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