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Primetime Torture

Congress Votes to Enforce Ban on Torture (02/13/08)

Join thousands of other Americans for Human Rights and stand against torture.

Count me in! I want a U.S. President who will not allow torture to happen again in America’s name. All U.S. personnel must uphold the absolute ban on torture and cruel treatment with no exceptions. I do not tolerate "outsourcing" torture or holding prisoners in secret.

Once you sign, we will keep you posted about the range of ways you can "Elect to End Torture" throughout the 2008 presidential campaign. 

Click here to read the petition letter that will be presented to the presidential candidates along with your names.

Human Rights First Unveils Plan to End Torture and Official Cruelty

Both parties' presidential candidates have rejected the use of torture and agree that America's reputation has been damaged by the Bush Administration's policies authorizing abuse of prisoners. Human Rights First offers a step-by-step plan for the next president to end torture and official cruelty and to invest in effective and humane intelligence gathering.

Read the Blueprint

Read the Press Release

Recent Campaign Activities
22 High-Level Retired Military Leaders and Human Rights First Urge President Bush to Fully Implement the McCain Amendment (01/19/06)
Press Release


Congress Puts Bush Administration on Notice: Stop Using Abusive Interrogation Methods (12/22/05)
Press Release

Human Rights First Sues Defense
Secretary Donald Rumsfeld

Read more about the suit
Read about the plaintiffs


9/11 Style Commission Needed to Investigate Abuses
Major Gaps in U.S. Government Investigations into Torture and Abuse - HRF Report
(PDF-401KB)

Retired Military Leaders Call for Independent Investigation into Abu Ghraib and Other Abuses (PDF-27KB)


Ghost Detainees
HRF Report Details Detention of Ghost Prisoners (March 2005) (PDF-486KB)
More >>


HRF Reports on Torture
Major Gaps in U.S. Government Investigations into Torture and Abuse (PDF-401KB)
More About HRF's Campaign to End Torture
More >>




U.S. Government Reports
Schmidt Report
(PDF-1.6MB)

Taguba Report - 800th MP Brigade at Abu Ghraib
(PDF-223KB)

Fay/Jones Report - 205th MI Brigade at Abu Ghraib
(PDF-911KB)

More >>


U.S. Government Memos
John Yoo Torture Memo on Military Interrogations (3/14/2003) (PDF-5.8MB)
Jan. 21, 2005: Abraham Sofaer Letter to Sen. Patrick Leahy (PDF-166KB)
In this letter the former State Department legal adviser takes exception with Alberto Gonzales? interpretation of the ban on cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.
Justice Department Memo on Torture and Interrogation Techniques (8/1/02)
(PDF-2.6MB)

Geneva protections "quaint"; Alberto Gonzales memo to President Bush (1/25/02)
(PDF-593KB)
More >>


Proposed Legislation Creating Independent Panel to Investigate Abuses
S. 12, sec 224 (Sen. Joseph Biden (D-Del) (PDF-25KB)
H.R. 3003 (Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Cal) (PDF-31KB)


Red Cross Reports

Report on Coalition Forces Compliance with Geneva (Feb. 2004) (PDF-1.3MB)


Detention Facilities

Abu Ghraib
Guantanamo Bay
Bagram Airbase
Secret Detention Facilities


Laws and Treaties Prohibiting Torture

Summary of U.S. and International Law
More >>


Report of the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture
(PDF -144KB)



Documentaries

Ghosts of Abu Ghraib
Taxi to the Dark Side

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