HUMAN RIGHTS DAY – END TORTURE NOW

Human rights are our common heritage and their realization depends on
the contributions that each and every one of us is willing to make,
individually and collectively, now and in the future.
Louise Arbour, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

On December 10th the international community celebrates and observes
Human Rights Day. This year the United Nations, in celebrating Human
Right Day, has highlighted the issue of ending torture. The Universal
Declaration of Human Rights offers 30 articles that are necessary for the
promotion of the dignity of all humanity. Yet it is important to keep in
mind that articles 1-11 are fundamental to this document since they refer
to the most basic rights of the individual, that is, the right to life, liberty,
and personal security. This year our nation has been scandalized by the
ongoing violation of these fundamental rights through its use of torture. In
promoting Human Rights Day we offer our own reflection and action on
the issue of torture.

TORTURE

Whatever violates the integrity of the human person, such as mutilation,
torments inflicted on body or mind, attempts to coerce the will itself… all
these things and others of their like are infamies indeed. They poison
human society, but they do more harm to those who practice them than
those who suffer from their injury. Moreover, they are a supreme
dishonor to the Creator.
Gaudium et Spes, #27, Second Vatican Council, 1965

The 8th Day Center for Justice unequivocally opposes the use of torture,
anywhere and by anyone. Torture is an inhumane reality perpetuated by
several governments around the world, including our own US
government. The use of torture, much like the use of terrorism, is legally
a massive violation of human rights and morally a grave sin against God
and against humanity. Our U.S. government has the oldest constitution
and as Americans it is an embarrassment to grossly violate our own law
as expressed under the 8th Amendment of the U.S. Bill of Rights (no
cruel and unusual punishment). The Universal Declaration of Human
Rights and the entire U.N. Convention against Torture, both being
documents that have been ratified by our government, also promote this
principle.

No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading
treatment or punishment.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 5

As people of faith we call on our government to end this heinous
practice and to establish laws and policies that will not allow the use of
torture by any American or by any body or department of our
Government as well as to support international standards and structures
to end the practice of torture.

For More Information:
Amnesty International, denounce torture
http://www.amnestyusa.org/stoptorture/index.do
Stop Torture Now
http://www.stoptorturenow.org/site/index.html

ACTIONS
Please call or email your Senators and Representative
(see Sample Letter/Talking Points below).
You may find their contact information at http://www.congress.org or at the
Capital switchboard toll free at 888-818-6641 or 888-355-3588.
Toll calls at 202-224-3121.

1. Express your outrage by our nation’s acceptance of  the use of
torture, including the outsourcing of terror to other countries. Ask your
representative to support legislation that will protect the 8th Amendment
by definitely ending the use of torture.

2. Specifically ask them to urge their colleagues on the conference
committee to keep the McCain amendment
(http://www.phrusa.org/research/torture/mccain_text.html) -- in its entirety as
passed by the Senate -- in the final version of the FY 2006 Defense
Appropriations bill.

For resources on this action visit the Legislative action site of the
Physicians for Human Rights.
(http://www.phrusa.org/research/torture/action_mccain.html)

3. Also, please urge your Representative to become a cosponsor of the
Torture Outsourcing Prevention Act, bill H.R. 952,
(http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c109:H.R.952:) thanking those
who have already joined as cosponsors.

This bill seeks to ban "extraordinary rendition," a process in which the
U.S. kidnaps and transfers individuals, for the purpose of detention,
interrogation, trial, or otherwise, to countries in which torture or other
inhuman treatment of persons is known to occur. This practice is in
direct violation of the Convention Against Torture, to which the U.S. is
party.

HR 952 would require the State Department to provide Congress with a
list of countries that routinely practice torture or subject persons to cruel
and inhuman treatment. The legislation would prohibit the U.S. from
transferring persons to those countries without using legal extradition
procedures.

You can find out which representatives have become cosponsors from
the Legislative Action Center, of the Friends Committee on National
Legislation. (http://capwiz.com/fconl/issues/bills/?bill=7187426).

SAMPLE LETTER/TALKING POINTS
Dear Senator/Congressperson________

I am outraged by  our nations acceptance of the use of torture, including
 the policy of Extreme Rendition wherein the US government transfers
prisoners to other countries where they are subjected to torture by US
or other persons. As a person of faith, I call on you to end this heinous
practice and to establish laws and policies that will not allow the use of
torture by any American or any body or department of our government,
including the policy of Extreme Rendition, as well as to support
international standards and structures to end the use of torture.

Specifically, I ask that you support the following legislative efforts to
protect the 8th Amendment:

1. Urge your colleagues on the conference committee to keep the
McCain Amendment in its entirety --as passed by the Senate -- in the
final version of the FY 2006 Defense Appropriations bill.

2. Become a cosponsor of the Torture Outsourcing Prevention Act, bill
H.R. 952 (or thank them if they  have already joined as cosponsors.)

This bill seeks to ban "extraordinary rendition," a process in which the
U.S. kidnaps and transfers individuals, for the purpose of detention,
interrogation, trial, or otherwise, to countries in which torture or other
inhuman treatment of persons is known to occur. This practice is in
direct violation of the Convention Against Torture, to which the U.S. is
party.

HR 952 would require the State Department to provide Congress with a
list of countries that routinely practice torture or subject persons to cruel
and inhuman treatment. The legislation would prohibit the U.S. from
transferring persons to those countries without using legal extradition
procedures.

Thank you,