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IRB Training Manual on Victims of Torture

Background

This manual is used as a guide by Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) Members and Refugee Protection Officers (RPOs) of the Refugee Protection Division (RPD) when dealing with victims of torture in the context of refugee status determination proceedings. These materials were prepared to accompany a national training workshop on victims of torture and to serve as a resource for Members and RPOs after the workshop.

The IRB acknowledges the contribution of the Canadian Centre for Victims of Torture (CCVT) and Réseau d'intervention auprès des personnes ayant subi la violence organisée (RIVO) in the development of this Manual.

Manual Objectives

This manual is a resource to make RPOs more aware of, and sensitive to, issues faced by victims of torture, and better able to conduct a hearing involving a victim of torture. The Manual also addresses issues relating to credibility, false allegations of torture, and corroborating medical/psychiatric reports.

The manual seeks to answer the following questions:

• How do I reduce the risk of re-traumatizing the claimant?

• Why do victims of torture all seem to act differently?

• What do I do when the claimant has difficulty answering my questions?

• How does trauma affect memory?

• How can I be most effective in my questioning?

• How do I question the author of a medical/psychiatric report when I suspect the claimant is malingering?

• How do I recognise and address vicarious traumatization?

According to the manual, the principles put apply to all victims of torture who come before the Board, regardless of whether the claim for refugee protection is based on the experience of torture. The Manual does not deal with legal issues relating to the definition of torture and the status determination of persons who have been tortured or may be at risk of torture if returned to their country.

Practical Use of Manual

The document is specifically mentioned in Guideline 8 of the IRB Guideline on Procedures with respect to Vulnerable Persons Appearing Before the IRB, section 10: Questioning the Vulnerable Person:

"10.1 The IRB ensures that all those who appear at its hearings or other proceedings are questioned with sensitivity and respect. This obligation is all the more important in the case of vulnerable persons. In probing the information provided by the person, the IRB will attempt to avoid traumatizing or re-traumatizing the vulnerable person."

Referenced footnote: "For a useful guide on questioning, see the Training Manual on Victims of Torture developed by the Professional Development Branch of the IRB in April 2004. The principles suggested in the manual with respect to torture victims can be adopted, with necessary modifications, to the questioning of other vulnerable persons."

Table of Contents

The manual is organized into the following sections:

• About Torture

• The Effects of Torture

• Victims of Torture in the Hearing Room

• Questioning Victims of Torture

• Medical/Psychiatric Reports

• Vicarious Traumatization

Format - The document is available in HTML format. It is also available in PDF format (214 KB, 63 pages).

You need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this file.

Language - English, French