ActionAction against Torture A Practical Guide to the Istanbul Protocol forfor Lawyers in the Philippines NovemberNovember 20072007 This Manual was written by the REDRESS TRUST as Part of the Prevention through Documentation Project, an initiative of the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT), the World Medical Association (WMA), the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (HRFT), and Physicians for Human Rights USA (PHR USA) For further information on this manual, please contact REDRESS at: 87 Vauxhall Walk, London SE11 5HJ Tel: +44 (0)20 7793 1777 Fax: +44 (0)20 7793 1719
[email protected] (general correspondence) ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This manual is the outcome of a collaborative effort spanning several years of cooperation and involving lawyers, human rights defenders, doctors and others in the Philippines and elsewhere. REDRESS is especially grateful to all those who have contributed to the drafting of the manual by providing information, comments and/or suggestions, in particular Ellecer E. Carlos, Balay Rehabilitation Center, Inc.; Neri Colmenares, Associate (Asian Law Centre), Faculty of Law, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Maria Socorro I. Diokno, Secretary General, FLAG (Free Legal Assistance Group); Rogel ‘Gil’ Navarro, Chairman, Peace Advocates for Truth, Healing and Justice (PATH); Atty. Soliman Santos; Antonio Villasor, Peace & Human Rights Coordinator, Asian Cultural Forum for Development (ACFOD), as well as David Gates and Varsha Goyal for their research assistance. The manual was written by Lutz Oette, and edited by Carla Ferstman. IINNDDEEXX PART 1: OVERVIEW OF THE ISTANBUL PROTOCOL .......................................... 6 A. INTRODUCTION..............................................................................................................................6 B. THE IMPORTANCE OF LEGAL PROFESSIONALS IN THE DOCUMENTATION AND INVESTIGATION OF TORTURE...............................................................................................8 C.