Prevalence and methods of torture claimed in the Basque Country (Spain) during 1992–1993
✍ Scribed by Benito Morentin; M.Itxaso Idoyaga; Luis F. Callado; J.Javier Meana
- Publisher
- Elsevier Science
- Year
- 1995
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 544 KB
- Volume
- 76
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0379-0738
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
✦ Synopsis
The use of torture against selected groups of detainees in Spain has been repeatly denounced. The testimonies of 87 citizens arrested under the 'anti-terrorist legislation' in the Basque Country (Spain) during 1992-1993 were collected by using the Rehabilitation and Research Centre for Torture Victims (RCT/IRCT) protocol. All the detainees were kept in solitary confinement with a mean period of 4 (SD. = 1.1) days. Torture methods were usually a combination of physical, deprivation and coercion techniques with a high presence of sexual and communication techniques. The group arrested by the military cot-p 'Guardia Civil' showed a higher prevalence of different methods of physical torture, hearing torture from others and reduction of visual input as compared with those in the group arrested by the force 'Policia National'. The results show also a preference of sexual torture on women with a high prevalence of methods such as forced undressing, verbal humiliations and touching. The study could help international experts to develop a fact-finding mission on human rights in the region.