Torture

About: Torture is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 8173 publications have been published within this topic receiving 109895 citations.

International Human Rights Lexicon

Abstract: Arms Children Culture Death Penalty Democracy Detention Development Disability Disappearance Education Fair Trial Food Globalization Health Housing International Crimes Media Privacy Protest Racism Religion Sexuality Terrorism Torture Universality Victims Women Work

Ten years on : Obama's war on terrorism in rhetoric and practice

Abstract: Ten years after the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington DC on September 11, 2001, the United States remains embroiled in a long-term struggle with what George W. Bush termed the existential threat of international terrorism. On the campaign trail, his successor as US President, Barack Obama, promised to reboot the ‘war on terror’. He claimed that his new administration would step back from the rhetoric and much of the Bush administration policy, conducting a counterterrorism campaign that would be more morally acceptable, more focused and more effective—smarter, better, nimbler, stronger. This article demonstrates, however, that those expecting wholesale changes to US counterterrorism policy misread Obama's intentions. It argues that Obama always intended to deepen Bush's commitment to counterterrorism while at the same time ending the ‘distraction’ of the Iraq War. Rather than being trapped by Bush's institutionalized construction of a global war on terror, the continuities in counterterrorism can be explained by Obama's shared conception of the imperative of reducing the terrorist threat to the US. The article assesses whether Obama has pursued a more effective counterterrorism policy than his predecessor and explores how his rhetoric has been reconstituted as the actions of his policy have unfolded. By addressing his policies toward Afghanistan and Pakistan, Guantanamo Bay and torture, the uses of unmanned drone attacks and domestic wire-tapping, this article argues that Obama's ‘war’ against terrorism is not only in keeping with the assumptions and priorities of the last ten years but also that it is just as problematic as that of his predecessor.

The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment

Abstract: French edition: 24 e rapport général du Comité européen pour la prévention de la torture et des peines ou traitements inhumains ou dégradants (CPT) The opinions expressed in this work are the responsibility of the author(s) and do not necessarily refect the ofcial policy of the Council of Europe.

Violence against Women in Northern Uganda: The Neglected Health Consequences of War

Abstract: This article presents a summary of research intervention work carried out in waraffected Northern Uganda by Isis-WICCE, a women’s international non-government organisation, in conjunction with the Ugandan Medical Association and funded by Medica Mondiale, a German-based foundation The findings of this research demonstrate the serious effects of sexual violence and torture experienced on women’s physical and psychological health However, this paper also describes women’s key role in trying to bring peace to this region, as well as their resistance and survival strategies It is recommended that funding is urgently required for the provision of sustainable, gender sensitive physical and psychological health services in this region Women’s campaign for justice for the atrocities they have suffered should be heard by the International Criminal Court Further recommendations are made with respect to policy changes in line 1 Helen Liebling-Kalifani is a Lecturer-Practitioner in Clinical Psychology, Coventry & Warwick Universities She is a member of African Psycare Research Organisation (APRO) and helped establish the clinical psychology masters course at Makerere University Together with Isis-WICCE and APRO, she has been working with war-torture survivors since 1998 Her PhD followed up their earlier work in Luwero District She has been awarded ESRC funding, the Phil Strong Research Prize, an Applied Research Fellowship and British Academy funding to continue this work 2 Ruth Ojiambo-Ochieng is the Executive Director of Isis-Women’s International Cross Cultural Exchange, Isis-WICCE, Kampala, Uganda This is a global action oriented women’s non-government organisation with the aim of promoting justice and women’s human rights Their major areas of focus since 1996, is documenting women's realities in armed conflict and peace situations from a human rights perspective IsisWICCE were awarded a prize for their outstanding achievements as an NGO from Geneva in 2005 3 Angela Marshall, MA, LLM, is a senior lecturer in the Coventry School of Law, Coventry University She teaches at undergraduate and postgraduate level in gender and law, human rights and criminal justice She is a qualified solicitor, and has taught across a range of legal disciplines She has also taught in Kenya, East Africa Her particular interest is in the human rights of women 4 Juliet Were-Oguttu is the Programme Coordinator – Information and Documentation at Isis-WICCE She coordinates the documentation and research on women’s realities in armed conflict Further information can be found at http://wwwisisorug/ 5 Seggane Musisi is a Consultant Psychiatrist and the Head of Psychiatry at Makerere University, Uganda He is the founding member of APRO, who carry out research and intervention work with war-torture survivors He has published widely in this area He was also a Fulbright New Century Scholar and a visiting researcher at Oregon Health Sciences University, Canada 6 Eugene Kinyanda is a Lecturer and Consultant Psychiatrist at the Medical Research Council, Entebbe He carried out his PhD research on the topic of suicides He is a member of APRO and has assisted with the ongoing research and intervention work with Isis-WICCE He is currently carrying out pilot intervention projects in Northern Uganda, which involves training health workers in the psychological and medical management of war survivors utilising a manual produced by Isis-WICCE

The Fine Line between Interrogation and Retribution

Abstract: The use of harsh interrogation techniques on terrorism suspects is typically justified on utilitarian grounds. The present research suggests, however, that those who support such techniques are fuelled by retributive motives. An experimental study conducted with a broad national sample of U.S. residents found that the desire for harsh interrogation is largely isomorphic with the desire to punish, and that both effects are mediated by the perceived moral status of the target, but not the perceived effectiveness of the interrogation. Results are discussed with regard to retributive justice and the national policy on interrogation and torture.