Preventing Torture An Operational Guide for National Human Rights Institutions - Updated Edition Contents Foreword 3 Acknowledgements 4 List of abbreviations 5 Introduction for users 6 Introduction: The concept of torture prevention and its application Part I: Prohibition of torture: the legal background 20 Chapter 1: What is torture? 21 Chapter 2: International and regional instruments on torture and other forms of illtreatment 27 Part II: Preventing torture: NHRIs in action Introduction to Part II Section I: Promoting an effective legal framework Chapter 3: Promoting legal and procedural reforms Section II: Contributing to the implementation of the legal framework 40 41 42 43 54 Chapte 4: Investigating allegations of torture 55 Chapter 5: Interviewing 64 Chapter 6: Training public officials 78 Section III: Acting as an oversight mechanism Chapter 7: Cooperating with international mechanisms 86 87 Chapter 8: Monitoring places of deprivation of liberty 108 Chapter 9: Promoting public awareness 122 Section IV: Cross-cutting actions 2 9 130 Chapter 10: NHRIs and the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture 131 Chapter 11: Public Inquiries 143 Summary 150 Further Readings 155