Rehabilitation Programs for Female Repatriates Post Conflict in Syria

Jay Kelsey, Senior Counter-Terrorism Analyst, DOD

Laura Lubinski, Forensic Psychology: Professional Counselor Licensure Track Student, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Washington DC Campus

The objective of the round table discussion is to look at how the international community is repatriating females & children post Syria/Iraq conflict and identify current rehabilitation models for integration back into society. For women being repatriated back to their countries of origin, they have the potential to face significant recovery challenges if not treated both physically and mentally for their experiences. For most government’s repatriating their citizens back into society, many municipalities lack resources and expertise available to assist in rehabilitation program(s) from post international conflict. Furthermore, recidivism and adherence to violent ideology belief systems are of great concerns for country’s admitting high risk offenders back into the general population. While there is goodness in the concept of a de-radicalization programs, programs fostering separation from an ideology and post-traumatic stress management must be applicable to the conflict the individual is returning from. Universal post conflict rehabilitation programs often place participants in general profile, based on criminal charges or intake information. In the case(s) of former ISIS caliphate women and children returning from Syria, program administers will need to treat post traumatic issues experienced specific to the participation in the ISIS community and internally displaced persons (IDP) camps. In addition to trauma, mental health professionals integrated in the multidisciplinary teams will need to characterize the motivational factors behind the female repatriate’s desire to join the ISIS caliphate. The motivating factors behind one’s choice to participate in terrorism are individualistic and most likely not are isolated to a broad profile. Learning more about the motivational factors and how the individual was radicalized will help shape treatment to minimize recidivism.

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