Part II: Preventing torture: NHRIs in action There are psychological signs of torture All torture will have psychological effects on a person. Indeed, a primary purpose of torture is to exercise power over a helpless victim with the aim of degrading, dehumanizing and disintegrating his or her personality. The impact of this experience can continue long after the physical scars of torture have healed. There are two distinct, although closely linked, aspects to consider when it comes to gathering evidence of psychological signs of torture. It is important to be clear if you are collecting evidence of psychological torture or whether you are collecting psychological evidence of torture. The term “psychological torture” refers to methods of torture that do not involve direct physical pain. These methods can include threats of death, mock execution or sensory deprivation. In these cases, there will be no physical evidence of torture and the psychological signs may be the only evidence available to you. On the other hand, the psychological evidence of torture refers to the mental health consequences of torture, regardless of whether the torture was physical, mental or a combination of both. The psychological effect of torture is sometimes described as post-traumatic stress disorder. However, some psychologists dispute this description, believing that it is too culturally rooted in Western society. Victims of torture from other cultures may not suffer exactly the same combination of symptoms and they believe it may be not helpful to use labels in this way. However, people who have been tortured may: • have constant distressing recollections of the event • experience recurrent nightmares of the event • feel distress at things that remind them of their torture • try to avoid situations that will remind them of their torture • be unable to remember aspects of what happened • feel detached from the world around them. These responses can manifest in a number of physical symptoms, such as: • difficulty sleeping • irritability or anger • difficulty concentrating • hyper-vigilance • exaggerated startled response. It is important to determine whether a person shows symptoms of psychological trauma and whether this correlates with their allegations of torture. Following a victim-oriented approach, the role of NHRIs should not be limited to taking information but should include ensuring adequate support and rehabilitation for torture survivors they engage with, including by referral. 59