Further promotion of the Istanbul Protocol and the documentation of torture ments in this regard include independence of the judiciary; improved access to and quality of legal process and the protection of witnesses. • Close collaboration between the medical and legal professions. Effective investigation and documentation of torture requires collaboration, team work and frank dialogue between the involved groups. However, the medical and legal professions most often have limited knowledge and understanding of and insight into each other’s work and may even view each other with scepticism. The Istanbul Protocol provides a useful framework for the relevant professions to collaborate on the application of international standards. • Continuous and long-term training programmes. A crucial element in preventing torture is to provide training. Teaching doctors and lawyers to investigate and document torture is key to ensuring proper application of international standards. Sustainability is significantly enhanced when trainings include opinion leaders in the state bodies and when trainings are conducted continuously and in the long term. • Collaboration between all relevant stakeholders. There must be co-ordination and joint efforts between initiatives and actors at the national level and the international community to achieve synergy and effective results. Donor agencies can play a crucial role by using human rights as a premise on which to engage in dialogue with recipient governments. National human rights commissions may be the vital bridge between governmental institutions and civil society, and professional legal and medical associations are essential actors for a broad outreach and the provision of training and awareness-raising among their members. 73