Istanbul Protocol Research Articles

Analysis of the health conditions of migrants and asylum seekers in reception centers: From scene investigation to the evaluation of signs of torture

The phenomenon of migration is an international issue that mainly concerns Europe. In Italy, because of its close proximity to Africa, there are many migrant landings, especially on the islands of Lampedusa and Sicily. Migrants and asylum seekers suffer torture on their journey to their destination country, however, most of the time the signs are not always recognizable. In the present study, a scene investigation was carried out in a reception center for level II immigrants in Sicily, in order to evaluate the hygiene conditions of the migrants and asylum seekers inside this center. Subsequently 26 migrants and asylum seekers, all minors and males, were examined in a clinic of the Department of Forensic Medicine of the University of Catania, with the help of a native speaker interpreter and applying the Istanbul Protocol. The scene investigation demonstrated the poor clinical conditions of the reception center and the failure to comply with emergency regulations. The physical examination of the migrants and asylum seekers demonstrated that all the torture reported had taken place in Libya. However, only 4 migrants and asylum seekers showed signs of violence consistent with torture, compatible with the Istanbul Protocol. Nine migrants and asylum seekers (34.6 %) reported having pathologies and asked to undergo a medical examination in a hospital but were not listened to by the reception center staff. Two migrants and asylum seekers reported having worn the same clothes for several weeks to the reception center staff. In particular, all the migrants and asylum seekers reported having suffered torture using blunt instruments, especially beatings with truncheons. One migrant and asylum seeker reported being detained for days without food, instead 1 migrants and asylum seekers reported being kidnapped-blindfolded-stripped naked for days, and 1 migrants and asylum seekers reported having contracted infections, including scabies, with electrical and thermal trauma. Despite the international commitment to the phenomenon of migration, migrants and asylum seekers continue to receive abuse and torture. Furthermore, most migrants and asylum seekers studies primarily involve surveys, and few have applied the Istanbul Protocol to a sizable sample. An original aim of the study is the use of forensic tools to assess the sanitary and hygienic conditions of a migrant reception center, with the secondary aim of assessing alleged cases of torture.

The Necessity of Istanbul Protocol Training: A Survey Study for the Students of Criminal Execution and Security Services Program

The Necessity of Istanbul Protocol Training: A Survey Study for the Students of Criminal Execution and Security Services Program

Ill-treatment in the Chilean prison system - an analysis of reports presented by the National Institute of Human Rights (INDH) and their handling by the legal actors.

Prisons in Latin America are often described as violent and lawless places. This article analyses the Chilean case. We want to find out how complaints of ill-treatment are investigated if the victim is in prison. Our hypothesis is that the response to the phenomenon, both in the prose-cution of the perpetrators and in the protection of its victims, does not take into consideration the guidelines established in international standards, especially those contained in the Istanbul Proto-col. We analysed a total of 124 complaints of ill-treatment filed by the Chilean National Human Rights Institute (INDH). An excessive amount of time elapses between the alleged ill treatment, the filing of complaints, the use of protective measures, and the termination of the cases. There are serious deficiencies in the investigations carried out by the Public Prosecutor's Office, and therefore, most of the complaints are not clarified and end up being shelved. We conclude that, through both the actions of the judges and the prosecutors in the processing of the complaints, when it comes to investigating acts of ill-treatment inside Chilean prisons, the standards of the Istanbul Protocol are not met.

FEATURES AND EMPHASIS OF TEACHING FORENSIC MEDICINE FOR STUDENTS OF THE PEP "PAEDIATRICS"

This article addresses current issues in teaching the academic discipline "Forensic Medicine and Medical Law" to students of the professional educational program (PEP) "Pediatrics." With a focus on violence against children, the authors emphasize the necessity of educating pediatric students on forensic principles and practical skills. The article highlights the harmonization with international standards, the importance of awareness among students, and the critical role forensic medicine plays in pediatric training. Forensic medicine, as a discipline encompassing diverse medical fields, plays a crucial role in pediatrics. This article explores the integration of forensic principles into the PEP "Pediatrics," emphasizing the increasing societal issue of violence against children. The importance of training pediatric students to recognize and respond to such incidents while maintaining a solid evidence base is paramount.
 The authors emphasize that teaching forensic medicine to pediatric students should prioritize the following directions:
 
