What we focus on

Over the years, we have built strong experience and understanding in addressing the needs of victims and survivors of conflict and human rights violations. At the Organization of Victims and Survivors (OVS), we prioritise these areas in our support programs, advocacy efforts, and community-based initiatives to ensure healing, justice, and long-term recovery.

FOCUS AREA
  • Advocacy and Awareness.
  • Human Rights Protection.
  • Stakeholder Networking and Engagement.
  • Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution.
  • Victims Livelihood.
  • Transitional Justice Process and Psychosocial Support.
  • Documentation, Monitoring and Memorialization..
TARGET GROUP

    Victims and Survivors.

  • Venerable and Marginalized Communities.
  • Women and Gender-based violence .
  • Child-protection .
  • Persons with disabilities (PWD).
  • Conflicts-affected Communities.
  • Internally-displaced People (IDPs).
GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS
  • Somali Regional State of Ethiopia with its border areas.
  • Dire-dawa City administration.
APPROACH
  • OVS Adopts a holistic and right-centered services, working in collaboration with government level institutions, Healthcare providers, legal institutions federal and regional CSOs, community-based groups, Women-led organization, donors and International agencies to insure collaborated and effective support for victims and survivors, venerable communities and internally displaced peoples(IDPs).
Key Programs and Services
  • Psychosocial Support: - Trauma-informed counselling, group therapy, and emotional support.
  • Legal Assistance: - Legal information, referrals.
  • Emergency Support: - Safe shelter, medical referrals, and crisis response.
  • Case Management: - Individualized survivor support plans.
  • Economic Empowerment: - Skills training, livelihood support, and reintegration programs.
  • Advocacy and Awareness: - Community education, prevention campaigns, and policy advocacy.
Strategic Objectives
  • Strengthen the recognition and Support of victims and survivors as rights-holders and policy influencers.
  • Advocate for institutional reforms and effective implementation of transitional justice mechanisms in the Somali Region.
  • Provide psychosocial support, legal, economic, and medical support services that promote healing and rehabilitation.
  • Build the capacity of victims and survivors to organize, lead, and represent their interests at local, regional, and national levels.
  • Foster reconciliation, social cohesion, and sustainable peace through community dialogue and truth-seeking initiatives.
  • Promote accountability for past violations and prevent the recurrence of human rights abuses and conflict.
Achievements

    Supported 2,337 victims and provide them consultations and treatment from psychological service centers established by OVS and local health facilities through counselling and case management in collaboration with the regional hospitals

    Conducted community awareness, capacity building trainings and direct psychological services programs for over 5,000 beneficiaries in Several Projects such us.

    • Strengthening the capacity of local actors for community-centered transitional justice, funded by Arish Aid.
    • Capacity building projects funded by Civil Rights Defenders ( CRD).
    • Transitional justice related project funded by OHCHR.
    • And Projects funded by Conciliation Resources ( CR).

    Partnered and engaged with Government institutions, National and International NGOs, regional bodies and UN agencies to strengthen survivor protection and supportive mechanisms