Advocating for a better policy environment While at the forefront of expertise on the Istanbul Protocol and its use in the prevention of torture, another aspect of the IRCT’s work on this field is to ensure the best possible policy environment. The advocacy towards the UN human rights mechanisms, especially the UN Committee against Torture, the UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), holds great potential of promoting medical documentation and the application of the Istanbul Protocol as a standard in countries around the world. Using the UN system as a platform to promote implementation of anti-torture measures, although a long-term advocacy activity, provides a greater impact. Through the specific data and information gained in the examination of victims and documentation of torture, human rights mechanism can be provided with the much needed case examples and solid facts on this situation for assessing state compliance with international obligations in preventing torture. In November 2010, a team of experts comprising two staff of the IRCT Secretariat and a psychological expert from an IRCT member centre briefed the UN Committee against Torture on the importance of using medical reports based on the Istanbul Protocol. Throughout the work of the Committee in the past years, it can be seen that it is increasing its initiative to promote the implementation of the Istanbul Protocol on a broader scale. For example, the Committee’s concluding remarks of the third periodic reports of Turkey and Ecuador in November 2010 refer several times to the importance of the Istanbul Protocol. They acknowledge that a lack of independence for many of the world’s medical doctors is a key obstacle to combating impunity for perpetrators. In working with the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT), the IRCT is aiming at supporting the Subcommittee to address a number of obstacles to an effective application of standardised forensic medical evaluations of torture victims in detention. These relate especially to the independence and competence of the persons who conduct these in the context of persons deprived of their liberty. The regional mechanisms, especially in Europe, Africa and Latin America, also play a central role in ensuring that cases of torture victims are taken seriously. They also play a central role in ensuring that the right structures and funding are in place to hold perpetrators accountable and provide torture victims with redress and reparations – including as full rehabilitation as We are very encouraged by the engaged involvement of the Committee against Torture in implementation of the Istanbul Protocol, which is clearly illustrated by the high number of constructive questions and comments made during the sessions and in the concluding observations. We hope that we can keep an ongoing dialogue with the Committee on ensuring that forensic medical evidence of torture is more effectively used in the countries they review to prove allegations of torture to the benefit of torture victims around the world. 18 — Miriam Reventlow, IRCT Head of Legal and Advocacy International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims