IRCT REGIONAL REPORT 2016 • Victims of sexual and gender-based violence should be provided with the possibility of being housed in separate facilities. • Staff members at reception facilities should be appropriately trained in responding to the special needs of torture victims. Detention • The identification of torture victims should take place before any decision related to the deprivation of liberty is taken. This identification procedure should happen regularly throughout the period of detention. • Regular monitoring of detention facilities and reassessment of needs should be established in law and practice. • Torture victims should under no circumstance be placed in immigration detention. • Legal mechanisms should be introduced to allow for torture victims to be released on the basis of the results of identification procedure. • Detention officials should be trained in the identification of signs or symptoms of torture trauma. Asylum Procedures Directive Special procedural guarantees • Medical professionals should be involved in the decisions regarding the interview process, in case there are special health related requirements for the particular asylum seeker. • The meaning of “adequate support” should entail at least inter alia: timing of the interview; conditions and practical arrangements of interviews; specialised training for interviewers; consideration of the gender of the interviewer and the interpreter; and psychosocial support during the interview. • When refugee status determination processes are applied to torture victims, the process should be adapted to take into account the person’s possible vulnerable situation including the manifestation of PTSD symptoms, such as involuntary avoidance and disassociation. • Special procedural guarantees should also be made available during appeal procedures. Medico-legal reports • Persons identified as possible torture victims or claiming to be victims should have access to independent health professionals, competent in producing MLRs according to the standards and principles of the Istanbul Protocol free of charge. • MLRs should be given due and appropriate consideration when determining asylum claims. page 44