1st International Congress on Trauma Prevention Studies (UTÖÇ-KO)
‘From Darkness to Hope: Healing from Trauma in a World Facing Violence and Poverty’
INVITATION TO THE CONGRESS
Trauma does not only imprint itself on the mind and body of a child shaped by war, a youth growing in the shadow of poverty, or a woman scarred by domestic violence—it also penetrates the soul of society. It feeds on silence, grows with denial, and is passed down through generations.
The 1st International Congress on Trauma Prevention Studies is not merely a space for knowledge sharing; it is also a call for confrontation, witnessing, and solidarity. This congress is organized to shed light on areas where violence remains invisible and to be a collective voice against the isolating effects of trauma.
Our goal is not only to recognize trauma but also to examine the societal conditions that generate it, collaboratively develop ways to prevent violence, and build new structures that make healing possible. Reducing trauma solely to an individual’s psyche isolates it from the system. Trauma is both an internal rupture and a societal alarm.
We know that the path out of darkness is not through suppressing pain, but through facing it and transforming it. And this journey is most possible together.
We invite civil society organizations, mental health professionals, social scientists, students, activists, and all professionals to join this shared effort—to prevent trauma, restore hope, and facilitate healing.
With love and solidarity,
Prof. Dr. Ayten Zara
Chair of the UTUÇ-KO Organizing Committee