Ufuk Sezgin
Istanbul-Psychosocial Trauma Program
Turkey

Intervention and writing expert report for sexually abused cases who were still in prison

El reporte de la intervención y redacción del experto para casos de abuso sexual mantenidos en prisión

Torture methods are getting more sophisticated such that torturers can apply methods, which do not leave any evidence. Today torture- related psychological symptoms can be proven scientifically in forensic medicine so, psychological reports are gaining more significance since there are more cases where there isn't any physical evidence. Sexual torture is a form of violence based on the difference in power between the strong and the weak, and can be interpreted as a direct attack on the person's integrity. Sexual abuse is not only a sexual act: it is also a form of violence that uses a wide spectrum of means of enforcement and humiliation against women and men.

A lawyer organization set up a project against rape and sexual harassment occurring while under detention. They referred sexually abused detainees to Istanbul University, Psychiatry Department, Ist-PSTP. Medical reports consisted of the following items: background information, psychiatric examination and diagnosis, Impact of Event Scale-R, Posttraumatic Diagnosis Scale.

The cases were examined at least one year after the assault. All of them were female. They were under arrest during examination. It was possible to obtain information, rape related symptomatology and diagnose it under adverse interview conditions.

Since torture is amongst the commonest preventable causes of psychological disorder it is important to be able to document the evidence. But it is not a simple task in our example. Thesereports have a positive impact on the victims and are recognized as legal evidence. In addition, these reports increased public awareness. The barriers for evaluation, writing medical reports, and providing treatment were discussed.