Italian Court Decision: an interview with Gabor Rona

Human Rights First's International Legal Director Gabor Rona discusses the implication of the Italian court ruling on extraordinary rendition. Check it out!

News from the Task Force on Interrogations: Army Field Manual is Enough

The Special Task Force on Interrogation and Transfer Policies today concluded that the Army Field Manual is enough to serve as the single standard for humane interrogation.

Human Rights First has been advocating for this for years. Read our press release - issued with our coalition of retired military leaders.

General Charles Krulak, who served as Commandant of the Marine Corps, says:

Implementation of the Task Force's recommendation to maintain a single
standard of humane interrogation for all U.S. agencies will be essential to the
safety of our troops and to the success of our counterinsurgency efforts.

Senate Republicans try to dissuade Holder on investigating CIA interrogations

Several Republican Senators sent a letter urging Attorney General Eric Holder to not investigate interrogators who may have exceeded legal advice. Read the stories in the Congressional Quarterly and the L.A. Times.

Human Rights First supports a full accounting for past abuses.

Attorney General Speaks About Hate Crimes and Coming Report on Torture

Attorney General Eric Holder mentioned hate crime legislation as a top priority in a Senate hearing today. Let your senator know that you agree with him – write today in support of a hate crimes bill expected to come to vote very soon. In the same hearing, Holder referred to the awaited report from the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) investigating the development of legal advice that authorized torture.

The Washington Post quotes Human Rights First in an article covering the hearing:

"The American people have a right to know how the U.S. Justice Department
came to issue legal opinions approving acts of cruelty that shocked the world,
damaged U.S. moral authority and harmed efforts to combat terrorism
effectively," according to a letter from Human Rights First and more than a
half-dozen other activist groups. "Requests for release of the OPR report have
been met with excessive delay and insufficient explanations. We urge you to
release the OPR report now and send a clear message that transparency in
government and adherence to the law are core American values as well as key
assets to U.S. national security."

Former Vice President Cheney -- Wrong Again

Check out the Director of the Bellevue/NYU Program for Survivors of Torture, Allen Keller, writing at Huffington Post about just how wrong the former Vice President's facts were in his torture-defending speech last Thursday. Key point:

Torture is neither reliable in eliciting accurate information nor in promoting national security. It is a violation of domestic and international law. Our use of torture has undermined our security and credibility including our capacity to speak out against despot regimes who routinely torture innocent civilians. An honest and full accounting of what happened is a crucial step in making this world a safer place.