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IV. GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR INTERVIEWS ISTANBUL PROTOCOL

301. Transference reactions may alter the evaluation (f) Anger and rage towards torturers and persecutors.
by assigning distressing and unwanted memories, These reactions are expected, but may undermine
thoughts and feelings on the examiner. Furthermore, the ability to maintain objectivity when they are
even though an alleged torture victim may consent driven by unrecognized personal experiences and thus
to an evaluation with the hope of benefiting from become excessive or chronic. When expressed during
it, the resulting exposure may renew the trauma evaluations, they may be perceived by survivors as
experience itself or leave the survivor with disturbing disgust or anger directed at them;
memories of the examination and examiner.
This may include the following phenomena: (g) Anger or repugnance against the victim may arise
as a result of feeling exposed to unaccustomed levels
(a) The evaluators’ questions may be perceived as of anxiety.
forced exposure akin to an interrogation. This may
lead the subject to perceive the evaluator as being on
the side of the enemy. Simply taking time at the start to B. Conducting interviews
explain the purpose of the interview to the interviewee
will help alleviate this; 1. Clinical qualifications

(b) Torture survivors may perceive evaluators as 303. All clinicians who conduct clinical evaluations of
persons in positions of authority, which is often the alleged or suspected cases of torture or ill-treatment
case, and for that reason may not trust them with should do so in accordance with the Istanbul
certain aspects of the trauma history or may be too Protocol and its Principles. The clinical skills
trusting in situations in which the interviewers cannot necessary to document physical and psychological
guarantee safety. Every precaution should be taken evidence of torture and ill-treatment include basic
to ensure that detainees do not put themselves at risk clinical competencies. Conducting evaluations in
unnecessarily. accordance with the Istanbul Protocol does not require
certification as a forensic expert, even though this
302. Countertransference reactions are often unconscious may be the normative practice in some States and is
but may interfere with the evaluation process, sometimes used to intentionally exclude the testimony
especially when clinicians are unaware of them. of independent clinicians from court proceedings.
Having feelings when listening to individuals speak
of their torture is to be expected. When these feelings 304. Documentation of clinical evidence of torture
are not acknowledged they can interfere with the requires specific knowledge by qualified health
clinician’s effectiveness, but when these feelings are practitioners. Knowledge of torture and its
recognized and understood they can provide important physical and psychological consequences can be
information about the psychological state of a torture gained through publications, training courses,
victim. There is a consensus among professionals that professional conferences and experience. In
those who regularly conduct this kind of examination addition, knowledge about regional practices of
should obtain professional support from peers torture and ill-treatment is important because
or counsellors who are experienced in this field. such information may corroborate an individual’s
Common countertransference reactions include: accounts of these regional practices. Experience
interviewing and examining individuals for physical
(a) Avoidance, withdrawal and defensive indifference; and psychological evidence of torture or ill-treatment
and documenting findings under the supervision of
(b) Disillusionment, helplessness and overidentification experienced clinicians is highly recommended.
with the survivor;
305. Judges and legal experts should be familiar with
(c) Omnipotence and grandiosity; relevant criteria to qualify forensic and other
clinical expert witnesses in legal proceedings on the
(d) Feelings of insecurity about professional skills; basis of their expertise, knowledge, experience and
training, rather than on the basis of a particular
(e) Feelings of guilt about not sharing the torture professional licence or certificate. Qualification to
survivor’s experience and pain or frustration conduct evaluations in accordance with the Istanbul
about inaction; Protocol is not synonymous with certification as a

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