NATIONAL REPORT 2016 Implementation targets • Identification: Victims of torture and ill-treatment must be identified in asylum procedures. As long as there is no identification procedure, an adequate assessment of individual needs is not guaranteed. Therefore, the state must put in place a procedure for systematic and early identification of torture victims and staff who potentially encounter victims of torture in the asylum procedure and the social workers in the reception facilities need to be trained to identify signs of traumatization. • Rehabilitation: it is necessary to provide rehabilitation services funded by the state. Therefore, the state has to ensure that victims of torture are identified and referred to an adequate healthcare service which is not restricted to emergency treatment. bzfo will continue to advocate for providing asylum seekers with full coverage to health care, so that they do not lose out on vital services. As long as there is no nationally funded treatment programme, psychosocial and treatment centres, NGOs, who struggle with funding, have to continue to provide rehabilitation services. • Reception Conditions: the reception conditions must be adequate so that psychiatric and psychotherapeutic treatment can be more effective. Specialized reception centres for vulnerable persons, including traumatized persons should be in place. These specialized centres should have smaller rates of occupancy per room. Meaning that rooms are occupied by one or two persons, compared to the standard four to ten persons per room in the normal reception centres. Also the composition of staff members in these centres should match with the needs of vulnerable refugees especially victims of torture. The staff should be trained in how to interact with traumatized person. • Implementation of Relevant Laws: Germany has to ensure that the obligations of CAT, General Comment 3, Asylum Procedural Directive and the Reception Directive are being fulfilled and that victims of torture and ill-treatment receive the treatment that is needed. • The Dublin Regulation: bzfo will continue to advocate for the revision of the Dublin Regulation to better suit the needs of victims of torture. As long as the Asylum Procedure Directive and the Reception Directive are not properly implemented to ensure a common minimum standard of adequate treatment in all EU countries, torture victims should not be sent to other countries under the Dublin Regulation. Without appropriate standards, victims of torture and ill-treatment are at risk of aggravating their trauma and may suffer from chronic mental health issues. page 8