AKIPRESS.COM - An OSCE-supported four-day training seminar titled “Effective Investigation and Documentation of Torture and Other Inhuman Treatment in Accordance with the Istanbul Protocol” started on 24 July 2017 in Astana, OSCE said.

During the seminar, some 25 prosecutors, defence lawyers and forensic experts will learn about the interpretation and application of the Istanbul Protocol, which serves as an international standard in the medical and psychological examination of the alleged victims of torture. As such, the Istanbul Protocol provides useful guidance for doctors and lawyers who want to investigate whether or not a person has been tortured and report the findings to respective bodies.

International and national experts will brief participants on the criteria for investigating, collecting evidence and documenting findings in relation to torture cases. During the four-day event, participants will be engaged in the examination of concrete scenarios, role-playing and mock exercises.

Last year, the Office supported a similar seminar organized in co-operation with the Law Enforcement Academy under the Prosecutor General’s Office (LEA). The last year’s event demonstrated the country’s readiness to implement technical standards for the investigation of torture and protection of victims. This year’s seminar is organized by the LEA with support from the UNDP Kazakhstan and the OSCE Programme Office in Astana, as part of the Office’s continuous efforts to combat torture in the host country.