Medical education for the prevention of torture

Abstract

The United Nations Convention against Torture came into force on June 1987 and the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture on 1 February 1989. The two Conventions are complementary and do not overlap in any respect, including their relevance to training of health personnel. The United Nations Convention calls for education of all doctors and other health personnel. Education should therefore be at the undergraduate level and should provide an insight into torture methods, the goal and objectives of torture and the sequelae of torture so that doctors can identify victims of torture. Refugee victims of torture should not be sent back to countries where they are at risk of torture. The main principles of treatment must also be taught. The European Convention makes no demands for education of doctors in general and thereby no demands for undergraduate training. However, the activities of the Committee necessitate special postgraduate training of a limited number of persons: members of the committee, experts and interpreters.