Training
On this page you will find a series of free resources to help human rights lawyers and anti-torture activists around the world who are challenging torture and ill-treatment wherever it occurs.
These materials have been developed as part of our Solidarity programme, through which REDRESS seeks to further the global movement against torture, by a mutual sharing of expertise with colleagues and other NGOs.
Our national partners bring knowledge of the issues, expertise in national law and policy, experience working with survivors, and cultural awareness. REDRESS matches this with expertise in the law of torture and the use of strategic litigation as an effective technique against torture.
Our set of materials on Holistic Strategic Litigation Against Torture is comprised of:
- These offer practical guidance for lawyers and activists as well as examples from REDRESS’s practice.
Holistic Strategic Litigation Modules with accompanying PowerPoint presentations.
- A set of materials for lawyers and practitioners delivering workshops on key issues relevant to strategic litigation against torture with pre-designed PowerPoint presentations.
- Introductory videos offering definitions and explanations in a visual way.
REDRESS is grateful to the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture and the Matrix Causes Fund for supporting the development of the above materials.
Practice Notes
A series of practice notes on strategic litigation against torture, intended to support human rights lawyers and activists around the world to bring legal challenges against torture that can have a broader impact.
Strategic litigation is a specific method that combines casework with other civil society techniques such as advocacy, media, communications, and activism to ensure there is impact after the judgment, a community behind the client, and a cause beyond the case. A holistic approach involves the legal team accompanying their client through the legal process and empowering them to be advocates for their own cause.
Practice Note 1 Practice Note 2 Practice Note 3
Practice Note 4 Practice Note 5 Practice Note 6
Practice Note 7 Practice Note 8 Practice Note 9
Training Modules
Our Holistic Strategic Litigation Modules are a series of handouts and accompanying pre-designed PowerPoint presentations to support practitioners delivering workshops on strategic litigation against torture. The PowerPoint presentations are editable so that you can tailor them to your specific needs.
Modules can be combined, shortened, or supplemented with your own knowledge. They include substantive guidance and further sources of information on the covered topic, as well as key points for practitioners to highlight during each module. They are designed to be usable in an in-person or an online setting.
Each module is available in English; some are also available in French and Arabic.
Module 1: Elements and Definitions of Holistic Strategic Litigation Against Torture
الوحدة 1 : التقاضي الاستراتيجي الشامل ضد التعذي ب
Module 2: (English) The UN Convention against Torture and the Definition of Torture
Module 2: (Français) Definition de la Torture et Convention des Nations Unies Contre la Torture
الوحدة 2: اتفاقية الأمم المتحدة لمناهضة التعذيب وتعريف التعذيب
Module 3: (English) Enforced Disappearance as Torture
Module 3: (Français) La Disparition Forcee en tant que Torture
الوحدة 3 :االختفاء القسري كتعذيب
Module 4: Sexual Gender-Based Violence as Torture
Module 5: Instigating Prosecutions for Torture
Module 6: Negotiation and Settlement
Module 8: (English) Forum Choice
Module 8: (Français) Choix de l’Instance
Module 11: Writing a Human Rights Claim
Module 12: Torture in Detention
Module 13: Working with Survivors of Trauma
Module 14: (English) Ethics and Client Care
Module 14: (Français) Éthique et Souci du Client
Module 15: Evidence of Torture
Module 16: LGBTIQ+ Violence as Torture