 Expert Involvement in Forensic Medical Examinations: Focuses on the significance of forensic medical examinations related to medical errors and offenses. Article 69 of the Criminal Procedure Code allows pediatricians to act as experts, emphasizing equivalence in rights and responsibilities with forensic medical experts.
 Physician Participation in Urgent Investigative Actions: Emphasizes the importance of practical skills, such as examining a corpse at the scene. Article 238 of the Criminal Procedure Code permits pediatricians to participate in urgent investigative actions. This includes instructing students on organizational and legal aspects, as well as theoretical and practical principles of examining a corpse at the scene.
 Accurate Documentation of Physical Injuries: Stresses the essential skill of accurately describing physical injuries on a child's body. Acknowledges the role of pediatricians in initial injury documentation, considering the potential involvement in criminal investigations.
 Accuracy and Completeness of Medical Documentation: Underscores the critical nature of accurate and complete medical documentation, serving as evidence in criminal proceedings. The article discusses potential legal consequences for physicians due to improper maintenance.
 Recording Sexual Offenses Against Children: Introduces an elective course focusing on preventing sexual offenses against children and domestic violence. Aims to form theoretical and practical competencies in students, adhering to the "Istanbul Protocol" and emphasizing the role of pediatricians in recognizing and responding to sexual violence against children.
 
 Therefore, educating pediatric students on how to act in such cases, how to work with patients without compromising the evidence base, and simultaneously providing timely medical assistance becomes paramount. This ensures the preparation of a highly qualified specialist in pediatrics whose competencies align with their professional qualification characteristics.
 Conclusion.
 
 Harmonizing domestic legislation with EU norms and standards as part of Ukraine's integration into the EU creates priority directions in teaching the discipline "Forensic Medicine and Medical Law."
 Insufficient awareness among pediatric students and a casual attitude towards the consequences of unprofessional actions or inaction in future professional activities contribute to a lack of motivation for studying "Forensic Medicine and Medical Law."
 Teaching forensic medicine is a crucial part of pediatric training. By providing students with the knowledge and skills necessary to recognize and respond to cases of violence against children, we can help protect children and ensure they receive the necessary assistance.

CASES OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN THE TEMPORARILY OCCUPIED TERRITORIES OF THE KYIV REGION IN 2022 – CRIMINAL CONSEQUENCES OF RUSSIAN AGGRESSION

An analysis of cases of sexual violence in the temporarily occupied territories of the Kyiv region in 2022 is given, an assessment of the criminal consequences of russian aggression is made, and the role of forensic medical examination in the investigation of such cases is determined.
 Aim of the work. An analysis of cases of sexual violence, including rape, that took place in the temporarily occupied territory of the Kyiv region in 2022 and the determination of the role of forensic medical examination during the investigation of these crimes.
 Materials and methods. The material of the research was 6 archival "Conclusions of expert research" of the Kyiv Regional Bureau of Forensic Medical Examination), which related to cases of sexual violence in the temporarily occupied territories of the Kyiv Region in 2022. For statistical processing of quantitative data, standard methods of variational statistics were used.
 Results. In all cases of sexual violence in the temporarily occupied territories of the Kyiv region during February-March 2022, the victims were women, including minors. They were subjected to sexual torture, including rape, with the use of physical violence and threats by Russian servicemen who, according to the victims, were in an intoxicated state, threatened with firearms, fired shots into the ceiling and floor of the living space, and forced the victim to perform actions contrary to her will. The forms of sexual violence were – verbal violation of a person's dignity, sexual intercourse in a natural (vaginal) and unnatural way (oral, anal) without the use of contraceptives. The violent sexual acts lasted about one hour. Immediately or in the shortest possible time after the indicated violent acts, the victims did not go to medical institutions for medical help and examination. After the deoccupation in June 2022, the victims turned to law enforcement agencies for facts of sexual violence and were examined in medical and diagnostic institutions of the city of Kyiv and in the Kyiv Regional Bureau of Forensic Medical Examination. During their examination, no visible injuries were found on the skin in the areas of the genitals and anus or on the mucous membranes that could be examined. At the time of the inspection, the victims did not make any complaints. In connection with the considerable time that passed from the events in February-March 2022 to the performance of forensic medical examinations in June 2022, the selection of the contents of the vagina, oral cavity and rectum for forensic immunological examination for the presence of spermatozoa – was inappropriate.
 Conclusions. In all cases, the victims were women, including minors, who were subjected to sexual torture, including rape with the use of physical violence and threats. These criminal actions correspond to both the Criminal Code of Ukraine and the "Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment and Punishment", the "Istanbul Convention", the "Istanbul Protocol" and the "Rome Statute". Since the facts of sexual violence against women by Russian servicemen during the occupation took place in March-April 2022, and the forensic medical examination of the victims - in June 2022, due to the large time gap between these events and the absence of physical manifestations of sexual torture, including rape, it was possible to establish only the fact of past sexual acts and the circumstances of their commission. Therefore, establishing the fact of rape belongs to law enforcement agencies. An important condition for the performance of a forensic medical examination in cases of rape as the basis of the evidence base in criminal proceedings is its timeliness, taking into account physical evidence and materials documenting bodily injuries.

