Preventing Torture An Operational Guide for National Human Rights Institutions - Updated Edition NHRIs can monitor how these obligations are implemented in practice. They can assess whether human rights training, in general, and the prevention of torture in particular, are properly integrated in the basic training curricula for police officers, prison officers, army personnel and others. In addition, the curricula and course materials for ongoing professional training for these groups should also be reviewed. In line with a human rights-based approach, training institutions and programmes should themselves embody and apply human rights principles, including non-discrimination, equality and accountability. Training content and processes should promote inclusion, participation and empowerment of all participants and educational personnel involved.100 Where human rights training programmes and materials are non-existent or insufficient, NHRIs can contribute to the development or revision of curricula, in cooperation with the relevant training authorities. It is important to underline the point that training in human rights and torture prevention should not only provide law enforcement agencies and other officials with valuable theoretical knowledge on standards and rules. It should also offer them practical information and skills that will be useful in their daily work. Human rights and torture prevention training should therefore be seen as an integral part of operational training. For example, torture prevention should form a core part of basic operational training with police officers in a number of key operational areas, such as: • arrest – on minimum use of force and implementation of legal and procedural safeguards from the first moment of deprivation of liberty • interrogation – on “effective interviewing” techniques • investigation – on effective investigations and how to collect other evidence to reduce reliance on confession • maintenance of public order and demonstrations – on use of force in extra-custodial settings and de-escalation techniques. Public officials should be trained on gender equality, women’s rights and LGBTI rights as part of comprehensive programmes to combat gender-based discrimination and violence. Specific training topics for public officials involved in deprivation of liberty and other torture prevention-related roles could include: • the gender-specific needs and rights of women in detention, including mental and physical healthcare and hygiene needs • recognising victims of sexual and other gender-based violence, responding appropriately and sensitively to prevent re-victimization and stigmatization • ensuring equal access of women and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people to all services in detention • combating and dismantling the harmful gender stereotypes resulting in torture and ill-treatment, for example in the provision of health-care services to women, girls, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons. In addition to developing and revising curricula, NHRIs can also contribute to the development and revision of other training materials, such as brochures on the prevention of torture or “train the trainer” manuals. 100 82 OSCE/ODIHR, Guidelines on Human Rights Education for Law Enforcement Officials (2012), pp. 19-21.