Preventing Torture An Operational Guide for National Human Rights Institutions Contents Acknowledgements ii Foreword iii List of abbreviations iv Introduction for users v Introduction: The concept of torture prevention and its application 1 Part I Prohibition of torture: The legal background 11 Chapter 1: What is torture? 12 International and regional instruments on torture and other forms of ill-treatment 16 Chapter 2: Part II Preventing torture: NHRIs in action 25 Section I Promoting an effective legal framework 27 Chapter 3: Promoting legal and procedural reforms 28 Section II Contributing to the implementation of the legal framework 35 Chapter 4: Investigating allegations of torture 36 Chapter 5: Interviewing 43 Chapter 6: Training public officials 55 Section III Acting as a control mechanism 61 Chapter 7: Cooperating with international mechanisms 62 Chapter 8: Monitoring places of detention 82 Chapter 9: Promoting public awareness 93 Section IV Cross-cutting actions 97 Chapter 10: NHRIs and the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture 98 Chapter 11: Public inquiries Summary Readings available in the CD-Rom 106 111 114 i

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