OVER 14,000 WOMEN VICTIMIZED BY ARMED CONFLICT IN ACEH

July 10, 2004 - (ANTARA) More than 14,000 women were victimized by armed conflict since 2001 in the Indonesian province of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam (NAD), NAD Deputy Governor Azwar Abubakar said here Saturday.

In remarks opening a psychological rehabilitation training course for women tramuatized by the hostlities, Abubakar expressed hope that the women in the program would receive fair attention from all parties.

"We understand that women who lost their beloved husbands or other family members in the violence were traumatized. We hope through this training their psychological condition will be rehabilated," Abubakar said.

The psychological rehabilitation training for hundreds of Acehnese woman was conducted by the NAD Provincial Women's Empowerment Bureau in cooperation with the Syiah Kuala Darussalam University's Counseling and Psychological Service Center (PPPK).
Meanwhile, chief of the organizing committee, Yusran MSi, said at least 760 women had undergone the training since 2001.

Yusran said women and children bore the brunt of the prolonged conflict in Indonesia's troubled province, and the training was intended to restore the victims' spirit and motivation to lead a normal life in the community.

From: http://www.malra.org/posko/malra.php4?nr=33278