IPA in the Humanitarian Field Committee

Background 

Since we live in a rapidly evolving world, besides pondering clinical practice in light of social and cultural changes, we need to foster a psychoanalysis that can intervene in new scenarios – in the consulting room, yes, but also outside of it. The broad goal of the “IPA in the Community” committees is to expand the scope of psychoanalysis, so that we can make the most of psychoanalysis’ potential.

The IPA in the Humanitarian Field Committee will foster connections with international humanitarian organisations, such as Médecin sans Frontiers, UNESCO, UNICEF, etc. Although there are psychoanalysts who currently work with these organisations, more can be done to enhance the IPA’s involvement. The committee’s first tasks will be to map the organisations with which the IPA is most likely to liaise beneficially, and to begin collaborative projects where IPA members can be involved in the dissemination of psychoanalytical knowledge.

 

Mandate

The IPA in the Humanitarian Field Committee is mandated to:

  1. Collect data from around the world regarding work already being done by IPA members in conjunction with humanitarian organisations, and regarding the humanitarian organisations with which the IPA might fruitfully liaise.
  2. Promote the organisation of interdisciplinary events focused on developing relationships between psychoanalysis and humanitarian organisations.
  3. Develop bridges between the IPA and humanitarian organisations, to enhance the interchange of experiences, the development of theories, the development of beneficial initiatives, etc.
  4. Explore the possibility of using prizes to encourage new/highlight existing high-quality work involving psychoanalysis and humanitarian organisations.

 

Sub-committees

It is envisaged that the United Nations Committee will continue its work as a separate committee for a further two years, and that it will eventually be become a sub-committee under the umbrella of the IPA in the Humanitarian Field Committee.

It is also envisaged that the IPA in the Humanitarian Field Committee may eventually develop additional sub-committees to focus work on specific domains, including:

  • UNICEF, UNESCO, Medicins san frontiéres, WHO and others
  • IPA and Migration/Work with Refugees (and their families)


Ways of working and reporting

The IPA in the Humanitarian Field Committee will be expected to do most of its work electronically, using GoToMeeting, or other free-to-use communication systems. The Committee, like all IPA committees, will be expected to be self-supporting for secretarial and other purposes. It will have access to the web and email support services offered by the IPA.

Any face-to-face meetings should take place, so far as possible, adjacent to IPA or regional congresses. The Committee will provide a written report to the Board at least annually.

 

Composition of the committee

The IPA in the Humanitarian Field Committee will be composed of a Chair and six members (two from each region).

The Committee may request the appointment of Consultants to advise on specific issues as needed (Consultants will not be funded to attend in-person meetings).

 

Budget

The Committee will propose a budget during the annual IPA budget cycle.

 

Approved by the Board, December 2017

Name change approved by the Board, August 2021

United Nations Sub-Committee

This Committee will have the following tasks:

  1. To make psychoanalysis visible and heard in the United Nations system in general and in the meetings of the Economic and Social Council and its subsidiary bodies in particular.

  2. To interact with other non-governmental organisations working with the United Nations system, particularly through the many established NGO (Non-Governmental Organisation) committees of potential interest to the psychoanalytic profession.

  3. To bring international issues and concerns to the psychoanalytic profession, with a view to developing a methodology linking individual development to socio-economic development in the world community.

  4. To assess the state of the discipline and practice of psychoanalysis in light of such international concerns as conflict prevention and resolution, effects of prejudice and ethnicity, violence, child abuse and in general the promotion of international welfare.

  5. To consider, advise, and promote contributions that the profession of psychoanalysis might make in such areas of international concern.


The Committee on the United Nations will report to each meeting of the Board to describe the work done so far and any conclusions or inferences drawn from it. It will carry out its work by committee members' personal oversight in Geneva and New York and in communication with more distant members by telephone, fax, and email. It will hold working meetings at each biennial International Congress and other working meetings as may be arranged.


Approved by the Executive Council, August 1st 1997, Barcelona

Migration & Refugees Sub-Committee

Background 

Since we live in a rapidly evolving world, besides pondering clinical practice in light of social and cultural changes, we need to foster a psychoanalysis that can intervene in new scenarios – in the consulting room, yes, but also outside of it. The broad goal of the “IPA in the Community” committees is to expand the scope of psychoanalysis, so that we can make the most of psychoanalysis’ potential.

Migration, and the plight of refugees, is a big issue currently in some countries, mainly in Europe, and one that also affects psychoanalysts. Not only does it have an impact on the population but also on the life and practice of analysts who live in countries that are strongly affected by this problem. We know that some governments are actively engaged in working with the effects of forced migrations and refugees and that there are existing successful psychoanalytically-oriented programmes and organizations that are already working with this issue. The IPA also has to have a voice and carry out studies in order to do “prevention” because this problem has an effect on families that are disintegrated and fragmented, children left by themselves and forced to arrive in an unfamiliar place with a language they don’t understand, facing an almost impossible mourning process of having lost everything they know. Due to many intergenerational studies, we know that this affects at least three generations, not just the refugees themselves. We are referring here mainly to forced migration.

Mandate

The Migration and Refugees sub-committee is mandated to:

  1. Study the issue, mapping the psychoanalytic work done in this area, identifying all existing programmes/projects, finding out where people need help and it isn’t reaching them, and help to develop more projects.
  2. Promote interchange between groups working in this area, through sharing experiences, build up common projects and help those working in this area.
  3. Connect with child and family analysis: liaise with, and organise joint projects with, other related IPA Committees such as COCAP, Families & Couples, etc.
  4. Dialogue with other disciplines, such as sociology, anthropology, the arts, etc.
  5. Explore the possibility of using prizes to encourage new/highlight existing high-quality work involving psychoanalysis and migration/refugees.

The work will consist of two broad phases: i) urgent work and ii) primary prevention.

Ways of working and reporting

The Migration and Refugees sub-committee will be expected to do most of its work electronically, using GoToMeeting, or other free-to-use communication systems. The sub-committee, like all IPA committees, will be expected to be self-supporting for secretarial and other purposes. It will have access to the web and email support services offered by the IPA.

Any face-to-face meetings should take place, so far as possible, adjacent to IPA or regional congresses. The sub-committee will provide a written report to the Board at least annually.

Composition of the committee

The Migration and Refugees sub-committee will be composed of a Chair, plus three members (one from each region).

The sub-committee may request the appointment of Consultants to advise on specific issues as needed (Consultants will not be funded to attend in-person meetings).

Budget

The sub-committee will propose a budget (via the budget bid sent by the IPA and Humanitarian Organisations Committee) during the annual IPA budget cycle.

Approved by the Board June 2018

 

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