Further promotion of the Istanbul Protocol and the documentation of torture ence to tradition may affect this aim adversely. Furthermore, training on documentation of torture should be differentiated so as to address the roles of different target groups. For example, generally speaking forensic doctors and psychiatrists will need more detailed insight into the Istanbul Protocol than general practitioners. Similarly, lawyers will have other needs than judges and prosecutors, while decision-makers and officials may benefit most from an introductory training stressing their particular obligations. Moreover, longterm sustainability and substantial changes in present practices can only be achieved if the issue of torture and the Istanbul Principles are taught at universities and other higher educational institutions and integrated in the relevant curricula. Changing the picture in practice The above challenges and dilemmas complicate the already highly challenging task of promoting the investigation and documentation of alleged torture cases. This is especially the case in societies where torture is perceived as, and is, a norm and where citizens feel lucky if they are “only beaten up a little” when arrested or in detention. But, as pointed out by the article on pg. 37, even developed countries, are slow to recognise the need for a full medical examination of asylum seekers conducted according to the standards in the Istanbul Protocol. Countries may also fail to grant sufficient weight to medical and psychological conditions in the process of refuge status determination. It is true for any context that several preconditions must be in place for the promotion of documentation of torture to have real impact, among them: • Presence of dedicated professionals who are ready to drive the issue forward despite personal risk. Such individuals may work at independent rehabilitation centres for torture survivors, and the expertise and experience anchored in these centres will always be crucial. Human rights organisations also often have very dedicated staff – as do government institutions, where officials sometimes make impressive efforts regardless of 71