Human Rights First Reports on Torture

Attorney General Nominee Gonzales’ Rights Record (PDF-340KB)
As White House Counsel, Alberto Gonzales helped influence Bush Administration law and policy on military matters, yet he consistently ignored established military doctrine and refused to heed the advice of career uniformed officers. This report examines Mr. Gonzales’ views on torture, interrogation, and the relationship between the President and the Constitution.


Behind the Wire, an update to Ending Secret Detentions Behind the Wire, an update to Human Rights First’s Ending Secret Detentions, assesses the nature and scope of the United States’ worldwide military and intelligence detention system. While identifying a few positive developments, the report finds that the number of detentions worldwide is on the rise, as is secrecy regarding the system overall. The report also unearths a previously undisclosed detention facility in Peshawar, Pakistan.


Major Gaps in U.S. Government Investigations into Torture and Abuse
(PDF-401KB) Months after the Abu Ghraib photos were published – and more than two years after the first death in custody related to the U.S. “War on Terrorism” - we are still not in a position where we can say that we know how to prevent such abuses from happening again. Indeed, many of the policies and procedures that opened the door to these sorts of abuses are still in place. This report examines the investigations that have taken place and makes recommendations about what more needs to be done.