The General Inspection staff of the Ministry of Justice of Georgia successfully completed a two-day training session on effective investigation of torture held on 14-15 October in Kakheti region, Georgia. The primary objective of the training was to increase the participants’ capability to effectively document and investigate alleged cases of torture and ill-treatment in compliance with the Manual on Effective Investigation and Documentation of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (commonly known as the Istanbul Protocol).

The intense training programme covered various essential topics, encompassing the analysis of torture documentation practices, interviewing principles, patient consent, ethical considerations, and confidentiality safeguards. Participants also discussed the notion of vicarious trauma, recognising its symptoms, and implementing preventive measures.

The first day of the training featured in-depth discussions on various aspects of torture, including methods, impact on physical and mental health, the significance of medical evidence, and the interpretation of medical examination data. The second day focused on the principles of documentation as outlined in the Istanbul Protocol, exploring different forms, and engaging in interactive sessions. The training session concluded with informative discussions on the effectiveness of documenting and investigating alleged cases of torture and ill-treatment.

This activity was conducted under the auspices of the Council of Europe project “Enhancing Healthcare Provision in Georgia’s Penitentiary System”, which is a part of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Georgia 2020-2023.