Turks will open eyes for signs of torture
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Hürriyet Daily News
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Mart 02, 2009 00:00
ISTANBUL - An initiative launched last month in Ankara will train scores of physicians, prosecutors and judges in how to detect signs of torture Ğ both physical and mental. Some 4,000 non-forensic physicians, 1,000 prosecutors and 500 judges will also learn how to evaluate medical reports in suspected torture cases and ensure that they are used correctly in legal proceedings.
The project, supported by the European Commission following an application from the Council of Forensic Medicine, the Turkish Medical Association and the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims, or IRCT, builds on a number of legislative reforms initiated by the government over the past few years in an effort to eradicate torture. These reforms aim to provide greater protection of detainees’ rights and to remove obstacles to the prosecution of law-enforcement officers charged with torture and mistreatment. The new training program represents a unique and welcome opportunity to reach a large number of professionals, and to pave the way for strengthened collaboration between government and civil-society representatives.
The primary instrument that will be used in training these health and legal professionals is the Istanbul Protocol, known more formally as the Manual on the Effective Investigation and Documentation of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. Developed in 1999, the Istanbul Protocol is internationally recognized as a crucial instrument to investigate and document incidents of torture.
In 2003, the IRCT launched its Prevention through Documentation project, which has expanded into 10 countries over the past five years, increasing awareness of the Istanbul Protocol and educating health and legal professionals about its use. One key lesson learned from this process is how crucial collaboration between health and legal professionals is to ensuring victims’ access to justice and to bringing perpetrators to trial.
The primary instrument that will be used in training these health and legal professionals is the Istanbul Protocol, known more formally as the Manual on the Effective Investigation and Documentation of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. Developed in 1999, the Istanbul Protocol is internationally recognized as a crucial instrument to investigate and document incidents of torture.
In 2003, the IRCT launched its Prevention through Documentation project, which has expanded into 10 countries over the past five years, increasing awareness of the Istanbul Protocol and educating health and legal professionals about its use. One key lesson learned from this process is how crucial collaboration between health and legal professionals is to ensuring victims’ access to justice and to bringing perpetrators to trial.