Inherited Scars: War, Trauma, and the Brain
The impacts of war do not end when violence stops. They can shape individuals, families, and communities for years, and sometimes generations.
Synergy for Justice brought together forensic psychiatrist Dr. Dina al Shafie and Survivor Experts Elizabeth Atieno, Ajna Jusić, Meris Musanović, and Venesa Sulimani for the webinar Inherited Scars: War, Trauma, and the Brain. The discussion accompanied the launch of Synergy for Justice's article of the same name, written by Dr. Dina al Shafie with contributions from the Survivor Experts featured in the webinar. Together, they explored how trauma can be carried across generations and what this means for justice, accountability, and healing.
Three key reflections from the discussion:
Trauma can shape lives long after conflict has ended
The discussion explored how trauma affects the brain and body, and how its impacts can be transmitted across generations through biological, psychological, and social pathways. The effects of war and displacement, persecution, and loss do not end when conflict ends. They can continue to shape identity, wellbeing, relationships, and trust in institutions for years, and sometimes generations.
Listening to survivor voices is essential to understanding the long-term impacts of violence
A central focus of the webinar was the expertise of survivors. Through their personal experiences, the panellists reflected on the realities of growing up with inherited trauma, navigating stigma and silence, seeking recognition, and confronting the lasting effects of violence across generations. Their contributions highlighted dimensions of harm that are often overlooked, while demonstrating the importance of listening to those most directly affected.
Justice processes can either contribute to healing or deepen harm
The discussion also examined the role of justice institutions. Panellists explored how legal systems can unintentionally re-traumatise survivors through procedures, language, and institutional practices, and discussed what trauma-informed approaches look like in practice. Justice actors have an important role to create safer conditions for participation, recognising the long-term consequences of trauma, and ensuring that justice processes support dignity, and recovery.
As conversations on justice and accountability continue, understanding the long-term impacts of trauma remains essential. We hope these resources contribute to ongoing efforts to build justice processes that recognise survivors' experiences, respond to harm with dignity, and support healing across generations.