Our Mission

The mission of the Observatoire PSYCAVI is to compile, develop, and share the most relevant scientific knowledge possible regarding the psychological health of populations exposed to armed conflicts and intergroup violence.

It is imperative to understand how the mental and cognitive health of survivors is affected by their exposure to these conflicts and violence in order to:

• Promote the construction of lasting peace within affected communities.
• Support individuals in these communities in their adaptive capacity.
• Create conditions conducive to social cohesion in countries welcoming refugees.

Every day, while bearing the burden of unspeakable suffering, thousands of individuals who have been exposed to armed conflicts and intergroup violence find the courage to continue living. Every day, willingly or unwillingly, they put one foot in front of the other and build the world they inhabit, guided by their perceptions.

But what do they perceive exactly? And how do the sufferings they have experienced affect their ability to think about their lives, both individually and collectively? Could it be that some initiatives for social reconstruction are destined to fail because they do not rest on an enlightened understanding of the psychological processes at play in individuals directly affected by these crises?

By exploring the impact of armed conflicts and intergroup violence on psychological health, the Psycavi Observatory provides rigorous and relevant data. Individuals involved in the peace-building process can refer to it to support both their social and personal endeavors.

The researchers at the PSYCAVI Observatory specifically examine the repercussions of violence experienced in the Great Lakes region of Africa, particularly in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.