Torture : quarterly journal on rehabilitation of torture victims and prevention of torture最新文献

Background: Torture can result in impaired functional mobility, reduced quality of life, and persistent pain. Physical therapy (PT) is recommended for holistic care of survivors of torture (SOT), however there are limited evidenced-based guidelines. We conducted a scoping review to identify and describe the approach and gaps in knowledge around the PT treatment of SOT.

Methods: We adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Re-views. Nine databases were searched. Eligible sources involved PT treatment for SOT. Interventions were categorized into themes based on recommendations from the Physiotherapy and Refugees Edu-cation Project: 1) trauma-informed care, 2) body-awareness and empowerment, 3) pain management.

Results: The final analysis included 15 sources. Eight sources included all three themes; three of these eight sources were research studies examining outcomes following the PT intervention. While out-comes of these studies were significant for improvement among the PT groups, results must be taken cautiously due to methodological limitations of the trials. Studies assessing treatment that included only one theme resulted in no differences between the control and intervention groups.

Conclusions: We describe the scope of the literature regarding PT for SOT. A trauma-informed PT approach, co-ordinated with pain management, and body-awareness and empowerment interventions may address the complex needs of survivors. However, rigorous studies of this three-themed approach are lacking. As SOT seek medical services, healthcare providers must be prepared to care for these vulnerable people. Physical therapists are encouraged to utilize a holistic approach, and to examine outcomes of this approach for SOT.

Introduction: Prisons in Latin America are often described as violent and lawless places. This article analyses the Chilean case. We want to find out how complaints of ill-treatment are investigated if the victim is in prison. Our hypothesis is that the response to the phenomenon, both in the prose-cution of the perpetrators and in the protection of its victims, does not take into consideration the guidelines established in international standards, especially those contained in the Istanbul Proto-col.

Methods: We analysed a total of 124 complaints of ill-treatment filed by the Chilean National Human Rights Institute (INDH).

Results: An excessive amount of time elapses between the alleged ill treatment, the filing of complaints, the use of protective measures, and the termination of the cases. There are serious deficiencies in the investigations carried out by the Public Prosecutor's Office, and therefore, most of the complaints are not clarified and end up being shelved. We conclude that, through both the actions of the judges and the prosecutors in the processing of the complaints, when it comes to investigating acts of ill-treatment inside Chilean prisons, the standards of the Istanbul Protocol are not met.

Solitary Confinement.

The latest report by Dr. Alice Jill Edwards, UN Special Rappoteur on Torture (SRT), published on the 18th July 2024.

The pictures of shaven men with naked upper bodies, sitting in rows back-to-back with fellow prisoners in close proximity, sur-rounded by heavily armed guards, encapsulates the essence of El Salvador's ongoing "war on gangs".

Half of all survivors of torture (SOT) worldwide live in poverty. When treating SOT, rehabilitation and mental health treatment cannot be expected to work independent from supplemental support (specifically livelihoods) ensuring that individuals' most basic needs are met (Mukwege and Berg, 2016; Patel, 2019). It is said that rehabilitating SOT without livelihoods support is comparable to "a car without wheels." For instance, a doctor may inform a patient that they must eat prior to taking their medications, unknowing of the patient's lack of reliable access to food. Or, a SOT may attend weekly sessions for counselling to no avail as they return to a home without sufficient food for the family- another stressor deterring focus from rehabilitation.

The understanding of torture has evolved to encompass a complex interplay of factors including poverty, politics, health and psychosocial factors which increase vulnerability to torture. In response to this evolving understanding, rehabilitation efforts for torture survivors have expanded beyond medical and psychological care to encompass broader socio-economic dimensions, including live-lihoods support. Livelihoods are not only a means of making a living, but also a source of purpose and identity. This article explores the intersect between livelihoods loss and torture, exploring where livelihoods loss co-occurs with torture, is a consequence of torture, or may be an act of torture in itself. The importance of documenting livelihoods losses in torture assessment and the integration of livelihoods into rehabilitation programs is considered. Although research in this area is sparse, existing evidence suggests that combining livelihoods rehabilitation with psychological and physical interventions, alongside long-term support are important components. For livelihood restoration to be effectively integrated, it must be survivor-centred, holistic, evidence-based and focused on safety. While the field is to date underexplored, this article provides a foundational framework for torture treatment centres and stakeholders to consider the role of livelihoods in both conceptualising and treating survivors of torture.

Introduction: In recent years mass protest movements have taken to the streets in many countries across the world. Despite strong international and domestic legal protections for the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and other fundamental human rights, entire assemblies are frequently labelled violent and less lethal weapons are used to disperse them.

Methods: This article examines the weapons often used by police against public assemblies. Focusing on striking weapons (batons), chemical irri-tants, kinetic impact projectiles and stun grenades, the article uses examples from various countries to illustrate how these weapons are being used and the associated human rights and health impacts. Re-sults: Worrying trends identified include the use of dangerous or untested equipment, such as thermal foggers to deploy chemical irritants; the use of inherently abusive weapons, such as whips or sjam-boks; and the increasing use of certain types of munitions, specifically indiscriminate kinetic impact projectiles.

Discussion: The article seeks to support medical and legal professionals becoming more familiar with the weapons being used in the countries they practice in, the effects of those weapons, and clinical aspects in the presentation and care of those exposed.

With social upheaval, economic strain, and political unrest growing, peaceful demonstrations worldwide are increasingly met with brutal tactics by law enforcement and security forces. The UN Special Rapporteur on Torture outlines her call for States to negotiate a new international treaty to ban the manufacture, use and trade in "torture tools" and regulate the trade in law enforcement equipment. Her proposal outlines two critical components: a prohibited list of items that she has deemed to be inherently cruel, inhuman or degrading, and a second controlled list of ordinary law enforcement equipment that has a high risk of misuse. Effective international regulation is imper-ative to curb the indiscriminate use of force by law enforcement and to uphold human dignity. Improved national regulation is also required. Research has revealed a pervasive market for these items, with more than 335 companies in 54 countries manufacturing or promoting the most egre-gious torture instruments. Major producers include China, the EU, and the USA, with emerging economies also contributing significantly. The outsourcing of public functions to private security companies further exacerbates the issue, underscoring the pressing need for robust national and international regulations.