Before my time? Addressing the intergenerational legacies of the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda

Eichelsheim, Veroni I.; Berckmoes, Lidewyde H.; Holá, Barbora; Rutayisire, Théoneste; Richters, Annemiek

doi:10.4103/1571-8883.239711

Cited by 5 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…To facilitate a sense of redress for people in Rwanda, an approach was needed to address psychological factors operating at both the individual and community levels. Therefore, we set out to analyze the PTSD associated with the 1994 Rwandan genocide against the Tutsi as one of the root causes of domestic violence in Rwanda, with some research postulating that domestic violence has been a vector for the transmission of trauma to children in the aftermath of the genocide [ 33 ]. Sociotherapy is applied in the group participants’ community within which they can share their past experiences and the effects on their mental and social functioning.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It was found that posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) currently stands at 26.1% of the population, and has an impact on family life [ 31 , 32 ]. Research in Rwanda highlighted the presence of heterotypic continuity, a term that refers to the transmission of violence or other maladapted behaviors from one generation to the next [ 33 ]. This has a manifold impact on both individuals and society, such as mistaken expectations of marriage, separation, divorce, depression, inadequate preparation, perceived failure to take on tasks, poor communication, and unilateral decision-making within Rwandan families [ 34 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These harmful acts ideology and sectarianism resulted in the 1994 terrible genocide against the Tutsi. The genocide and its aftermath created the genocide ideology among the second generation and this has been resolved though diverse efforts of the government, national and international contributors with the goal to bring the unity, reconciliation, nationalism, patriotism, dignity, and rehumanisation [ 33 , 39 , 40 ]. A high prevalence of PTSD has been documented in Rwanda since 1994, the year in which the genocide against the Tutsi took place [ 41 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Contribution of community-based sociotherapy interventions for the psychological well-being of Rwandan youths born to genocide perpetrators and survivors: analysis of the stories telling of a sociotherapy approach

Biracyaza¹,

Habimana²

2020

BMC Psychol

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Background Psychological well-being (PWB) refers to inter- and intra-individual levels of positive functioning that include one’s relatedness with others and self-referent attitudes that include one’s sense of mastery and personal growth. PWB consists of hedonism and eudaimonia building on thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Sociotherapy is a community-based health intervention that contributes to the promotion of PWB worldwide. Starting from an analysis of trauma transmitted from the perpetrators and survivors of the Rwandan genocide to their descendants, this article is aimed at exploring the contribution of therapeutic sessions to PWB among youth. Method A qualitative study design based on shared testimonies was carried out. Field reports from the sociotherapists, written texts, and testimonies of changes presented in the conviviality meetings were analyzed using transactional analysis. We included 24 reflexive texts upon completion of 8 months of the therapeutic program. Results Results indicated that before sociotherapy sessions, youth born to genocide survivors and perpetrators had psychosocial distress, including low self-esteem, hopelessness, anxiety, stigma, thoughts of revenge, shame, depression, and antisocial behaviors. Sociotherapy significantly contributed to the reduction of these psychosocial problems. Participating youth reported feeling safe, trusted, respected, and healthier than before the sociotherapy. This intervention created inner healing, social cohesion, alleviated their sufferings of trauma, restored their families and contributed to community resilience. Results revealed that youth developed PWB, helping them to what appeared to be psychosocial problems as being potentially healthy, enhancing self-acceptance, and respecting humanity. Youth also became the vector for the reconciliation and reconstruction of their humanity. Conclusion Sociotherapy is a community health intervention that has an effective outcome on the personal well-being of of youth. This therapy impacted the individual, social, and familial resilience of youth who developed their capacity to regain and maintain health. The intervention restored their PWB, characterized by increased positive functioning specifically in the areas of autonomy, ecological mastery, individual growth, purpose in life, good relationships with others, and improved self-esteem.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Contribution of community-based sociotherapy interventions for the psychological well-being of Rwandan youths born to genocide perpetrators and survivors: analysis of the stories telling of a sociotherapy approach

