Talk by Nora Sveasss at meeting 2024-11-07

Nora Sveaass’s Presentation on Human Rights in Psychology

7th November 2024

“Thank you, everyone, for having me here today. It’s wonderful to be part of a group so passionate about human rights. Let me begin by sharing a bit about my journey, as I think it adds context to why I feel this work is so vital. Growing up in Brazil during political upheaval profoundly impacted my worldview, giving me a deep understanding of the need for human rights and the role psychology can play in supporting those whose rights are violated.

In my professional life, I’ve dedicated myself to ensuring that the field of psychology doesn’t just acknowledge human rights but actively upholds and defends them. Throughout my years as a psychologist in Norway I have worked actively with refugees, many of them survivors of severe trauma and human rights violations, in particular torture. And one cannot work as a clinician with such issues without being aware of the violations that are happening and about the rights that people are entitled to. So human rights, justice and rehabilitation were central themes in this work. Together with colleagues, I have  worked to integrate human rights into our national psychology association, embedding it within our ethics and our training. Our approach has been simple but profound—human rights must be foundational, not supplemental, to psychological practice. So, establishing the Human Rights Committee as part of our association, in 1998, was important, both to create an understanding of human rights as well as an active interest with respect to psychology and human rights (see Sveaass, 2019 The Human Rights Committee at the Norwegian Psychological Association. European Psychologist 24:2, 102-112 )

One of the key areas where we’ve concentrated efforts is education. I believe that if we can educate new generations of psychologists about human rights from the beginning, we’re creating advocates who are as skilled in defending rights as they are in delivering care. This has been a crucial part of our work in Norway, and I hope to see more associations adopting similar approaches.

Our initiatives also extend internationally. Through the Mental Health and Human Rights Info  (MHHRI), a small NGO that I initiated more than 20 years ago, to provide information and skills to helpers working in conflict and humanitarian crisis, we’ve partnered with the University of Oslo to work directly with students and professionals in conflict-affected regions. In Ukraine, we started workshops focusing on trauma response. We have had two kinds of  workshops – always small and intimate by necessity. One led by highly skilled psychologists offering supervision to colleagues in Ukraine – and the other, organized by Norwegian students – allowing  both Norwegian and Ukrainian students to share, learn, and support one another. This experience is invaluable, not just for the Ukrainian students directly affected but for everyone involved, as it builds empathy, resilience, and cross-cultural understanding. In addition, we have organised a series of lectures on relevant topics for Ukraine helpers, all of these available on video and with Ukraine subtitles (this can be seen at www.mhhri.org). 

In Gaza, we’ve similarly collaborated with Palestinian students, often connecting them with Norwegian students with Middle Eastern heritage. This work is crucial; by providing training in trauma support, including psychological first aid, we’re empowering local communities to address their own psychological needs, even amidst turmoil. These sessions underscore how urgently psychological support and human rights advocacy intersect during crises.

Of course, there are challenges. In one of the seminars focused on Ukraine, we faced disruptions, as ‘trolls’ entered the online sessions, necessitating smaller, more secure group formats. Still, we persisted, knowing that this work is vital for students learning as well as to encourage established professionals in our field to become advocates and supporters in their communities.

I’m also involved with the United Nations, where I served on the Committee Against Torture between 2006 and 2013, and as member of the UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture from 2014- 2022. This role brings home the importance of our collective voice in standing up for those who cannot. The UN framework allows us to hold governments accountable, not only through formal reports but also through the contributions of NGOs and civil organizations that share real, unfiltered experiences from affected populations. It’s my hope that more psychologists will contribute data and insights, as these perspectives are crucial to holding authorities accountable and pushing for change.

In addition, I’ve worked on several publications, one of which I co-authored recently—a chapter discussing the intersection of psychology and human rights, which I hope serves as a valuable resource for professionals and students alike. We need written, accessible resources that remind us of the real-world implications of our work. Psychology must be more than theory; it should be a force for justice.

Lastly, I’d like to emphasize the importance of student engagement. Young people bring fresh perspectives, energy, and an openness to tackling the very real issues we face today. By fostering opportunities for students to lead their own training initiatives—whether in Ukraine, Gaza, or other regions—we help build a resilient global community of psychology professionals committed to human rights.

I am deeply honored to be part of this community, where we’re not only talking about human rights but actively engaging with them. I look forward to collaborating further, especially as we continue to build human rights committees within psychology associations worldwide. Our goal, ultimately, is to normalize a human rights approach within our field—an approach where advocacy, education, and practice are seamlessly intertwined.

Thank you.”