A New Outlook for Defining and Measuring Torturing Environments

Torture methods are always used in combination, never alone. We define a torturing environment as a milieu that creates the conditions for torture. It is made up of a group of contextual elements, conditions and practices that obliterate the will and control of the victim, compromising the self. This environment will amount to CIDT or torture when it has been generated for any of the purposes stated in the UNCAT: obtaining information or a confession, punishment, intimidation or coercion.¹