The Istanbul Protocol is the first set of international guidelines for the investigation and documentation of torture. The Protocol provides comprehensive, practical guidelines for the assessment of persons who allege torture and ill-treatment, for investigating cases of alleged torture, and for reporting the findings to the relevant authorities. The resource materials presented here were developed as a source of practical reference for health professionals. This training manual suggests complementary considerations and recent literature on the various issues treated in the psychological section of the Istanbul Protocol. One of its aims is to discuss, in the light of the Istanbul Protocol, significant points and frequently addressed questions, but also to point out critical situations, that the clinician might face when conducting the psychological evaluation of torture allegations. Through specific questions related to the psychological effects of torture, it is shown how the Istanbul Protocol becomes a practical tool when being involved in the documentation process of the alleged torture experience and its possible consequences for the psyche.
