Screening asylum seekers in Denmark for torture using a structured questionnaire
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7146/torture.v31i2.122245Keywords:
screening for tortureAbstract
The United Nations Committee against Torture recommends systematic torture screening throughout the asylum process. The goal of this study is to evaluate the introduction of a structured questionnaire, coding for torture according to the definition from United Nations Convention Against Torture (UNCAT). This screening for torture is now an integrated part of the medical reception of newly arrived asylum seekers
The screening was carried through during a 2 years period as a part of the routine health screening, and alleged torture victims were referred to further medical examination and offered assistance to carry information about the torture to the Immigration Service. The participation rate was 85.2%, and torture was reported among 27.8% of the males, with a mean of 21.2% among both sexes.
Key words: Torture, screening, questionnaire, asylum seekers, UNCAT
References
References
Aarts, R., Wanrooij, L., Bloemen, E., & Smid, G. (2019).
Expert medico-legal reports: The relationship between levels of consistency and judicial outcomes in asylum seekers in the Netherlands. Torture Journal, 29(1), 36-46. https://doi.org/10.7146/torture.v29i1.111205
Herlihy, J., &Turner, S. (2006)
Should discrepant accounts given by asylum seekers be taken as proof of deceit? Torture.16(2), 81-92. PMID 17251640.
Kjersem, H.J., 1996
Migrationsmedicin i Danmark. Vurdering af nogle migrationsmedicinske problemstillinger blandt asylansøgere og flygtninge. [Migration Medicine in Denmark. Evaluation of Some Migration Medical Issues Among Asylum Seekers and Refugees.] PhD thesis. University of Copenhagen. Danish Red Cross Asylum Department.
Leth, P.M. & Banner, J. (2005)
Forensic medical examination of refugees who claim to have been tortured. The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology. Volume 26(2) 125-130. doi: 10.1097/01.paf.0000163822.22650.f1
Lehtmets.A., (2013)
The report of the special rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. Comments to the Human Rights Council of the United Nations. The Nordic Psychiatrist 1(2), 27.
Loutan, L., Bollini, P., Pampallona, s., De Haan, D.B., Gaiazzo, F. (1999).
Impact of trauma and torture on asylum-seekers. Eur J Pub Health. 9(2: 93-6
https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/9.2.93
Masmas, T.N., Møller, E., Buhmann, C., Bunch, V., Jensen, J.H., Hansen, T.N., Jørgensen, L.M., Kjaer, C., Mannstaedt, M., Oxholm, A., Skau, J., Theilade, L.,Worm, L., & Ekstrøm, M. (2008)
Asylum seekers in Denmark- a study of health status and grade of traumatization of newly arrived asylum seekers Torture, 18(2),77-86 PMID 19289884
Montgomery, E., & Foldspang, A. (1994)
Criterion-related validity of screening for exposure to torture. Dan Med Bull, 41(5), 588-91. PMID 7859525
Montgomery, E., & Foldspang, A.,(2005)
Predictors of the authorities’ decision to grant asylum in Denmark. Journal of Refugee Studies. Vol 18(4).454-467. DOI https://doi.org/10.1093/refuge/fei040
Office of Refugee Resettlement, Torture Survivors Program (2010).
Survivors of torture program eligibility determination tool. Washington, DC.
Rasmussen, A., Crager, M., Keatley, E., Keller, A.S., & Rosenfeld, B. (2011).
Screening for torture: A narrative checklist comparing legal definitions in a torture treatment clinic. Z Psychol, 219(3), 143–149. DOI: 10.1027/2151-2604/a000061
Sigvardsdotter, E.,Vaez, M., Hedman, A-M.R., & Saboonchi, F. (2016)
Prevalence of torture and other warrelated traumatic events in forced migrants: A systematic review. Torture, 26(2), 41-73. PMID 27858780
UN Committee Against Torture (CAT). (2016).
Concluding observations on the combined sixth and seventh periodic reports of Denmark. Paragraph C 22-23. CAT/C/DNK/Q/6-7, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/58bedc404.html.
UN General Assembly. (1984).
Convention against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment,, United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1465, p. 85, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6b3a94.html.
UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), (2004).
Manual on the effective investigation and documentation of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment ("Istanbul Protocol"), HR/P/PT/8/Rev.1, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/4638aca62.html.
US Torture Victims Relief Act (1998).
(Public Law 105-320 [H.R. 4309]). United States Code Congressional and Administrative News, 1999-01, No. 11A, pp. 112STAT.3016-3019
Wilson, J.M.G.,Glover, J.M., Jungner, G., & World Health Organization (1968)
Principles and practice of screening for disease / J. M. G. Wilson, G. Jungner. World Health Organization.
https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/37650
World Medical Association. (1975)
Declaration of Tokyo - Guidelines for physicians concerning torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment in relation to detention and imprisonment
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2021 Torture Journal
![Creative Commons License](http://i.creativecommons.org/l/by-nc-nd/4.0/88x31.png)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
We accept that some authors (e.g. government employees in some countries) are unable to transfer copyright. The Creative Commons Licence Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) covers both the Torture Journal and the IRCT web site. The publisher will not put any limitation on the personal freedom of the author to use material contained in the paper in other works which may be published, provided that acknowledgement is made to the original place of publication.