Manifestations of cruel, inhuman types of behavior and torture of Ukrainian military who died in captivity

The given information and forensic medical characteristics of injuries found on the bodies of Ukrainian soldiers who were in Russian captivity and died as a result of cruel, inhuman treatment and torture in 2022–2023. According to their nature and morphological features, the damage could be the result of high temperature action using hot metal objects, but more likely, the result of the use of electric current conductors (bare end of the wire). In other cases, after the exhumation of the occupied territory of the Kharkiv region, the manifestations of torture were brain injuries and fractures of the bones of the body caused by blunt hard objects with a limited surface. All the injuries described by us correspond both to the list of physical evidence of torture of the “Istanbul Protocol” and to the list of war crimes of the “Rome Statute”.

The use of the Istanbul Protocol in Israel: Insights at the reception of the revised (2022) version.

Health professionals and lawyers in Israel have used the Istanbul Protocol (IP), the internationally accepted protocol for documenting torture and ill-treatment, for many years (Abu Akar et al., 2014; Weishut, 2022). A complete IP report requires substantial effort and investment of -mostly pro bono- experts, while the IP interview on which it is based is often an emotionally burdensome experience for clients. This paper presents insights about the use of the IP in Israel, as collected by a group of experts in the documentation of torture and ill-treatment, at the reception of the revised (2022) version.

Medico-legal evaluation of torture victims in the USA before the Istanbul Protocol.

Now that the updated version of the Istanbul Protocol has been published, there is an opportunity to reconstruct pieces of history on the long road to having forensic torture assessment tools. This article is an attempt to contribute to that journey through our firstperson personal memories of those experiences, especially in the early years, far before the drafting and approval of the Istanbul Protocol: Amnesty International (AI).

MANIFESTATIONS OF TORTURE OF UKRAINIAN CITIZENS BY THE RUSSIAN MILITARY IN SOME DEOCCUPIED TERRITORIES ACCORDING TO THE RESULTS OF FORENSIC AND MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS AND IDENTIFICATION OF VIOLENCE VICTIMS AND EXUMBED BODIES

