Judges, Prosecutors and Doctors to Receive Training in Documenting Torture

The Turkish Medical Association will first train a team of 250 trainers; they in turn will educate 5,500 lawyers and doctors who are not experts in forensic medicine.

Tolga Korkut

Supported by the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (TİHV), the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT) and the Human Rights Centre of Ankara University’s Politicial Sciences Faculty, the Turkish Medical Association (TTB) is going to train 1,500 judges and prosecutors and 4,000 non-specialist doctors in documenting torture.

Procedures laid down in Istanbul Protocol

The training will be based on the so-called Istanbul Protocol, an internationally-recognised protocol listing the procedure to be followed when documenting torture. The project will first determine educational needs in relation to the protocol, and then 250 educators will be trained, who, in turn, will train others in two- or three-day seminars. These seminars will be carried out by November of this year.

The Istanbul Protocol has been a recognised United Nations Document since 1999. A three-year intensive collaboration of international scientists culminated in its recognition at an international conference held at the Forensic Medicine department of Istanbul University in that year.

The protocol provides a set of guidelines for the assessment of persons who allege torture and ill treatment, for investigating cases of alleged torture, and for reporting such findings to the judiciary and any other investigative body.

Day in Support of Torture Victims

26 June is the UN International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. Last year, the IRCT ran a campaign under the theme “Erase Torture”. The film can be watched here. (TK/AG)