UNCAT Investigation Standards
This section identifies references for the independent psychological, medical and legal evaluation of torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
International Standards
General standard
Medical & Psychological Standards
Practical application of the Istanbul Protocol
IAJ Psychological investigation standard for torture, and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment in the United States of America
Physicians for Human Rights: Conducting Istanbul Protocol Clinical Evaluations of Alleged Torture and Ill-Treatment in Conflict Settings Physicians for Human Rights: Istanbul Protocl Model Medical Curriculum from the PHR Toolkits Istanbul Protocol chapters: II (Ethics), IV (Interviews), V (Physical Evidence), VI (Psychological Evidence), VII (Role of Health Professionals), VIII(D) (State forensic and health profession reform)
Legal Standards
Practical application of the Istanbul Protocol
IAJ Legal investigation standard for torture, and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment in the United States of America
IAJ "equivalence" investigation in the USA: domestic legal mechanisms versus self-execution of the Convention Against Torture
Tribunal Standards
This section presents Tribunal rulings and model accommodations to guide courts in ensuring access to justice, per the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and human rights treaties, with particular focus on the UNCAT and the CRPD.
Accommodation Request Investigation Process
- Submit Request: Litigants or courts may submit accommodation requests through the secure portal after creating an account.
- Documentation Review: The Tribunal reviews all medical documentation and case specifics.
- Assessment: Tribunal advisors assess the case against established standards and international human rights frameworks.
- Ruling: A formal model ruling is issued, specifying the required accommodations and their legal basis.
- Implementation: Courts that have agreed to cooperate with the Tribunal on conforming with the model standards receive specific instructions for implementing the accommodations.
Note: All accommodation decisions may be used as model decisions and shall be based on international human rights standards, particularly the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and the UN Convention Against Torture (UNCAT).
Need but did not receive Court Accommodations?
If you require accommodations for court proceedings based on disability, illness, or other qualifying conditions, and did not receive accommodations, our tribunal provides model rulings grounded in international human rights law and constitutional protections.