UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Wednesday released the revised version of the Istanbul Protocol at the Geneva Academy.

The revised version strengthens the effective investigation and documentation of torture and ill-treatment and seeks to fortify the implementation of international principles and preventive tools to assist torture survivors.

The revision also incorporated contemporary jurisprudence on torture prevention, accountability and effective remedies and lays down additional guidelines for judges, prosecutors and health professionals on legal investigations of torture and ill-treatment. Further, it stipulates effective guidelines for states on the effective implementation of their international obligations to prevent and fight torture and ill-treatment.

It took six years, 180 experts from 51 countries to revise the protocol. The main organizations involved in the revision process were Physicians for Human Rights, the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims, the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey and the Redress Trust.

Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights urged the states that have not yet ratified the protocol to ratify it soon and said:

I have no doubt that the improvements to the Protocol will strengthen the capacity of professionals to undertake meaningful investigations that can contribute to ultimately ensuring accountability. I salute the work of medical professionals and human rights defenders around the world who often risk their lives to undertake this invaluable work. I invite States to make the Istanbul Protocol an essential part of training for all relevant public officials and medical professionals.

The Istanbul Protocol was first published in 2001 and provides international guidelines and standards for documentation of torture crimes. The protocol has been ratified in 173 States.