The use of the Istanbul Protocol in Israel: Insights at the reception of the revised (2022) version

Abstract

Health professionals and lawyers in Israel have used the Istanbul Protocol (IP), the internationally accepted protocol for documenting torture and ill-treatment, for many years (Abu Akar et al., 2014; Weishut, 2022; Weishut et al., 2023). A complete IP report requires substantial effort and investment of - mostly pro bono - experts, while the IP interview on which it is based is often an emotionally burdensome experience for clients. This paper presents insights about the use of the IP in Israel, as collected by a group of experts in the documentation of torture and ill-treatment, at the reception of the revised (2022) version.

Collaboration between mental health professionals and physicians in the assessment of torture victims in a conflict-ridden area: Complexities and recommendations.

“…Ideally, an IP evaluation requires multidisciplinary collaboration in a secure and empathic environment, which was the format of the interviews conducted in Israel and the Palestinian Authority from 2013 onward. Joint teams consisting of a physician and a mental health professional (MHP; a social worker, psychologist, or psychiatrist) carried out forensic interviews as part of an interdisciplinary group of volunteers for the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel (PCATI) in both Israel and the Palestinian Authority (Weishut et al, 2023). The group meets a couple of times yearly, and teams are created ad hoc.…”