The article highlights cases of brutal treatment by the Russian military in February-April 2022 against citizens of the de-occupied territories of Ukraine, which correspond to both the list of physical evidence of torture of the «Istanbul Protocol» and the list of war crimes of the «Rome Statute».
 Aim of the work. Forensic-medical characterization of bodily injuries as manifestations of torture of Ukrainian citizens by the Russian military in de-occupied territories based on the results of forensic investigations of victims of violent acts and examinations of exhumed and identification corpses conducted in 2022.
 Materials and methods. The research material was archival data of the Chernihiv, Kyiv, and Kharkiv regional bureaus of forensic medical examination (SME) related to cases of violent death. Well-known forensic and statistical research methods were used.
 Results. Damages in the form of numerous bruises were found on the corpses of persons from the Chernihiv region who were under the occupation of Russian troops in the period from 27.02.2022 to 01.04.2022, as well as on the bodies of exhumed corpses from the de-occupied territories of Kyiv and Kharkiv regions; stab, stab and gunshot wounds; fractures of the bones of the head and trunk, in particular, tying hands, gunshot wounds in the back of the head, burning bodies.
 Conclusions. Injuries in the form of numerous scars were found on the bodies of persons from the Chernihiv region who were under the occupation of Russian troops in the period from 27.02.2022 to 01.04.2022, as well as on the bodies of exhumed and identification corpses from the de-occupied territories of Kyiv and Kharkiv regions; stab, stab and gunshot wounds; fractures of the bones of the head and torso – are clear physical evidence of torture and mutilation and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment in accordance with the «Istanbul Protocol». The multiplicity of bodily injuries, the peculiarities of their localization and the long duration of their infliction, the similarity between the nature of the injury and the instrument of injury, the binding of the hands, the gunshot wounds in the occipital region of the head, which were found on the exhumed corpses of executed civilians and military personnel and their burning – are expressive manifestations of not only torture, but also evidence of war crimes committed by the Russian military, in accordance with the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.

Assessing diagnostic certainty for scurvy and rickets in human skeletal remains.

Identifying scurvy and rickets has important implications for understanding adaptations and variability among past communities, and bioarchaeologists now regularly evaluate these conditions. Due to the increased number of studies, cases with less clear-cut lesions and variable preservation are now frequently reported. Despite an improved understanding of the biological mechanisms for disease expression, there is a lack of consensus on the language used to express diagnostic certainty, limiting comparability. This article aims to address these issues and provide recommendations on more consistent diagnostic terminology using widely accepted diagnostic methodology based on biological mechanisms. We review diagnostic terms used in bioarchaeology by considering published cases of rickets, scurvy and co-occurrence alongside M.B.B.'s past project notes. We also consider differences in the diagnosis of rickets and scurvy in living and archeological individuals. We provide recommendations on a framework that can be used to show diagnostic certainty in cases of rickets, scurvy, and co-occurrence. Core lesions of rickets and scurvy are used alongside a limited lexicon of diagnostic terminology based on the Istanbul protocol. It is not the number of lesions that determines whether an individual is assigned to a particular diagnosis category, but rather the range and expression of lesions present. Avoiding a "tick-list" approach to core lesions of these diseases will be critical to ensure that identifying rickets and scurvy continues to contribute to understanding adaptations and variability among past communities. The framework allows more consistency in diagnostic certainty, facilitating greater comparability in research.

Protocolo de Estambul: Implicaciones forenses de la versión actualizada en la evaluación de la tortura

Forensic doctors and psychologists have a major role in the investigation of human rights violations. The Istanbul Protocol is the reference guide for the effective investigation and documentation of torture. An updated version (PE-2022) was published in June 2022. The objective of this article is to present the most relevant forensic aspects of the new version. Many of the principles contained are also of interest for forensic expert reports on other victims, such as those of intimate partner violence against women. As in these victims, an integral and multidisciplinary approach is contemplated. The updated version has 8 chapters and 4 annexes. The most interesting chapters for forensics are IV, V and VI. General considerations related to interviews, ethical obligations, the structure of the expert report, and physical and psychological evaluations are addressed. The physical assessment is part of the comprehensive evaluation. The evaluation should not be limited to the detection of external injuries. The psychological evaluation can be complex, and the collaboration of psychologists, psychiatrists or neurologists is useful. In the report, forensic physicians and psychologists must provide an assessment of the level of global consistency between the findings of the clinical evaluation (physical and psychological) and the torture report. The Institutes of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences must guarantee effective practices for the qualified investigation of torture, including proper training of forensic experts.among the differential diagnoses in cases of sudden death, especially in adolescents and young adults. Finally, a historical journey through the interesting life and work of Dr. Wilhelm Ebstein is carried out.

