A/69/387 curriculum and programmes. 24 offered as part of continuing professional development Professional standards 45. Forensic and medical reports of sufficient quality require standardized medico legal evaluation report forms in accordance with Istanbul Protocol guidelines. They include standardized screening formats and formats for full Istanbul Protocol evaluations. Forensic experts must have unrestricted access to relevant evidence, including crime scenes, material evidence, witnesses and relevant documents, including interrogation logs and medical records. 25 In detention facilities it is important that all medical examinations are performed with audio, video and photographic equipment. Medical and psychological reports should record the identity of the health professional and the findings of the exami nation. The provision of forensic science services across the criminal justice system is regulated by professional and ethical standards. Associations organizing the relevant professional groups on the international and national levels can play an importan t role in recommending a universal model and holding their members to such standards. 46. In some countries, the Special Rapporteur has observed the use of accreditation or certification schemes. While these cannot be excluded, they should only be used as a means of initial verification that persons executing the State ’s obligation to investigate are qualified to undertake this responsibility. They should not be used to grant exclusive access to collect and present evidence to certain professionals, nor to evaluate expertise in relation to specific court cases. Expertise and expert evidence, including that presented by independent or non -state actors, should be assessed on the basis of their merits in cases. D. Role of forensic evidence in legal proceedings 47. Specialized health professionals can, through careful and thorough evaluation of physical and psychological sequelae, provide crucial medical and psychological findings and evidence that can be communicated to the judiciary and other bodies adjudicating civil, administrative and criminal matters, including claims made under the exclusionary and non-refoulement rules, and victims’ claims for reparation. 26 In __________________ 24 25 26 14/23 See C. Foley, “Combating Torture: A Manual for Judges and Prosecutors” (Human Rights Centre, University of Essex 2003)); International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims, “Action against torture. A practical guide to the Istanbul Protocol — for lawyers” (Copenhagen, 2009); Petur Hauksson, “Psychological evidence of torture: how to conduct an interview with a detainee to document mental health consequences of torture or ill-treatment” (Strasbourg, 2003); Redress, “Reparations before the International Criminal Court: Issues and Challenges” ( London, 2011). See International Forensic Expert Group, “Statement on access to relevant medical and other health records and relevant legal records for forensic medical evaluations of alleged torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment”, TORTURE Journal on Rehabilitation of Torture Victims and Prevention of Torture, vol. 22, supp. 1 (2012). In the United Kingdom the Medical Foundation has produced a study entitled “Body of Evidence”, detailing the treatment of forensic evidence, and specifically Medico -Legal Reports, by the Upper Tribunal of the Immigration and Asylum Chamber. The report shows the correlation between favourable decisions and expert medical evidence. The weight given to expert medical evidence will depend to a great extent on the expert’s expertise, experience and opportunity to investigate. 14-61535