Although international human rights and humanitarian law consistently prohibits torture under any circumstances, torture and ill-treatment – as supported by scientific data - are practiced in more than half of the world’s countries. One of the most fundamental steps in protecting individuals from torture is effective and efficient documentation. Such documentation brings evidence of torture and ill-treatment to light so that perpetrators may be held accountable for their actions and the interest of justice may be served. Istanbul Protocol summarizes the internationally approved principles for the effective investigation and documentation of torture, and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. It is intended to serve as guidelines for the assessment of persons who allege torture or ill-treatment, for investigating cases of alleged torture and for reporting findings to the judiciary or any other investigative body. This manual includes principles for effective investigation and documentation of torture that outline minimum standards for States accepting it in order to ensure the proper documentation. The guidelines contained in this manual are not presented as fixed protocol, rather they represent minimum standards based on the principles and should be used taking into account available resources. The manual and principles are the result of three years of analysis, research and drafting, undertaken by more than 75 experts in law, health and human rights representing 40 organizations or institutions from 15 countries.

A fundamental part of our work consists of writing medical reports needed to the asylum application. Psychiatrists and psychologists of the Foundation thoroughly investigate and explore the cases of alleged torture revealing its somatic and psychiatric consequences. Istanbul Protocol approved by The United Nations serves as standard guidelines for the effective documentation of the assessment of alleged torture and for efficiently reported findings.

Istanbul Protocoll (English, Pdf)

Isztambul Protokoll (Hungarian, Pdf)