Adaptación del protocolo de Estambul a los procesos de evaluación de detenidos en los Institutos de Medicina Legal y Ciencias Forenses

In 2017, the Technical Scientific Committee of the Forensic Medical Council drafted the “Work guide for medical-forensic assistance to people in prison,” whose objective was to serve as the basis for the development of a new national Protocol of recognition of detainees, in order to update the existing one published in 1997. In 2022, the publication of the new Istanbul protocol for effective investigation and documentation of torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment and punishment made it advisable to review the protocols for forensic medical performance in Spain. The Technical Scientific Committee has developed a new protocol of action in the Institutes of legal medicine and forensic sciences of Spain with detainees in accordance with the most recent recommendations that will be published throughout the year 2023.

Physical assessment of tortures: Interobserver analysis of medico-legal degrees of consistency based on the Istanbul protocol

The Istanbul Protocol section on medicolegal evaluation delineates the guidelines for the correct management of the physical examination and the methods of assigning the degrees of consistency. Considering that most cases exhibit highly heterogeneous lesions, the examiner is forced to rely on his own experience, and their evaluation may be very subjective. The purpose of this work is to understand how subjective such an evaluation may be and whether the “experience” factor, interpreted as years dedicated to this profession and the number of cases evaluated, is statistically significant. To this end, a survey containing eleven cases of pre-evaluated asylum seekers was sent to thirty Italian clinical forensic practitioners. The participants were invited to assign a degree of consistency to each case according to the Istanbul Protocol guidelines, besides answering a few questions regarding their professional record. The doctors were divided into groups based on the number of cases evaluated and the experience collected expressed in years, and then interobserver analysis was performed. Results showed that the Fleiss’ Kappa coefficient acquired significant values when attention was turned to the sub-samples composed of more experienced participants. Therefore, the introduction of appropriately trained health professionals – “experts in migrations and torture” – could lower the risks of misinterpretation and make the assessment as reproducible as possible.

Exploratory study on the quality of forensic assessments using the Istanbul Protocol in a virtual versus face-to-face environment.

With the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic, most torture victim care centres had to adapt their forensic assessment methods and move to online methodologies. Therefore, it is essential to assess the advan-tages and disadvantages of this type of inter-vention, which seems to be here to stay. Structured administered surveys were conducted with professionals (n=21) and with torture survivors (SoT) (n=21) from a sample of 21 Istanbul Protocols (IP). Compar-ing face-to-face (n=10) and remote (n=11) in-terviews in relation to the evaluation process, satisfaction, difficulties encountered, and compliance with therapeutic aspects. All as-sessments were primarily psychological. Three remote and four face-to-face interviews in-cluded a medical assessment. No significant problems were found in relation to the ethical requirements of the IP. Satisfaction with the process was pos-itive in both modalities. Regarding the online method, there were frequent connection prob-lems and a lack of adequate material resources in the remote assessments, requiring a signifi-cantly higher number of interviews in most cases. Survivors were more satisfied than eval-uators. Overall, the forensic experts described problems in complex cases with an under-standing of the person's emotional response, they established a bond, and they undertook psychotherapeutic interventions in the event of an emotional crisis during the assessment. In the face-to-face protocols, logistical and travel problems were frequent, which meant that fo-rensic work times had to be adapted. The two methodologies are not directly comparable but have specific issues to be studied and addressed. More invest-ment and adaptation in remote methodology is needed, especially given the poor economic situation of many SoT. Remote assessment is a valid alternative to face-to-face interviews in specific cases. However, there are very relevant human and therapeutic aspects that indicate that, whenever possible, face-to-face assess-ment should be preferred.

