Brussels, 26/06/2003 (Agence Europe) - On the occasion of the UN International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, on 26 May, the European Commission and the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT), an independent organisation composed of health professionals, demonstrated their support to the effort being made in five countries (Morocco, Mexico, Georgia, Sri Lanka and Uganda) to promote application of the Istanbul Protocol. The Protocol is a "manual on the effective investigation and documentation of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment". It is financed by the Commission up to EUR 991.413. For many years now, the EU has financed projects aimed at preventing torture and supporting the rehabilitation of torture victims in accordance with the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR), whereby, in 2002, it supported projects throughout the world for a total budget of EUR 25 million.