In connection with the celebration of the International Human Rights Day, within the framework of Human Rights Month announced by the National Centre of Uzbekistan for Human Rights, as well as the joint project of the National Centre of Uzbekistan for Human Rights and the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan - “Promoting sustainable development of the national system for the protection of human rights in Uzbekistan” - began its three-day online training from 14 to 16 December on the topic: “Effective investigation and documentation of torture and other cruel acts in accordance with the Istanbul Protocol” for medical workers of penitentiary institutions of Uzbekistan..  

Training was organized by the National Centre of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights, the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, the Regional Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights for Central Asia.

The Manual on Effective Investigation and Documentation of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (Istanbul Protocol) are intended to serve as international guidelines for investigating cases of alleged torture and presenting the results of such assessment and investigation to a judicial or other the investigating authority.

The guidelines include principles for the effective investigation and documentation of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. These principles summarize the minimum standards that states must follow to ensure effective documentation of torture.

The guidelines are not given as prescriptions. They represent minimum standards based on the above principles and should be applied to the extent available.

The purpose of the training is to familiarize the medical personnel of penitentiary institutions of the system of the Main Directorate of Execution of Punishments of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan with the main provisions of the Istanbul Protocol.

During the training, the participants discussed the following issues:

- obligations of states in the field of investigation, documentation and prosecution of torture;

- the main provisions and principles of the Istanbul Protocol;

- obligations of the principle “Do no harm”;

- the main directions of interdisciplinary cooperation in documenting torture.

The training was attended by medical personnel of penitentiary institutions of the Main Directorate for the Execution of Punishments of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan, as well as representatives of the National Center of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights.

During the training, the participants studied the medical and legal documentation, got acquainted with the main provisions of the Istanbul Protocol, as well as the physical and psychological consequences of torture and the basic principles of rehabilitation of victims of torture.

Specially invited international experts shared their experience in the investigation and documentation of torture, international standards for the investigation of torture under the Istanbul Protocol, interaction of specialists in the investigation of torture, physical and psychological evidence of torture, etc.

Furthermore, during the training, “The manual on effective investigation and documentation of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment (Istanbul Protocol)” was presented in Uzbek.

At the end of the event, the participants of the seminar discussed the possibilities for further interaction and cooperation on the prevention of torture.

Department of International Cooperation
of the National Center of the
Republic of Uzbekistan
for human rights