Impact of (forensic) expert opinions according to the Istanbul Protocol in Germany—results and insights of the in:Fo-project

As part of a third-party funded project, expert opinions according to the Istanbul Protocol (IP) standards were compiled in Germany on a larger scale for the first time. The assessment process was initiated for 130 project participants. Statistical analysis on numerous variables was performed to test the impact of the expert opinions, foremost of the forensic medical expert opinions, on the individuals’ asylum proceedings. The variables were drawn from forensic medical expert opinions and reports of findings, questionnaires for the study participants’ counsellors in the project and a query on the asylum status of the study participants. Regression analysis and bivariate analysis on two dependent variables—subjective impact on the asylum procedure from the counsellors’ point of view and objective change in the asylum status—were performed to test for an influence on asylum procedures. No statistically significant results were obtained for the objective change of the study participants’ asylum status. For the subjective dependent variable, a positive prediction was possible when simultaneously controlling for the independent variables introduction of a forensic medical expert opinion and highest IP grade; a negative prediction was possible when simultaneously controlling for the independent variables introduction of a forensic medical expert opinion and use of IP grading. Apart from the statistical analysis, a positive effect of the assessment on the psychosocial well-being of the study participants could be demonstrated. The results differed from other European studies which demonstrated a correlation between the objective outcome of an asylum procedure (asylum status) and, for example, specific types of violence or the number of documented injuries. Differences also occurred in the use of the plausibility grades proposed by the IP, which questions their use in cases in which the reported torture happened a relevant time ago. Therefore, compiling individually worded evaluations instead of using the IP grading system—if possible, by an experienced forensic physician—is recommended in this scenario. Still, the assessment of alleged torture experiences should follow the IP guidelines, since psychological assessments are of especially high importance in cases with healed physical injuries and since the results also demonstrated a positive effect on the psychosocial well-being of the study participants.

O PAPEL DOS QUESITOS OFICIAIS DA PERÍCIA MÉDICO LEGAL NA PREVENÇÃO DA TORTURA

INTRODUCTION: Legal Medicine seeks to bring symbolic reparation to victims of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, in addition to contributing to society, ensuring justice and preventing further episodes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Literature review using scientific articles (2021-2022), Treaty of Forensic Anthropology, Istanbul Protocol, Guidelines of resolution nº 414 of the National Council of Justice and Notebook of Official Questions of the Civil Judicial Police of the State of Mato Grosso. RESULTS: Almada et al. (2022) carried out a study of death in custody during state terrorism in Uruguay (1973-1985), and it was possible to observe that the profile of the victims was predominantly male with a mean age of 37 years. Most victims died violent deaths, the predominant cause of which was torture. Petersen (2022) offers his 30 years of experience working with documentation and prevention of torture, bringing the main points related to his visits to detention centers in different countries. DISCUSSION: It is not an easy job to abolish torture and mistreatment after a dictatorial regime, after all a culture of repression was created. It is believed that the denial by the rulers in the first years of democracy is decisive for the perpetuation of the practice in the country. The investigation and documentation clarify the facts and facilitate the exercise of criminal action, in addition to bringing the need for reparation and reimbursement by the State to the victims. CONCLUSION: The official requirements must be reformulated in order to contemplate the investigation of events and enable the creation of public policies.

Launch of the revised version on the Istanbul Protocol.

On the 29th of June 2022, an updated version of the Istanbul Protocol was launched in Geneva, Switzerland; twenty three years after its first official endorsement by the OHCHR (Office of the Human Rights Commisioner, UN) in 1999. The Istanbul Protocol, or the Manual on the Effective Investigation and Documentation of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment; guides human rights activists, experts, and organizations around the world. The launch of this revised version was enabled by the contributions from more than 180 experts of the anti-torture field. It was hosted by the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and led by the Istanbul Protocol Editorial Committee. The Istanbul Protocol lays out the international legal norms and standards for dealing with torture and ill-treatment. It sets the relevant ethical codes, and provides guidelines for the legal investigation of torture. The Protocol also details general considerations for interviews and the guidelines for documenting physical and psychological evidence. The revision adds in two sections which respectively underlines the role of health professionals in documenting torture through various contexts and provides recommendations on the implementation of the Protocol. Informed by six years of preparation and consultation, this revised version was spearheaded by four civil society organizations (the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey, REDRESS Trust, Physicians for Human Rights, and the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims) and four UN bodies, (Committee against Torture, the Subcomittee on the Prevention of Torture, Special Rapperteur on Torture; as well as the UN Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture). This is the second update to the Protocol, the first being 18 years earlier in 2004. The revision of the Istanbul Protocol is not a replacement but rather an expansion. The document attempts to fill in the gaps created by almost two decades of global change. In the foreword of the updated document, Michelle Bachalet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, calls for states to make the Istanbul Protocol an 'essential part of training for all relevant public officials and medical professionals engaged in the custody, interrogation and treatment of persons subjected to any form of arrest, detention or imprisonment' (OHCHR, 2022).

