Eldiario.es awards us the prize for best documentation and research work for “Labyrinths of Torture” and “La Cañada Responds»
The section Disassemble of the elDiario.es awards the Sira Center the prize for best documentation and research work for the reports “Labyrinths of Torture: Violence and Impacts in the Migratory Transit from Africa to Spain”" and "“La Cañada Responds. Psychosocial Impacts of the Water Supply Cut-Off”The jury highlighted the rigor, depth, language, and above all the approach of both studies, "focused on the mental health consequences of different realities, whose analysis from a psychosocial perspective is rarely addressed.".
Both reports focus on the psychosocial effects which generate mistreatment and torture in very different contexts. "Labyrinths of Torture" documents the violence to which people undertaking migration are exposed. from Africa to Spain and concludes with its impacts These problems are often permanent or intractable. Meanwhile, "La Cañada Responde" (La Cañada Responds) exposes the physical and psychological effects suffered by the residents of Cañada Real as a result of the power outages. This Madrid neighborhood is now experiencing its fourth winter without electricity.
Mariluz González and Gladys Zambrana, Both residents of Cañada Real, went up on stage to collect the award alongside Gabriela López Neira, coordinator of the Sira Center, Andrea Galán Santamarina, responsible for research and Pau Pérez Sales, clinical director of the entity. Gabriela and Pau summarized Sira's work in their speech: “We try to put numbers to reality and try to measure things as indigestible as what is happening in La Cañada or that there are people who suffer torture during their migration journey.”.
5th Desalambre Awards organized by elDiario.es. Photographer: Elvira Megías.
For the Sira Center, it is a great source of pride to be recognized in this fifth edition of the Desalambre Awards. This is a space that not only highlights the value of journalism in the defense of human rights, but also serves to to generate community and mutual support between social entities and communication professionals. This recognition also provides a tremendous boost to continue denouncing mistreatment, political violence, and its connection to mental health. At a time when psychological and mental well-being is increasingly taking center stage, it is essential to emphasize that our suffering is not only individual but also collective, and generated by various social and political structures.
La Cañada Responds: Psychosocial Impacts of the Power Outage
We analyzed the psychological, physical, and community impacts that the lack of light has on the Cañada Real neighborhood.
Labyrinths of Torture: Violence and Impacts in the Migratory Transit from Africa to Spain
Based on the testimony of more than 40 people who made the journey from Africa to Spain, the Sira Centre and the Community Action Group made visible the systematic violence suffered by those who make the journey. We analyse the impacts and traces left by the journey on their mental and physical health.
