A. INTRODUCTION = 1
B. GENERAL = 2
1. What is torture? = 2
2. Who are the perpetrators of torture? = 4
3. Who are torture victims? = 5
4. What are the consequences of torture for victims/survivors? = 5
C. INTERNATIONAL LAW AND THE PROHIBITION OF TORTURE = 6
1. What is international human rights law? = 6
2. What are the basic international law rules dealing with the prohibition of torture? = 7
3. What are states’ basic obligations arising from the absolute prohibition against torture? = 9
4. How are these international standards enforced? = 10
5. What international mechanisms deal with the prohibition of torture, state responsibility and/or individual perpetrators? = 12
D. INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS, TORTURE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL = 14
1. What are the basic obligations of law enforcement personnel in the prevention and prohibition of torture? = 14
2. Are international standards on the prohibition of torture more relevant at some times and/or to some law enforcement activities than others? = 15
3. What are the other special international standards relating to law enforcement officials? = 15
E. INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS ON THE PREVENTION OF TORTURE = 17
1. What are the basic international standards relating to the prevention of torture? = 17
2. What is meant by the right of access to a lawyer of one’s choice, and how can law enforcement personnel comply with the international standards involved? = 18
3. What is meant by the right to contact a family member or friend, and how can law enforcement personnel comply with the international standards involved? = 20
4. What is meant by the right to be seen by a doctor and to be medically examined, and how can law enforcement personnel comply with the international standards involved? = 20
5. What else can law enforcement personnel do to prevent torture? = 23
F. THE RIGHT TO COMPLAIN ABOUT TORTURE = 23
1. What are the international standards on the right to complain? = 23
2. What is the significance of the right to complain about torture? = 24
3. Who can exercise this right to complain about torture, and when? = 25
4. To whom can detainees and others who have allegedly been tortured exercise their right to complain? = 26
5. How can detainees and others exercise their right to complain? = 27
6. What can and should law enforcement personnel do to comply with these international standards and so to ensure that detainees and others can exercise their right to complain? = 28
7. How can law enforcement personnel best ensure that detainees and others have effective access to complaints procedures? = 29
8. What practical measures can law enforcement personnel take to ensure that torture victims can better exercise their right to complain? = 30
9. What happens if the international standards relating to the right to complain are violated? = 32
G. THE INVESTIGATION OF TORTURE = 32
1. What are the international standards on the obligation to investigate torture? = 32
2. What is meant by the requirement of prompt investigations into torture complaints? = 34
3. What is meant by the requirement of impartial investigations into torture complaints? = 35
4. What is meant by the requirement of effective investigations into torture complaints? = 37
5. How can law enforcement personnel ensure that investigations are effective and in line with international standards? = 40
6. How can law enforcement personnel best protect torture victims and ensure their right to participate in investigations? = 40
7. What practical measures can law enforcement personnel take to ensure that detainees and others can better exercise their right to have their torture complaint investigated? = 43
8. What policy measures can commanding officers and managers in law enforcement agencies take to ensure that torture victims can better exercise their right to complain? = 44
H. REMEDIES AND REPARATIONS: THE RIGHTS OF TORTURE VICTIMS = 46
1. What are the international standards relating to torture victims? = 46
2. What is the significance of reparation for victims of torture, and for society in general? = 48
3. How are these international standards enforced? = 48
4. What is the connection between the rights of torture victims and the responsibilities of law enforcement personnel? = 49
5. What happens if law enforcement personnel violate international standards on the rights of torture victims? = 50
6. What difference does it make to torture victims when there are effective accountability mechanisms for law enforcement personnel? = 51
B. GENERAL = 2
1. What is torture? = 2
2. Who are the perpetrators of torture? = 4
3. Who are torture victims? = 5
4. What are the consequences of torture for victims/survivors? = 5
C. INTERNATIONAL LAW AND THE PROHIBITION OF TORTURE = 6
1. What is international human rights law? = 6
2. What are the basic international law rules dealing with the prohibition of torture? = 7
3. What are states’ basic obligations arising from the absolute prohibition against torture? = 9
4. How are these international standards enforced? = 10
5. What international mechanisms deal with the prohibition of torture, state responsibility and/or individual perpetrators? = 12
D. INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS, TORTURE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL = 14
1. What are the basic obligations of law enforcement personnel in the prevention and prohibition of torture? = 14
2. Are international standards on the prohibition of torture more relevant at some times and/or to some law enforcement activities than others? = 15
3. What are the other special international standards relating to law enforcement officials? = 15
E. INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS ON THE PREVENTION OF TORTURE = 17
1. What are the basic international standards relating to the prevention of torture? = 17
2. What is meant by the right of access to a lawyer of one’s choice, and how can law enforcement personnel comply with the international standards involved? = 18
3. What is meant by the right to contact a family member or friend, and how can law enforcement personnel comply with the international standards involved? = 20
4. What is meant by the right to be seen by a doctor and to be medically examined, and how can law enforcement personnel comply with the international standards involved? = 20
5. What else can law enforcement personnel do to prevent torture? = 23
F. THE RIGHT TO COMPLAIN ABOUT TORTURE = 23
1. What are the international standards on the right to complain? = 23
2. What is the significance of the right to complain about torture? = 24
3. Who can exercise this right to complain about torture, and when? = 25
4. To whom can detainees and others who have allegedly been tortured exercise their right to complain? = 26
5. How can detainees and others exercise their right to complain? = 27
6. What can and should law enforcement personnel do to comply with these international standards and so to ensure that detainees and others can exercise their right to complain? = 28
7. How can law enforcement personnel best ensure that detainees and others have effective access to complaints procedures? = 29
8. What practical measures can law enforcement personnel take to ensure that torture victims can better exercise their right to complain? = 30
9. What happens if the international standards relating to the right to complain are violated? = 32
G. THE INVESTIGATION OF TORTURE = 32
1. What are the international standards on the obligation to investigate torture? = 32
2. What is meant by the requirement of prompt investigations into torture complaints? = 34
3. What is meant by the requirement of impartial investigations into torture complaints? = 35
4. What is meant by the requirement of effective investigations into torture complaints? = 37
5. How can law enforcement personnel ensure that investigations are effective and in line with international standards? = 40
6. How can law enforcement personnel best protect torture victims and ensure their right to participate in investigations? = 40
7. What practical measures can law enforcement personnel take to ensure that detainees and others can better exercise their right to have their torture complaint investigated? = 43
8. What policy measures can commanding officers and managers in law enforcement agencies take to ensure that torture victims can better exercise their right to complain? = 44
H. REMEDIES AND REPARATIONS: THE RIGHTS OF TORTURE VICTIMS = 46
1. What are the international standards relating to torture victims? = 46
2. What is the significance of reparation for victims of torture, and for society in general? = 48
3. How are these international standards enforced? = 48
4. What is the connection between the rights of torture victims and the responsibilities of law enforcement personnel? = 49
5. What happens if law enforcement personnel violate international standards on the rights of torture victims? = 50
6. What difference does it make to torture victims when there are effective accountability mechanisms for law enforcement personnel? = 51