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ISTANBUL PROTOCOL IV. GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR INTERVIEWS

together the accounts of different people. This will alleged abuse take place, when and for how long? Were
often prove very useful for the overall investigation. you blindfolded? Before discussing forms of abuse,
note who was present (give names and positions).
(b) Circumstances of arrest and detention Describe the room or place. Which objects did you
observe? If possible, describe each instrument of
366. The circumstances of detention should be elicited. alleged torture or ill-treatment in detail; for electrical
Consider questions about perpetrators, their torture, the type of current, device, number and shape
appearance, witnesses, types of detention and of electrodes. Ask about clothing, disrobing and change
descriptions of events. Some focused or probing of clothing. Record quotations of what was said during
questions may include: What time was it? Where were the interrogation, insults used against the alleged
you? What were you doing? Who was there? How victim, etc. What was said among the perpetrators?
would you describe the appearance of those who
detained you? Who were they and what were they 369. In assessments of physical evidence of torture or
wearing? What type of weapons, if any, were they ill-treatment, for each form of alleged abuse, the
carrying? What was said? Were there any witnesses? clinician may note: body position, restraint, nature
Was this a formal arrest, administrative detention or of contact, including duration, frequency, anatomical
disappearance? Was violence used, threats spoken? Was location and the area of the body affected. Was there
there any interaction with family members? Note the any bleeding, head trauma or loss of consciousness?
use of restraints or blindfold, means of transportation, Was the loss of consciousness due to head trauma,
destination and names of officials, if known. asphyxiation or pain? The clinician should also ask
about the condition of the person, how the person was
(c) Place and conditions of detention at the end of the “session”, such as gait, any difficulty
walking, ability to function in the following days
367. The clinician should document any contact with and physical signs, such as swelling of the feet. These
family, lawyers or health professionals, conditions of details provide enhanced descriptions, compared with
overcrowding or solitary confinement, the dimensions a checklist. The history should include the date(s) of
of the place of detention and whether there are other alleged torture or ill-treatment, how many times and
people who can corroborate the detention. Consider for how many days the torture or ill-treatment lasted,
the following focused questions: What happened first? the period of each episode and the description and
Where were you taken? Was there an identification style of the suspension (reverse-linear, being covered by
process (personal information recorded, fingerprints a thick cloth blanket or being tied directly with a rope,
or photographs)? Were you asked to sign anything? weight applied to the legs or pulling down) or position.
Describe the conditions of the cell or room (note In cases of torture involving suspension, the clinician
size, others present, light, ventilation, temperature, should ask which sort of material was used as rope,
presence of insects, rodents, bedding and access to wire and cloth leave different marks, if any, on the skin
food, water and the toilet). What did you hear, see and after suspension. The clinician must remember that
smell? Did you have any contact with people outside statements about the length of the session involving
or access to medical care? What was the physical torture or ill-treatment by the alleged victim are
layout of the place in which you were detained? subjective and may not be precise, since disorientation
of time and place during torture and ill-treatment is a
(d) Narrative account of torture or ill-treatment commonly observed finding. The alleged victim should
be asked to describe any episodes of sexual harassment,
368. The clinician should elicit a detailed description of any threats or abuse and the clinician should elicit what
allegations of torture or ill-treatment, including both was said during the alleged torture or ill-treatment.
physical and psychological forms. To reduce the risk For example, during torture involving electric shocks
of potential embellishment, clinicians should exercise to the genitals, perpetrators may often tell their
caution in the use of direct questions suggesting specific victims that they will no longer be capable of normal
forms of abuse as described in paragraph 372 below. sexual relations or something similar. For a detailed
However, eliciting negative responses to questions discussion of assessments of allegations of sexual
about various forms of torture may also help establish torture, including rape, see paragraphs 455–479 below.
the credibility of the clinical findings. Questions should
be designed to elicit a coherent narrative account. 370. As stated in chapter I, torture and ill-treatment
Consider the following questions: Where did the include a wide range of acts wherein physical and/or

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