Geographical distribution of torture: An epidemiological study of torture reported by asylum applicants examined at the Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Copenhagen

Autores/as

  • Johannes Rødbro Busch Section of Forensic Pathology at the University of Copenhagen
  • Steen Holger Hansen Section of Forensic Pathology at the University of Copenhagen
  • Hans Petter Hougen Section of Forensic Pathology at the University of Copenhagen

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7146/torture.v25i2.109670

Palabras clave:

epidemiology, medical history taking, refugees, human rights, Istanbul Protocol, forensic medicine, torture, asylum seekers

Resumen

Using reports from 154 examinations of alleged torture victims among asylum applicants to Denmark conducted by the Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Copenhagen, between 2001 and 2013, we have categorized the victims into four geographical regions, as well as according to the conflict that caused them to flee. The torture incidents described by the victims were divided into 12 different categories defined by the Istanbul Protocol. These data were cross-referenced in order to identify any differences in the prevalence of the 12 forms of torture. The study showed that crush injuries were only reported by refugees from Asia, including Afghanistan and Pakistan, and that incidents of electrical torture were reported twice as frequently by torture victims from Middle Eastern and North African countries, though it was lower among Iraqis, Iranians and ethnic Kurds. Sexual torture was reported by 78% of females and 25% of males.

Citas

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Publicado

2018-10-03

Cómo citar

Busch, J. R., Hansen, S. H., & Hougen, H. P. (2018). Geographical distribution of torture: An epidemiological study of torture reported by asylum applicants examined at the Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Copenhagen. Torture Journal, 25(2), 10. https://doi.org/10.7146/torture.v25i2.109670

Número

Vol. 25 Núm. 2 (2015): Torture Journal: Journal on Rehabilitation of Torture Victims and Prevention of Torture

Sección

Research and Scientific articles

Licencia

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