Al Mezan Concludes a Specialized Training Course Entitled 'The Role of Medical Professionals in Detecting and Combating Torture'

  On Wednesday 7 April 2010, Al Mezan Centre for Human Rights concluded a specialized training course entitled 'The Role of Medical Professionals  in Detecting and Combating Torture'.
  The course aimed to increase medical professionals’ skills and knowledge of the Convention against Torture and the redress of  victims of torture under  Palestinian and Israeli laws as well as  international mechanisms for combating torture.
  The course consisted of 24 hours delivered over four days.
The course introduced participants to: the Convention against Torture, ways of combating torture under international law,  Israeli and Palestinian laws  and ways of defending victims of torture.
  In addition, the training increased the participants’ skills in monitoring and documenting torture and writing effective medical reports, and identifying ways of detecting the physical signs of torture.
This skill is very important as torture is practiced in the occupied Palestinian territories (OPT)  by the IOF and  the Palestinian internal security apparatus.
     A team of Al Mezan trainers and experts from Palestinian universities, civil society and  psychiatrists delivered the training.
  This course constitutes a component of the project entitled ’Combating Torture' implemented by Al Mezan Centre.
The project aims to raise awareness of the Convention against Torture, and help  victims who are subject to torture by the Israeli occupation forces, particularly patients, students, detainees, and fishermen in Gaza.
  At the end of the course, Al Mezan’s director, Mr.
Issam Younis, thanked the participants for their disciplined manner and their activities in the course.
He also encouraged the participants to work on combating torture and to defend the victims of human rights violations.
He also emphasized the medical professionals' noble mission in defending the victims.
Younis handed certificates to the participants.
  Participants called for the  enactment of  Palestinian  laws to stop torture.
They also emphasized the importance of using all  available capacities to defend  Palestinian victims who have suffered violations of human rights in the OPT.
They called for the implementation of UN human rights mechanisms; provide international protection for the Palestinians; pursue the perpetrators of torture before the authorized international courts; and ensure Israel's compliance  with IHL.
The participants called on  Al Mezan to enhance its communication with the medical profession  and raise the profile of torture  in the media.
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  Ends