Prevention of violence and torture

The documentation of torture and its consequences serve several purposes. It is crucial in court cases for victim  compensation and the prosecution of perpetrators. Documented cases of torture may also contribute to illustrating the scope or type of torture used in a specific area. Civil society organisations may then use the information to effectively petition state authorities and others to address injustices. The documentation can also have decisive impact on whether an asylum seeker is granted asylum or not.

The documentation of torture is typically carried out by doctors, psychologists and lawyers. The collaboration between these professions is mandated by the Istanbul Protocol, an internationally acknowledged protocol containing guidelines on torture documentation. In accordance with the Istanbul Protocol, DIGNITY’s health experts work with DIGNITY’s legal experts to develop manuals on how professionals (on both basic and higher levels of education) can identify torture survivors and document the consequences of torture.

DIGNITY also develops and implements training sessions for doctors, medical students, health professionals, monitoring authorities, and others who may meet torture survivors in their daily work. In rare cases, the experts of the health unit conduct examinations of torture survivors themselves.

Example (National):

Recently, DIGNITY organized and held a training on torture for the Danish Immigration Service. The training included the legal definition of torture, the effects of torture, external signs of torture, and things to be aware of when interviewing a torture survivor.

Example (International):

Training of health care personnel, including forensic doctors, prison doctors and mental health professionals in Morocco on the identification of torture survivors, proper and professional documentation of the torture and ethical and legal obligations pertaining to torture cases.

Support to the improvement of procedures related to the initial medical exams in prisons in Morocco as well as procedures related to documentation of death in custody.

Active involvement in the development of a supplement to the Istanbul Protocol that will provide updated knowledge and a few additional chapters. The process involves UN key persons and a large number of civil society representatives from all over the world.

Development of a documentation manual and a training curriculum for North African non-expert lawyers and doctors who may meet torture survivors in their daily practice

Regular monitoring visits to prisons and other places of detention is internationally acknowledged as an essential way to prevent torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment. The inspections can be conducted by different entities, for instance in relation to the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture (OPCAT) which demands all signatories to establish an independent monitoring mechanism.

Human rights institutes and civil society organisations can conduct monitoring visits as well. DIGNITY’s health experts work to develop tools and manuals that can be used when monitoring health facilities in prisons.

We focus on the health conditions of the detained, on the structure of the health care service and function, and on factors in prison which may affect the health of the detainees. This could for instance be the size of the cells and the air ventilation. Furthermore, we focus on the ethical dilemmas in which health workers in prisons may find themselves.

The monitoring tools are developed on the basis of international standards such as the European Prison Rules and the Mandela Rules, which are internationally acknowledged minimum standards of how to treat people in prison.

We support the development of local guidelines, and we teach health workers and others with monitoring capacities on how to conduct appropriate inspections of the health facilities.