The purpose of this list is to classify the various methods of committing human rights violations. This list is not comprehensive, and HURIDOCS regards it as a starting point.

This list has been developed by HURIDOCS. It is based on "Supporting Document J: Type of Event" (1). The original codes from this Supporting Document are included in the column 1st ed. Code.

This list is a hierarchical list with three levels, as described in Rule No. 3 in theIntroduction.

This Micro-thesaurus is used for field 2114 Method of Violence in the Act format.

CODE TERM 1ST ED. CODE
01 Methods for killing  
01 01 Shooting as a method for killing 02.1
01 02 Beating as a method for killing 02.2
01 03 Attack with knife and/or other sharp instrument as a method for killing 02.23
01 04 Asphyxiation as a method for killing 02.6
01 05 Burning as a method for killing  
01 06 Bombing as a method for killing 02.7
01 07 Starvation as a method for killing  
01 08 Poisoning as a method for killing  
01 09 Medical experimentation as a method for killing  
01 90 Other methods for killing  
02
 Methods of imprisonment, restriction of movement
  
02 01 Held in a regular detention place  
02 02 Held in a regular prison  
02 03 Held in a military camp  
02 04 Held in a psychiatric institution 04.01
02 05 Held in a labour, concentration or extermination camp 04.02
02 06 Held in a government or military facility without any legal authorisation 04.06
02 07 Held in a private place, such as in the case of slavery, prostitution 04.04
02 08 Held in a prisoner of war camp 04.05
02 90 Other methods of imprisonment, restriction of movement  
03
 Methods of violence against a person (such as torture)
  
03 01 Beating 05.21
03 01 01 Slapping, kicking or punching 05.211
03 01 02 Blows with rifle butts, whips, straps or heavy sticks 05.212
03 01 03 "Telefono" - clapping on ears with the mouth shut 05.2191
03 01 04 "Falanga" - beating of soles of the feet 05.2192
03 02 Wounding  
03 03 Maiming or breaking bones 05.214
03 03 01 "Operating table" - the victim is forced to lie on a table with the upper half of the body unsupported and the abdomen is beaten 05.2193
03 03 02 Forced jumping or being thrown from heights 05.22
03 04 Burns 05.24
03 04 01 Burns through boiling water 05.241
03 04 02 Burns with cigarettes 05.232
03 04 03 Burns with chemicals 05.243
03 04 04 Burns with burning sticks or live fire 05.244
03 05 Rape  
03 05 01 Rape, with forced performance of particular sexual acts 05.252
03 05 02 Rape through introduction of inanimate objects into the genitalia 05.255
03 05 03 Rape through introduction of animate objects into the genitalia 05.256
03 06 Sexual harassment and molestation  
03 06 01 Sexual harassment and molestation, with forced performance of particular sexual acts 05.252
03 06 02 Sexual threats  
03 06 03 Sexual comments and other forms of sexual harassment  
03 06 04 Touching as a form of sexual harassment and molestation  
03 07 Exposure to extreme heat or cold 05.66
03 08 Application of electric shock 05.257
03 08 01 "Black slave" - an electric apparatus which inserts a heated metal skewer into the victim's anus 05.2571
03 08 02 "Picana" or "parrilla" - use of heavy metal bed frame 05.321
03 09 Asphyxiation 05.26
03 09 01 "Submarino" - includes the use of water  
03 09 02 "Submarino seco" - putting the head in a plastic bag 05.262
03 09 03 "Submarino mojado" - immersion in filthy fluid such as water with urine and excrements 05.2631
03 10 Strangulation 05.261
03 11 Forced postures 05.27
03 11 01 Suspension: hanging the victim by thumbs, arms or legs 05.271
03 11 02 "Pau de arara" (parrot's perch) - hanging the victim from a stick between knees and arms bound tightly together 05.2711
03 11 03 "Planton" (forced standing) - often under the elements, for many hours 05.272
03 11 04 "Potro" - stretching of limbs and trunk 02.273
03 11 05 Forced sitting or kneeling 05.274
03 11 06 "Saw horse" - victim is forced to sit straddling a metal or wooden bar 05.2741
03 12 Nail removal 05.28
03 13 Use of animals (rats, spiders, etc.) as a method of violence 05.31
03 14 Amputation 05.34
03 15 Deprivation 05.4
03 15 01 Deprived of food and/or water  
03 15 02 Deprived of sleep 05.43
03 15 03 Deprived of needed medical attention 05.44
03 15 04 Deprived of needed medication 05.45
03 16 Forced feeding 05.411
03 17 Immobilisation  
03 17 01 Being bound or tied up as a form of immobilisation 05.651
03 18 Isolation  
03 19 Stress to the senses 05.6
03 19 01 Stress through loud/disagreeable noises 05.61
03 19 02 Stress through screams and voices 05.62
03 19 03 Stress through powerful lights 05.63
03 19 04 Blindfolding 05.64
03 19 05 Overcrowding 05.48
03 20 Psychological torture and ill-treatment 05.7
03 21 Degradation 05.76
03 21 01 Verbal abuse 05.71
03 21 02 Nakedness as a form of degradation 05.762
03 21 03 Being forced to act in a degrading way 05.764
03 22 Threats (not including death threats) 05.72
03 22 01 Threats against the victim 05.721
03 22 02 Threats against the victim's family 05.722
03 22 03 Threats against the victim's friends and colleagues 05.723
03 23 Death threats 05.73
03 23 01 Threats against the victim 05.731
03 23 02 Threats against the victim's family 05.732
03 23 03 Threats against the victim's friends and colleagues 05.733
03 24 Torture as a witness 05.77
03 25 Pharmacological manipulation 05.8
03 90 Other methods of violence against a person  
04
 Methods of indiscriminate attacks
 12.9
 
04 01 Use of tear gas 12.91
04 02 Shooting as a method of indiscriminate attack 12.92
04 03 Bombing as a method of indiscriminate attack  
04 04 Arson as a method of indiscriminate attack  
04 90 Other methods of indiscriminate attack  
90
 Other
  
99
 Unknown
  

(1) Dueck, Judith, and Aída María Noval. "Supporting Document J: Type of Event."HURIDOCS Standard Formats: Supporting Documents. Oslo: HURIDOCS, 1993. 97-112.