Participation of psychologists in Istanbul Protocol based physical examinations:an applied perspective.

Objective When invited to evaluate a middle-aged male asylum seeker regarding alleged torture, the following question kept coming to my mind: Would it be appropriate, perhaps even vital, for mental health professionals to participate in Istanbul Protocol (IP) based physical examinations? The intent is not to do the physical examination but to be present, observe, ask relevant questions, and witness with the client's consent. The article elaborates on this question while sharing my perspective as a clinical psychologist and referring to relevant literature. Keywords: torture and ill-treatment, clinical evaluation, interdisciplinary collaboration, Istanbul Protocol, mental health professionals, Israel.

Cruelty and Corpo-reality: Connecting Technologies and Practices Integral to the Infliction and Investigation of Torture

Abstract Torture has a complex relationship with technology. Technology variably facilitates or hinders modes of inflicting and investigating torture. Torture itself remains a technology for producing proof, simultaneously primitive and sophisticated. Torture techniques and practices evolve and travel, are prevalent in both democratic and autocratic states, and are often accompanied by a pseudo-scientific rhetoric of ‘controlled’ pain. Conversely, juridical processes pursuing accountability for torture also focus their evaluative gaze on the tortured body and to scientific expertise. To this end, sustained transnational efforts have culminated in the crafting of evidentiary technologies to document torture as grounded in state-of-the-art medical and psychological knowledge. What is more, despite this demand and supply, the utility of this ‘technology of knowledge’ remains unfulfilled in practice for different reasons. I start with the dialectic interplay between infliction and investigation produced by these practices—with prevalent methods informing documentation practices, and with those responsible for infliction adjusting their practices accordingly to evade accountability. With the long-anticipated revised version of the UN Istanbul Protocol now at hand, I revisit the origins and promises undergirding these efforts and their implications for anti-torture practice. I conclude with a critical reflection on the contested dynamics of knowledge imbued in these practices—asking how we (and the law) can ever adequately know about the tortured body.

Osteological Analysis of Rediscovered Teaching Skeletons at Fairmont State University


 Human skeletal remains are important teaching tools in natural science courses. Many teaching
 skeletons at universities tend to be forgotten and stored away as they become damaged and are replaced with plastic models. Today, controversy over the ethical acquisition and treatment of skeletal material directly affects many museums and educational institutions. Skeletons tell us a substantial amount of information about each individual and how they lived, giving us an insight into different populations and lifestyles. An unknown number of teaching skeletons were discovered disarticulated, damaged, and stored in a backroom at Fairmont State University. As we do not know the exact means by which these teaching skeletons were acquired these individuals should be analyzed, repaired, and stored properly. For this project, we determined the minimum number of individuals (MNI) and completed standard osteological analyses for each individual. The MNI discovered was 44 while only 16 had enough bones to complete a standard osteological analysis. Standard osteometric and macroscopic analyses were performed on the individuals using Data Collection Procedures for Forensic Skeletal Material 2.0 and the Modified Istanbul Protocol. Age, sex, ancestry, height, metabolic bone disease, and potential cause of death were determined using standard paleopathological techniques. Preliminary results show that all individuals are over 20 years old, 3 individuals between 20-35 years, 3 between 35-50 years, 2 35+ years, and 6 20+ years old. Two individuals were of indeterminate sex, 3 probably male, and 5 probably female. Nine individuals were of Asian ancestry.