Perpetrators and Victims of Torture: Case Reports and Literature Review

Abstract

Abstract— Perpetrators of torture (torturers) are forgotten victims. Psychological and physical pain is inflicted deliberately by torturers to control victims or to fulfill certain requirements such as confession. The norm within the criminal justice system is to punish the perpetrators rather than being rehabilitated. According to the UN conventions, impunity is not validated. The author had examined many cases of torture on the hands of police though none of the alleged perpetrators of torture had been medico-legally examined. Similar to victims, it is said that multitude of problems are experienced by the perpetrators as well mainly in the forms of psychological and social aspects. Truly speaking perpetrators should also need to be understood psychologically. There may be numerous reasons why one would become a torturer. However, for a healthy society it is necessary to have healthy people not only physically but also mentally too. The author wishes to discuss the cases that were examined after being tortured and to emphasize more about the perpetrators with the available limited literature. The stake holders, policy makers and legislature should pay attention in perpetrators in order to uplift the society to a better place as a whole.

Keywords— Torturers, Judicial Medical Officer, mentality of the perpetrators of torturer, alternative interrogative mechanisms