Thesis (Ph. D.)--Georgia State University, 2008. / Title from file title page. Gregory Jurkovic, committee chair; Roderick Watts, Julia Perilla, Gregory Brack, committee members. Electronic text ( 197 p.) : digital, PDF file. Description based on contents viewed October 8, 2008. Includes bibliographical references (p. 164-186).

Dissertation (Ph.D) --Universität Frankfurt (Main), 2007. / Includes bibliographical references.

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Medicine in the branch of Psychiatry Johannesburg, October 2014 / Introduction In a constant quest for political power and control incredulously extending from medieval times to present day, the infliction of physical and psychological torture on each other by warring factions is sadly an ongoing reality worldwide. These gross insults on human rights may have a significant impact on the psychological wellbeing of the tortured individuals and result in clinical psychiatric illness. Methods A retrospective record review of all clients visiting the Southern African Centre for Survivors of Torture (SACST) in Johannesburg over a one year period was conducted. Their demographic profiles and torture experiences were analysed using the information available in the centre’s record system. The prevalence of psychiatric illness within this study group was explored. Attempts were made to ascertain differences in trauma experiences endured and psychopathology sustained. The validity of the Self Reporting Questionnaire 8 (SRQ8) rating scale as a screening tool for psychiatric illness was also evaluated. Ethics approval to conduct the study was obtained from the University of the Witwatersrand Human Research Ethics Committee (Medical). IV Results The cases studied were predominantly married, previously employed males less than 40 years old with at least a secondary level of education. All of these cases had experienced some form of torture but their SRQ 8 scores were variable and could not be linked to a specific torture experience or psychiatric diagnosis. Those cases finally assessed by a psychiatrist were all suffering from a psychiatric disorder with a significant 55% diagnosed with a comorbid Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Only 8% had an isolated PTSD and 24% unipolar depression alone. Conclusion The political conflict occurring in neighbouring Zimbabwe has resulted in large numbers of their nationals fleeing across their borders and seeking refuge in South Africa due to alleged human rights abuses including political torture. Assessment of a small percentage of these individuals in this local study has confirmed the prevalence on MDD, PTSD and combined MDD/ PTSD in this population

The focus of this dissertation is a social and cultural theoretical analysis of the empirical data regarding the prison abuse that occurred at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq by American forces. I provide the following: an examination of the photographs of abuse that were leaked to the press in the fall of 2003; an analysis of both Lynndie England’s and Sabrina Harman’s courts-martial (two of the “rotten apples”); a discussion of the body associated with punishment and torture, and also as marked in ways of identification; and an assessment of additional representations regarding prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib. Throughout this analysis, I use gender as a lens to understand Abu Ghraib and the subsequent courts-martial. It is important to note that I gained access to and was intimately involved as a graduate researcher for Dr. Stjepan G. Mestrovic, an expert for the defense, and experienced the events of the trials themselves, first-hand and during closed counsel and open session. The empirical data provided is drawn primarily from first-hand qualitative research that involved participant-observation of two trials, interaction with soldiers and officers, and analysis of both documents pertaining to the trial as well as the photographs of abuse themselves, among other things. I incorporate cultural studies, feminist and sociological theory (modern and postmodern), and feminist philosophy so as to provide a theoretical analysis of the abuse at Abu Ghraib and the subsequent courts-martial focused on gender and sexuality. The result of this dissertation is a social and cultural theoretical analysis of the empirical data regarding the prison abuse that occurred at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq by American forces, where women, gender, and sexuality are shown to be important criteria for examination. Specifically, the results of this project highlight areas that current analyses of the abuse at Abu Ghraib have left out: how women fit into American military politics, how gender functions as power within the military, how gender is socially constructed in the military in terms of heterosexuality, and how both gender and sexuality are used as weapons by the American military. This kind of examination is useful in future policy considerations for the military and for detainee treatment, where analyses of women, gender, sexuality, and power have been so far neglected in any serious way, and even by sociologists Phillip Zimbardo and the application of his Stanford Prison Study to the events of Abu Ghraib.

Habil.-Schr.: Diss.--Universität München, 1998. / Bibliogr. p. 600-649. Index.

Tesis doctoral--Salamanca--Universidad de Salamanca. / Bibliogr. p. 364-372. Titre provenant de l'étiquette support.

Inaug.-diss.--Zürich.

No description available.

orture is a serious violation of human rights and it is strictly prohibited by numerous human rights instruments. The prohibition of torture enshrines one of the most fundamental values of a democratic society. Its prohibition in a national constitution commits the country, and specifically its law enforcement officers, to performing their duties with due regard to the essential dignity of every human being. The irony is that the law enforcement officials and the security agents who are entrusted with the responsibility of maintaining law and order in the society sometimes breach the law which they have sworn to uphold. Most of the perpetrators of acts of torture are usually those in positions of state power. In addition, other persons who wield other forms of authority or influence also perpetrate torture. It is contended that both civil and criminal responsibilities of the perpetrators should be explored by bringing them to justice in order to serve as deterrence to others. Despite being stringently outlawed, torture continues to be practised in many countries in the world. The underlying assumption is that, although the prohibition of torture has become part of customary international law, the practice of torture remains widespread. Torturers and those who order or encourage torturers to ply their trade or acquiesce in their doing so, enjoy virtual impunity from prosecution within their own jurisdictions. In many cases, the majority of the torturers go unpunished because they are, most often than not, agents or officials of the state. Nowadays, there are various international human rights instruments prohibiting torture. Violations of the provisions of these instruments by states or individuals will attract necessary and appropriate sanction. The erring state or individual will be held accountable and if found liable, sanctions as contained in the instruments banning torture will be invoked accordingly. It must be stressed that condemnation of torture is universal and its prohibition forms not only part of customary international law, but has joined that narrow category of crimes so egregious as to demand universal criminal jurisdiction. There is no save haven for perpetrators because the various mechanisms and adjudicating bodies of state parties and the United Nations have competent jurisdictions to right the wrong. Furthermore, it must be stressed that there can be no justification for torture because CAT and other important international human rights instruments assume increasing importance tools which have realistic prospects for eliminating torture.

No description available.