Clément Renaud, Lebossé David, Barrios Lucia, Rodat Olivier
Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, 1 Rue Gaston Veil, 44035 Nantes Cedex, France; Unit of Forensic Medicine, Chu de Nantes, 1 Place Alexis Ricordeau, 44093 Nantes Cedex 1, France.
Unit of Forensic Medicine, Chu de Nantes, 1 Place Alexis Ricordeau, 44093 Nantes Cedex 1, France.
J Forensic Leg Med. 2017 Feb;46:24-29. doi: 10.1016/j.jflm.2016.12.011. Epub 2016 Dec 27.
Over a 6-year period, 570 survivors gave consent to this study and were examined by forensic medical doctors in academic French hospital. They evaluated with the aim of cataloguing the physical evidence of torture. Sociological data, declared violence (single physical altercation, repeated physical violence less than one year or more than one year, incarceration not more than one week or more than 1 week), and method of violence (blows by blunt object, crushing, burns, electrical shocks, attempted drowning, smothering, incision, or gunshot) were studied. An association between victims' statements and physical evidence of torture was determined.
70% were male with an average age of 31.9 years and ages between 1 and 70 years old. Dagestan, Guinea-Conakry and Guinea-Bissau were the countries most represented among asylum seekers. Beatings were reported by 27.89%, confinement was reported by 40.22%, and repeated violence by 30.16% of refugees. The average time interval between the first assault and forensic evaluation was 53 months. Forms of torture reported included: blunt force trauma (82.51%) truncheon blows (27.50%), arm incision (30%), and burns (16.3%). Statistically, truncheon blows were experienced more often by males in confinement due to political conflict. The use of crushing methods and electrical shocks also were experienced more often by males during confinement. Victims who had received incision wounds were significantly younger. Gunshots were statistically associated with male survivors of political conflict. Men experienced drowning and electrical shocks while in confinement in the Balkans, Asia, and Russia. Electrical shocks were reported by males during confinement and in northern Caucasus countries. The association was significant between assertions of burns and the presence of cutaneous scars (p = 0.0105); similarly, assertions of incision wounds were significantly corroborated by evidence of scars (p = 0.0009).
Asylum seekers assessed were usually young men. Beatings with blunt objects were the most often reported form of torture used during episodes of repeated violence and during confinement. Assertions of burns were not associated with any particular circumstances. Electrical shocks were reported during confinement and most often in countries of the northern Caucasus. Attempted drowning, smothering, and shocking were noted, but these methods typically do not leave physical evidence. Wounds resulting from burns and incisions usually leave scars that corroborate refugee statements. Torture by crushing and gunshot were reported by asylum seekers for the first time.
Investigation of the types of torture and circumstances under which torture occurs is critical for efficient forensic evaluation of claims of torture experienced by asylum seekers.
在6年期间，570名幸存者同意参与本研究，并在法国学术医院接受法医检查。他们接受评估的目的是对酷刑的身体证据进行编目。研究了社会学数据、宣称的暴力行为（单次身体冲突、重复身体暴力少于一年或超过一年、监禁不超过一周或超过一周）以及暴力方式（钝器打击、挤压、烧伤、电击、溺水未遂、窒息、切割或枪击）。确定了受害者陈述与酷刑身体证据之间的关联。
70%为男性，平均年龄31.9岁，年龄在1至70岁之间。达吉斯坦、几内亚科纳克里和几内亚比绍是寻求庇护者中最具代表性的国家。27.89%的难民报告遭受殴打，40.22%报告被监禁，30.16%报告遭受重复暴力。首次袭击与法医评估之间的平均时间间隔为53个月。报告的酷刑形式包括：钝器外伤（82.51%）、警棍打击（27.50%）、手臂切割（30%）和烧伤（16.3%）。从统计学上看，由于政治冲突被监禁的男性更常遭受警棍打击。在被监禁期间，男性也更常经历挤压和电击方法。遭受切割伤的受害者明显更年轻。枪击在统计学上与政治冲突的男性幸存者有关。男性在巴尔干地区、亚洲和俄罗斯被监禁期间经历过溺水和电击。在被监禁期间以及北高加索国家，男性报告遭受过电击。烧伤断言与皮肤疤痕的存在之间存在显著关联（p = 0.0105）；同样，切割伤断言得到疤痕证据的显著证实（p = 0.0009）。
接受评估的寻求庇护者通常是年轻男性。钝器殴打是在重复暴力事件和监禁期间最常报告的酷刑形式。烧伤断言与任何特定情况均无关联。在被监禁期间报告有电击情况，且最常发生在北高加索国家。注意到有溺水未遂、窒息和电击情况，但这些方法通常不会留下身体证据。烧伤和切割造成的伤口通常会留下疤痕，证实难民的陈述。寻求庇护者首次报告了挤压和枪击酷刑。
调查酷刑类型以及酷刑发生的情况对于有效法医评估寻求庇护者所遭受的酷刑指控至关重要。
