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Torture/Human Rights Torture Updates Human Rights Updates |
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Torture is a Moral Issue
The Pennsylvania Council of Churches believes that torture is a moral issue. This belief has led the Council to become a partner with the National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT), signing on to NRCAT’s “Torture is a Moral Issue” Statement of Conscience and supporting the Campaign in a number of actions aimed at eradicating the use of torture by any American entities.
The Council calls on you to show your solidarity with people of faith from many religious traditions by signing on to this statement. You can read the brief statement below. NRCAT cites many reasons why it is imperative that people of faith support this statement:
· It is always important to take a public stand on clear issues of right and wrong. As Nobel Laureate, Eli Wiesel proclaimed, "I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation." · It is important to support each other, to join hands with like-minded people of all faiths, in the effort to end U.S.-sponsored torture. · Numbers make impressions on policymakers and the media—NRCAT shares the number of endorsers with members of Congress, the press, and other religious organizations. · Our elected representatives are pledged to be responsible to their constituents. Your endorsement sends a message to your Congressperson, and once again, numbers speak loudly. · As the number of endorsers grows, NRCAT will continue to provide the opportunity to endorse the Statement of Conscience, therefore it is important to spread the word and urge others to add their endorsement. · We all want to effect positive change. Like the story of the butterfly that fluttered its wings on one side of the globe, inducing a tsunami on the other, your endorsement is one way to create the climate for change.
To sign the statement, click here.
"Torture is a Moral Issue" Statement of Conscience
Torture* violates the basic dignity of the human person that all religions, in their highest ideals, hold dear. It degrades everyone involved—policy-makers, perpetrators and victims. It contradicts our nation's most cherished ideals. Any policies that permit torture and inhumane treatment are shocking and morally intolerable.
Nothing less is at stake in the torture abuse crisis than the soul of our nation. What does it signify if torture is condemned in word but allowed in deed? Let America abolish torture now—without exceptions.
Sign the statement NOW!
*NRCAT's definition of torture is the same as that contained in the United Nations Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, which defines torture as "any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him or a third person information or a confession, punishing him for an act he or a third person has committed or is suspected of having committed, or intimidating or coercing him or a third person, or for any reason based on discrimination of any kind, when such pain or suffering is inflicted by or at the instigation of or with the consent or acquiescence of a public official or other person acting in an official capacity. It does not include pain or suffering arising only from, inherent in or incidental to lawful sanctions." |
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Call for a Commission on Inquiry
On January 22, 2009, President Obama signed an Executive Order designed to put
We now must urge our leaders to create a Commission of Inquiry that will
Here’s how you can help:
You can join with the Council’s Commission on Public Witness by endorsing “A Call for a Commission of Inquiry” by clicking here. It takes thousands of names to send a strong message that the religious community supports this action.
Click here to print out a petition format of the statement (Word document) and ask members of your congregation, family, and friends to endorse it. Click here for a pdf version of the petition.
Documents That May Be Helpful
· Questions and Answers about a Commission · List of heads of faith groups that have endorsed the statement |
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· American Civil Liberties Union (http://www.aclu.org/intlhumanrights/index.html) · Amnesty International (http://www.amnesty.org/) · Amnesty International USA (http://www.amnestyusa.org/) · Enough-The Project to End Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity—A Project of the Center for American Progress http://www.enoughproject.org/) · High Road for Human Rights (http://www.highroadforhumanrights.org/)
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· Human Rights Watch (http://www.hrw.org/) · National Law Center for Homelessness and Poverty (http://www.nlchp.org/) · National Religious Campaign Against Torture (http://www.nrcat.org/) · No 2 Torture (http://www.no2torture.org/) · Physicians for Human Rights (http://www.physiciansforhumanrights.org) · Save Darfur (http://www.savedarfur.org/content?splash=yes) |
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Doctors Call
On June 7, Physicians for Human Rights released a report that concludes that the Bush administration may have conducted illegal and unethical human experimentation and research on detainees in CIA custody. This research, if proven to have occurred, could violate the Geneva Conventions, the Common Rule, the Nuremberg Code and other international and domestic prohibitions against illegal human subject research and experimentation.
Not only are these alleged acts gross violations of human rights law, they are a grave affront to America’s core values.
Please review and consider joining the formal complaint that NRCAT and other human rights organizations have filed with the Office of Human Research Protection (OHRP). You’ll find complete information here: http://phrtorturepapers.org/?page_id=451. We know that further aspects of the medical experiments story will continue to be uncovered . It’s important that we know and understand what happened so that we can prevent it from happening again. Please note that you can sign on to the complaint as an individual at the link above, or as an institution at http://phrtorturepapers.org/?page_id=648.
Follow progress on the call for a complaint and investigation on our weblog. |
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Support Guaranteed ICRC Access to U.S. Detainees
On 1/22/09, President Obama issued an executive order on American use of torture that, among other things, requires all government agencies to provide the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) with access to U.S. detainees. This was a huge step, because detainees are much less likely to be abused when an independent agency is monitoring their treatment. Because this step was taken by executive order, however, it is not permanent. A future President can revoke it by issuing a new executive order.
The ICRC functions as an independent observer whose function is to ensure that prisoners are not denied their basic human rights. Allowing the ICRC access would help to end the use of torture and other abusive practices.
Please consider writing a letter to the editor of your local paper noting your opposition to the use of torture and urging Senator Casey’s and Senator Specter’s leadership in supporting International Committee of the Red Cross access to detainees. Several sample letters are available, or you can write your own letter using the sample letters and information from a fact sheet on ICRC access. Click here to send your letter.
You can also send an e-mail to members of Congress supporting this legislation.
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Check out Torture-related Worship Resources |
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Torture Month Activities for Congregations |
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