Ever since I decided to transition from the field
of psychology to the field of human rights, I have had to update my resume several
times to include the many exciting volunteer, internship, and academic
opportunities I have had the privilege to complete. One specific word
substitution, however, seems to be the most important revision I have had to
make so far. Under the qualifications section, instead of dedication to victim
assistance, my resume now reads dedication
to survivor assistance. The
change might seem subtle and perhaps will not even be noticed by many who
review my resume, but it expresses completely the shift from a view that places
those in need of assistance as powerless, dependant, and unable to make it
without support to a view that regards them as strong, independent, and able to
take charge of their lives.
The debate on whether to refer to abused
vulnerable populations as victims or survivors emerged in an Introduction to
Human Rights class. The teaching assistant played a video clip of a
well-respected journalist visiting a war-torn region in a sub-Saharan nation to
speak with those still around and doing their best to keep living. When the clip
ended, a discussion ensued and many of my classmates mentioned the role
advocates should play to immediately assist “these victims.” At that
point, I had to intervene and emphasize that as far as I was concerned, I did
not see a single victim in that video clip. I saw women cooking and taking care
of children, men searching for shelter to spend the night at a somewhat secure
location, and children playing as if they had no care in the world. They had no
comfortable and spacious homes, no modern amenities, and no brand-name clothes
and shoes, but none of the people interviewed cried, complained, or demanded
help. The people I saw in that video clip were survivors, not victims. Survivors
who could adapt to the most inhospitable and dangerous environments, who could
manage to grasp the value of life even when it is uncertain and painful, or
maybe because it is uncertain and painful, and who were content simply to be
alive. I have noticed similar attitudes among many human trafficking survivors.
These survivors are an inspiration and they need no charity. What they need is
an opportunity to enjoy their live, however uncomfortable it might seem to others.
-
Krasi
