On 8-10 September, project organized training of trainers (ToT) on investigation, documentation and processing cases of torture and ill-treatment, in partnership with Justice Academy. The activity was organized following development of the relevant training module for judiciary based on adjustment of the UN Manual on Effective Investigation and Documentation of Torture and Ill-treatment, to the local context.

Eighteen trainers of the academy including judges, prosecutors and police officers accompanied with members of the national preventive mechanism against torture (NPM) benefited from three-day workshop facilitated by experts of the International Committee for Rehabilitation of Victims of Torture (ICRT). Participants were trained on standards, principles, and methodological aspects of “medico-legal” documentation and reporting of torture and ill-treatment, by applying techniques and tools developed in the Istanbul Protocol. The manual is based on effective cooperation and coordination among multidisciplinary professionals in the referral system for investigating torture including police and prison inspectorates, prosecutors, prison health service, forensics, psychiatrists, psychologists, and others.

The ToT module is part of the comprehensive training package prepared by the project for capacity building of relevant professionals in judiciary with reference to Article 3 of the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR), Prohibition of Torture, through partnership with Justice Academy. The next steps will include cascade training activities foreseen for the pre-service and in-service training of relevant professionals in judiciary.

The project "Strengthening the Institutions in Fight against Torture, Ill-treatment and Other Degrading Treatment" is funded by Norway and implemented by the Council of Europe, through cooperation with local counterparts.