This publication aims to increase the professional understanding and knowledge of the principles and methodologies for prevention of torture through effective investigation and documentation as set out in the Istanbul Protocol.

The Istanbul Protocol, formerly known as The Manual on the Effective Investigation and Documentation of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, is the first set of international guidelines ever published for the documentation of torture and its consequences. The Istanbul Protocol provides internationally accredited procedures for the assessment of persons who allege to have been tortured or subjected to ill treatment, for investigating cases of alleged torture, and for reporting such findings to the judiciary or any other investigative body. The Istanbul Protocol forms the basis for Judicial Medical Officers in Sri Lanka to investigate an allegation of torture.

This publication will serve as a guideline for medical officers serving in provincial hospitals to document alleged torture in the absence of the consultant Judicial Medical Officers (specialists in forensic medicine). It will also be used as key source material in the training programmes to be conducted for legal and medical officers.

This publication is available in English, Sinhala and Tamil.

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