DEFENCE FOR CHILDREN INTERNATIONAL (DCI) - Belgium | Practical Guide 5.3. Safety and safeguards A. TORTURE AND OTHER ILL-TREATMENT Are all necessary safeguards in place to avoid all infliction, instigation or tolerance of any act of torture or any form of harsh, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, punishment, correction or discipline under any pretext or circumstances? ASK: Children | Staff | Director OBSERVE: ʺʺ Staff behaviour in general ʺʺ Children’s behaviour and appearance (any sign of stress, trauma, injury, hematoma) CHECK: ʺʺ Internal rules, see whether any act of torture and other forms of ill-treatment are explicitly prohibited ʺʺ Register of incidents, see whether all incidents are recorded ʺʺ Register of sanctions and disciplinary measures, see whether they can be interpreted as torture or ill-treatment (corporal punishment, isolation or solitary confinement, forced feeding, etc. and any other punishment that may compromise the physical and/or mental integrity of children concerned such as reduction of diet, restriction or denial of contact with family members and the outside world) ʺʺ Records of use of force or restraint by staff ʺʺ Register of complaints, see whether any (formal or informal) complaint has been lodged for of torture or ill-treatment ʺʺ Allegation of torture or ill-treatment by children ʺʺ Medical records See – Section 5.7. / C – p.139 106