Biracyaza¹,

Habimana²

2020

BMC Psychol

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“…This line of work provides new insights in the experiences and meaning making processes of survivors, perpetrators, bystanders, rescuers and fellow members of the society concerning the genocidal violence that has been committed. 24,25 In the context of Rwanda, interviews with genocide perpetrators about their motivation to participate in the genocide have been, among others, collected by journalist Jean Hatzfeld, 2 political scientists Scott Straus 26 and Lee Ann Fujii, 27,28 jurist Kjell Anderson 29 and criminologists Aletta Smeulers and Hoex. 30 Historian Erin Jessee is one of the few researchers who collected life studies among convicted genocide perpetrators in Rwanda.…”

Section: Ordinary Citizens Becoming Genocide Perpetratorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Especially since my wife is a survivor herself. 25 ( 25 Justus. ) Justus also does not have any contact with his children anymore.…”

Section: Imprisoned and Imagined Future Selfmentioning

confidence: 99%

<p>From Child to Genocide Perpetrator: Narrative Identity Analysis Among Genocide Prisoners Incarcerated in Muhanga Prison, Rwanda</p>

Bigabo¹,

Jansen²

2020

PRBM

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Background: This article focuses on the narrative identity of eight convicted genocide perpetrators in Rwanda, who participated in the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi. Narrative identity is the internalised and evolving story of the self that a person constructs to make sense and meaning out of his life. This study focused on the key autobiographical memories, present day experiences and the anticipated future of genocide perpetrators by exploring the self-perception of genocide perpetrators, in the context of their psychosocial rehabilitation. Methods: The Biographic Narrative Interpretive Methods (BNIM) were used for the collection and analysis of life stories of the eight genocide prisoners in Muhanga Prison. Results: The narratives of the respondents converged into five main themes: (a) the childhood experience of abandonment, (b) the process of ethnic self-discovery and positioning, (c) the perpetrator narrative, (d) the imprisoned self and (e) the imagined future self. Two main feelings from their narratives were outlined. Those feelings were the feeling of the abandoned and the feeling of the abandoner in the context of making sense and meaning out of their lives. Results revealed that the positioning of genocide perpetrators through their narratives can influence positively or negatively their rehabilitation. What is important in this article is the exploration of the account of the self-perception of the convicted genocide perpetrators throughout pre-and post-genocide Rwanda and the way they project their future self. Two main feelings from their narratives were outlined: the feeling of the abandoned and the feeling of the abandoner in the context of making sense and meaning out of their lives. Results revealed that positioning of genocide perpetrators through their narratives can influence positively or negatively their rehabilitation. Conclusion: Genocide perpetrators in the context of Rwanda continuously work on ways to acknowledge, rationalise or justify those acts as part of their biography. Interventions enabling their self-discovery can have a positive impact on their self as prisoners, their families and the community at large in post-genocide Rwanda.

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Intergenerational trauma transmission through family psychosocial factors in adult children of Rwandan survivors of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi

Bonumwezi,

Grapin,

Uddin

et al. 2024

Social Science & Medicine

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Before my time? Addressing the intergenerational legacies of the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda

Cited by 5 publications

References 21 publications

Contribution of community-based sociotherapy interventions for the psychological well-being of Rwandan youths born to genocide perpetrators and survivors: analysis of the stories telling of a sociotherapy approach

Contribution of community-based sociotherapy interventions for the psychological well-being of Rwandan youths born to genocide perpetrators and survivors: analysis of the stories telling of a sociotherapy approach

<p>From Child to Genocide Perpetrator: Narrative Identity Analysis Among Genocide Prisoners Incarcerated in Muhanga Prison, Rwanda</p>

Intergenerational trauma transmission through family psychosocial factors in adult children of Rwandan survivors of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi

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