This manual outlines the duties and responsibilities of judges and prosecutors to prevent and investigate acts of torture, and other forms of ill-treatment, to ensure that those who perpetrate such acts are brought to justice and to provide redress for their victims. It also provides practical advice, drawn from best practice, about how torture can be combated at a procedural level. Although primarily aimed at judges and prosecutors, it can be used as a resource by defence lawyers and others concerned with the prevention and investigation of acts of torture. A well-informed and sensitised legal profession has a vital role to play in eradicating torture and this manual is also aimed at helping its members to fulfil that professional function.
It contains an introduction and five chapters, dealing with:
- The prohibition of torture in international law
- Safeguards against torture for those deprived of their liberty
- The role of judges and prosecutors in protecting detainees and criminal suspects from torture
- Conducting investigations and inquiries into acts of torture
- Prosecuting suspected torturers and providing redress to the victims of torture
