A political dimension of grief: Individual and social healing after conflict

Duterme, Clara

doi:10.1080/07481187.2020.1851881

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 19 publications

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“…Mourning always has an individual and a collective dimension. This process is not only intimate, but it also involves a collective memory process, whose stakes are political (Duterme, 2021).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Grief among relatives of disappeared persons in the context of state violence: an impossible process?

Bourguignon

Dermitzel

Katz

2021

torture

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Introduction: During the dictatorships in Latin America, States allied by the Condor Operation used enforced disappearance as a political weapon to spread terror within society. Enforced disappearance is a crime against humanity. According to the OHCHR International Convention, the relatives of disappeared persons are recognized as direct victims. The impact of this crime on families remains a topical issue. Methods: We conducted a narrative literature review focusing firstly on the impact of enforced disappearance on the relatives and secondly on the specificity of the grieving process for relatives of disappeared persons. Results and discussion: The literature concerning enforced disappearance allows us to make an inventory of interconnected features explaining the phenomenon of enforced disappearance in the context of state violence. We also emphasize the extensive terminology used to qualify grief among relatives of disappeared persons and the specificity of time in this context. We highlight factors that could jeopardize the grieving process. Conclusions: The literature clearly shows the political, social and legal issues of enforced disappearance. Relatives of a disappeared person are endlessly confronted with uncertainty, exacerbated by impunity. In this case, time does not seem to support the grieving process. On the contrary, time can reactivate the injury of loss because the disappeared is condemned to an eternally provisional status. Enforced disappearance is an endless torture for some families: its impact on the grieving process deserves further research.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Grief among relatives of disappeared persons in the context of state violence: an impossible process?

Bourguignon

Dermitzel

Katz

2021

torture

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Managing the Dead with Dignity at Mass Fatality Incidents in Nepal and Globally

Atreya,

Menezes

2024

Disaster med. public health prep.

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Disasters, armed conflicts, and disease outbreaks often overwhelm normal corpse-handling capacities, highlighting the importance of mass fatality management in emergency preparedness and response. This paper examines principles, practices, and challenges of ensuring dignified corpse management after catastrophic events leading to sudden mass fatalities. It draws insights from Nepal’s experience with the 2015 earthquakes, as well as other recent disasters worldwide. The discussion reveals planning and policy gaps that undermine the dignity of the deceased and prolong trauma for survivors. Recommendations are provided for improving global preparedness to accord proper respect to the dead amid immense tragedy. As climate change escalates disasters, all vulnerable nations must enhance their capacities for systematic and empathetic mass fatality management. Even when protocols exist, overwhelmed systems lead to a breakdown in practical implementations, violating cultural norms. By building robust preparedness through strategic plans, training, infrastructure, and international cooperation, we can preserve humanity even amidst utter inhumanity.

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Never-ending funerals. Annual burials and reburials of victims of mass violence in present-day Bosnia and Herzegovina*

Anstett

2022

Death Studies

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The international armed conflict that took place in Bosnia and Herzegovina between 1992 and 1995 caused the death of around 100,000 people, the majority of whom were civilians. More than 25 years later, the process of search, identification, and burial of these victims is still not over, as a significant number of them were initially buried clandestinely or had their body moved and hidden in secondary, and sometimes tertiary, mass graves. These cover-ups bear a long-lasting legacy, as they have directly impacted funerary practices. The concealment and fragmentation of dead bodies have indeed delayed funerals and led them to be repeated numerous times. Focusing on the example of the annual collective burials, exhumations, and reburials occurring over the last two decades in Potočari cemetery, this article aims to show how the delay and repetition of burials may prevent families and society from finding closure but also contribute to the consolidation of a collective identity based on the shared experience of lasting mourning and resilience building.

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A political dimension of grief: Individual and social healing after conflict

Cited by 3 publications

References 19 publications

Grief among relatives of disappeared persons in the context of state violence: an impossible process?

Grief among relatives of disappeared persons in the context of state violence: an impossible process?

Managing the Dead with Dignity at Mass Fatality Incidents in Nepal and Globally

Never-ending funerals. Annual burials and reburials of victims of mass violence in present-day Bosnia and Herzegovina*

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