The section has been active in the fight against torture and severe human rights violations and in the support of survivors. The approach is collaborative and interdisciplinary as in the case of “therapeutic justice” and has a strong emphasis on the work in war and crises regions. Some of the members have been amongst the contributors of the UN/WMA “Manual on Effective Investigation and Documentation of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment” (“the Istanbul Protocol”), that is also supported by WPA.

 

With joined forces from all over the globe the work on the draft also led to the establishment of this section several decades ago. Ever since the section has been involved in training psychiatrists and other (health) professionals on the use of the Istanbul Protocol (IP) and other related trainings that take place both in places were the prohibition of torture and ill treatment – through international human rights and humanitarian law and treaties - is not respected as well as in countries that are hosting refugees and asylum seekers who fled torture and prosecution.

 

The section has, among other publications, published a handbook on refugee care (Springer/Nature), officially supported by WPA. The section continues to have (online) presence during WPA (sponsored) conferences, nurtures exchange of knowledge between its members as well as other WPA Sections, and is active in position statements such as in the development of the WPA statement on the role of Psychiatrists in interrogations. Also it collaborates with other organisations such as the (inter)national Red Cross, (i)NGOs as well as international bodies, regional health care networks and local Universities.