Mobilising public opinion or sympathy even in the judicial system can be difficult if the victim is accused of serious crimes. Furthermore seeking remedies and reparations for victims of torture often result in threats to victims, witnesses, and human rights defenders. In light of these challenges, pursuing remedies before the European Court of Human Rights is often the last and only realistic way of redressing torture. The first publication of this Handbook was drafted in 2006 by Uğur Erdal and Hasan Bakirci two experts on the European Human Rights System. The second edition was revised by Alexander Morawa, Professor at the University of Lucerne, Nicole Bürli, Human Rights Advisor at the OMCT, Peter Coenen, Research Fellow at the University of Lucerne, and Laura Ausserladscheider Jonas, Associate Director of the Lucerne Summer Academy for Human Rights Implementation. The second edition details changes over the last eight years in the Court’s procedures and substantive jurisprudence. We hope that this publication will be of practical help to lawyers, human rights defenders and in particular the members of the SOS torture network of the OMCT and will contribute to closing the implementation gap and bringing us closer to the legal promise that indeed ‘nothing can justify torture under any circumstances’. Gerald Staberock Secretary General July 2014 7