laws or other provisions relating to the inmates living conditions and their other rights are
being complied with.
The mandate and scope of functions of the NCHR has been broadened by the nascent
Torture and Custodial Death (Prevention and Punishment) Act, 2022, which
empowers the NCHR to supervise the investigations into allegations of torture being
conducted by the Federal Investigation Agency (“FIA”).
In order to perform this function of supervision in accordance with the objects and
purposes of the act and international best practices, the NCHR has adopted this manual
which aims to consolidate the Manual on the Effective Investigation and
Documentation of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or
Punishment (“The Istanbul Protocol”)1, an official UN document, along with
Preventing Torture: An Operational Guide for National Human Rights Institutions 2,
a joint publication of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human
Rights (OHCHR), the Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT) and the Asia Pacific
Forum of National Human Rights Institutions (APF). This document aims to lay the
groundwork for guidelines on interviewing victims of torture and guidelines for the
documentation of torture.
Key principles:
Protection:
When conducting interviews with victims or witnesses, it is important to consider their
need for protection, and to empower the victim;
The following measures can be taken to ensure victims�� protection:
interviewing a significant number of people to avoid focusing attention on the one
person
conducting the interview in a safe place where surveillance is minimal
asking what security precautions, the person believes should be taken at the start
and the end of the interview
inviting the person to keep in contact with you after the interview
in places of detention, conducting a follow-up visit shortly after the interview and
meeting with the same detainees
1
UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Manual on the Effective Investigation
and Documentation of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment ("Istanbul
Protocol"), 2004, HR/P/PT/8/Rev.1, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/4638aca62.html
2
2 UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Preventing Torture: An Operational
Guide for National Human Rights Institutions, May 2011, HR/PUB/10/1, available at:
https://www.refworld.org/docid/4e71ceff2.html
3