Istanbul Protocol

The Manual on Effective Investigation and Documentation of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (known as the "Istanbul Protocol") is the first set of international guidelines for documentation of torture and its consequences. It became a United Nations official document in 1999 and is available in a number of languages on the United Nations web site. The Istanbul 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.

A subsequent volume, Examining Asylum Seekers: A Health Professional's Guide to Medical and Psychological Evaluations of Torture, is also available from Physicians for Human Rights. The latter document includes detailed US immigration policy information and sample affidavits, as well as specific guidelines for evaluating torture survivors.

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