, Islamic poetry, a
Burmese communal plate, an American Indian doll and terra cotta
rabbit, a brass tooled Indian candle bed, cherry blossom leaves, and
seeds of forgiveness. After a short introduction, discussant, and
sacred activist Georgina Galanis honored Eleanor Roosevelt with a
historical quote and tribute centering on human rights. She then
introduced the speakers, with a brief highlight on their work and
focus for the presentation.
This message was sent by: Association for Trauma Outreach and
Prevention, 185 E 85 Street, New York, NY 10028
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