Remember when we took a solid stand on human rights?
Our report makes clear our unequivocal and unambiguous condemnation of torture as a tool of governmental policy. As the report states: "torture is prohibited by law throughout the United States. It is categorically denounced as a matter of policy and as a tool of state authority. In every instance, torture is a criminal offense. No official of the government, federal, state, or local, civilian or military, is authorized to commit or to instruct anyone else to commit torture. Nor may any official condone or tolerate torture in any form. No exceptional circumstances may be invoked as a justification for torture."
To honor this commitment, Congress has legislated both federal civil and criminal sanctions against those who practice torture. The courts have condemned the practice as a matter of international, federal and state law. Under the Alien Tort Claims Act and the Torture Victims Protection Act, we have recognized civil remedies against torturers found in the United States, and the federal and state executive branches have indicated zero tolerance for torture within their jurisdictions. As our report states, "Every unit of government at every level within the United States is committed, by law as well as by policy, to the protection of the individual's life, liberty and physical integrity. Each must also ensure the prompt and thorough investigation of incidents when allegations of mistreatment and abuse are made, and the punishment of those who are found to have committed violations." In addition, the Executive Branch established new regulations last year to ensure that those who can demonstrate that they are more likely than not to be tortured upon return to their country of origin cannot be extradited or deported to face torture at home.
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