Foreword ciples. I was also able to recommend that the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights publish the whole Istanbul product: it appeared as Istanbul Protocol: Manual on Effective Investigation and Documentation of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. Third, the Istanbul Protocol inspired a project I directed at the University of Essex. My experience as Special Rapporteur had made it clear that forensic specialists, especially independent ones, were frequently not available when their skills were needed. So, it appeared necessary that other health professionals be given effective guidance without their being expected to be able to apply meticulously the “gold standard” of Istanbul. The result was our 2005 co-publication (with the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office) Medical Investigation and Documentation of Torture: A Handbook for Health Professionals, by Michael Peel, Noam Lubell and Jonathon Beynon, which I am told has been helpful to organisations and individuals involved in training relevant health professionals. I am very pleased that the IRCT has compiled this publication which reflects the essence of the Istanbul experience: that prevention of torture is an interdisciplinary exercise involving lawyers, doctors, civil society and governments – all branches: legislative, executive, judicial – at the national and international levels. The Istanbul Protocol is already cited in international and national court judgments. The more recognised it becomes, the greater will be the need for professional familiarity with it. The IRCT’s work to promote the Istanbul Protocol represents recognition that effective documentation of torture, exposing the falsity of typical denials from those responsible for torture, can contribute mightily to reducing impunity and obtaining redress. This in turn can be expected to help prevent torture in the future. As well as giving background to and explaining the content of the Istanbul Protocol, the present book incorporates some of the experiences of these activities. The book is another step towards the goal of ending torture. Professor Sir Nigel Rodley KBE Honorary Fellow, Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine, Royal College of Physicians Chair, Human Rights Centre, University of Essex 28 March 2009 7