INTRODUCTION: This manual is intended as a reference on Istanbul Protocol standards for documenting torture and ill-treatment for a variety of professionals in the Maldives. It is aimed at:
• medical professionals, including emergency doctors, those working in private clinics, prison doctors and mental health professionals
• members of the legal profession, including lawyers, judges and prosecutors
• state officials responsible for those in detention, including police officers, correctional services officials and officials from drug rehabilitation and mental health institutions
• staff of the Attorney-General’s Office and relevant government ministries, including the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Law and Gender and Ministry of Health
• members of civil society, in particular those working for non-government organizations (NGOs) who come into contact with victims of torture or other ill-treatment.

The manual is divided into four sections:

• Part A provides important background for those using this manual: introductory information on the Istanbul Protocol, the reasons it is important to document allegations of torture and other ill-treatment, international and domestic law related to torture and other ill-treatment and their definitions, and experiences of torture and ill-treatment in the Maldives
• Part B provides information on standards and guidelines from the Istanbul Protocol of general relevance to all of those either documenting or investigating torture or other ill-treatment – including standards on investigation, professional ethics considerations, considerations for interviews and collecting evidence, and the potential medical and psychological effects of forms of torture and other ill-treatment
• Part C provides practical guidance for different professions in their role documenting torture and other ill-treatment, with reference back to the relevant sections of Parts A and B as necessary
• Part D provides a number of recommendations for reform and development in the Maldives to enable effective medico-legal documentation of torture and other ill-treatment in the Maldives, meeting Istanbul Protocol standards.
• Annexes providing further reference and resources for medico-legal documentation…