into contact with the perpetrators; having to identify the torturer will be acutely stressful and may trigger dramatic reactions.7 Why is psychosocial support important in the pursuit of justice? Psychosocial support aims to re-empower torture victims and enable the victim to resume as full a life as possible. Psychosocial support can encompass a range of interventions that enhance the ability of the torture survivor to achieve personal and social well-being. In the context of torture survivors, the importance of appropriate psychosocial and legal support in their pursuit of justice and reparation should not be underestimated – it will likely benefit both the torture victim and the legal process. A host of support measures, including practical support, expectation management, briefing and debriefing that are provided to torture victims involved in legal proceedings can help them to strengthen emotionally and encourage them to be more active at trial by building their confidence. If a torture victim is in a position to act as a reliable witness and articulate the facts clearly and with confidence, they contribute constructively, strengthening the overall quality and effectiveness of the legal process. A traumatised torture victim who testifies at trial without support runs a greater risk of providing a poorly prepared testimony that may impact negatively on their case. Despite the potentially positive impact that psychosocial support to torture victims has on the legal process, the issue currently receives little attention within the legal profession. In general, there is a lack of awareness of the degree to which torture can affect a victim’s testimony and therefore the impact that participation in legal proceedings can have on the victim’s psychological well-being and their capacity to contribute constructively. Indeed, the manner by which legal professionals treat torture victims at court constitutes a determinant factor for victims’ satisfaction with the proceedings and an important factor in mitigating victims’ dissatisfaction with a trial.8 The aim of this report is therefore to illustrate the key challenges, impact and possible solutions for health and legal professionals to provide torture victims with the psychosocial support needed to ensure their participation in legal proceedings has as positive an effect on their overall recovery process as possible. The work of the IRCT The IRCT is an independent, international health-based human rights organisation that promotes and supports the rehabilitation of torture victims, access to justice and the prevention of torture worldwide. The IRCT comprises more than 140 independent 10