Collective human rights, expertise, and reparation

Contributions from the Observatory of Psychopolitical Trauma

Abstract

This article presents the technical and forensic productions of the Observatory of Psychopolitical Trauma in contexts of political violence and collective human rights violations, discussing the role that the concept of psychosocial trauma plays in these interventions. It reports six technical and forensic productions carried out between 2022 and 2024, requested by actors within the justice and rights protection systems, in cases involving populations affected by evictions, police violence, environmental disasters, and other violations of rights — almost always occurring in combination. Based on the theoretical framework of psychosocial trauma, collective psychosocial harm was evidenced, manifested in community disintegration and transgenerational impacts, without disregarding psychological suffering. Social determinants of health and disease  production were identified and understood dialectically, including housing insecurity and social stigmatization, as well as community organization and collective memory. The analyses demonstrate that political violence impacts not only individuals but also social networks and collective ways of life – supporting the view that psychosocial harm is collective. The practical contribution of this concept underpins the construction of indicators to guide processes of reparation, mitigation, and violence prevention within the social and community fabric. In dialogue with the rights protection system, it is expected to facilitate a more consistent role for Psychology in processes of comprehensive reparation and collective moral damages. Thus, the concept facilitates the production of a psychosocial expertise that differs methodologically, conceptually, ethically, and politically from traditional psychological assessments, surpassing individualism and familism, and offering a critical perspective on the production of violence and psychosocial suffering.