future plans post-detention psychosocial history prescription medication, and; political activities, beliefs, and opinions insofar as they help explain why a person may have been detained or tortured. Questions regarding detention and abuse Before obtaining a detailed account of events, summary information should be elicited, including dates places duration of detention, and; frequency and duration of torture sessions In writing up the story it may often be useful to have “what happened where” documented as much as possible. Holding places are operated by different security, police, or armed forces, and what happened in different places may be useful for a full picture of the torture system. Questions regarding the circumstances of detention Consider the following questions: What time was it? Where were you? What were you doing? Who was there? Describe the appearance of those who detained you. Were they military or civilian, in uniform or in civilian clothes? What type of weapons were they carrying? What was said? Were there any witnesses? Was this a formal arrest, administrative detention, or disappearance? Was violence used, threats spoken? Was there any interaction with family members? Note the use of restraints or blindfold, means of transportation, destination, and names of officials, if known. 12