[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 687 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 687

 Recognizing United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of 
    Torture and reaffirming the commitment of the United States to 
      eliminate torture in all countries, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 22, 2004

Ms. McCollum submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
                the Committee on International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Recognizing United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of 
    Torture and reaffirming the commitment of the United States to 
      eliminate torture in all countries, and for other purposes.

Whereas the United Nations designates June 26, 2004, as International Day in 
        Support of Victims of Torture;
Whereas the United States has agreed to the United Nations Universal Declaration 
        of Human Rights, which states ``no one shall be subjected to torture or 
        to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment'';
Whereas the United States is a party to the United Nations Convention Against 
        Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment of Punishment 
        (in this resolution referred to as the ``Convention on Torture''), which 
        defines the term ``torture'' as any act by which severe pain or 
        suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a 
        person for such purposes as obtaining from him or a third person 
        information or a confession, punishing him for an act he or a third 
        person has committed or is suspected of having committed, or 
        intimidating or coercing him or a third person, or for any reason based 
        on discrimination of any kind, when such pain or suffering is inflicted 
        by or at the instigation of or with the consent or acquiescence of a 
        public official or other person acting in an official capacity; it does 
        not include pain or suffering arising only from, inherent in, or 
        incidental to lawful sanctions;
Whereas the United States Congress reaffirmed its commitment to healing the men, 
        women, and children victimized by acts of state sponsored torture and 
        abuse when it passed the Torture Victims Relief Reauthorization Act of 
        2003 (Public Law 108-179);
Whereas section 2441 of title 18, United States Code, relating to war crimes, 
        defines a war crime ``as a grave breach in any of the international 
        conventions signed at Geneva 12 August 1949, or any protocol to such 
        convention to which the United States is a party'';
Whereas section 2441 of title 18, United States Code, also provides that 
        ``Whoever, whether inside or outside the United States, commits a war 
        crime . . . shall be fined under this title or imprisoned for life or 
        any term of years, or both'';
Whereas the people of the United States abhor the use of torture by any 
        government or person, including law enforcement and military personnel 
        and private individuals under contract with the United States 
        Government;
Whereas incommunicado detention facilitates the use of torture and other forms 
        of cruel, inhumane, or degrading treatment or punishment, and may 
        constitute, in and of itself, a form of such practices;
Whereas the victims of torture and other forms of cruel, inhumane, or degrading 
        treatment or punishment and their families often suffer devastating 
        effects and therefore require extensive medical and psychological 
        treatment; and
Whereas medical personnel and torture treatment centers play a critical role in 
        the identification, treatment, and rehabilitation of victims of torture 
        and other forms of cruel, inhumane, or degrading treatment or 
        punishment: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes the United Nations International Day in 
        Support of the Victims of Torture and expresses support for all 
        victims of torture and other forms of cruel, inhumane, or 
        degrading treatment or punishment who are struggling to 
        overcome the physical scars and psychological effects of such 
        practices, as well as their family members and caregivers who 
        support and assist in the healing process;
            (2) condemns the use of torture and other forms of cruel, 
        inhumane, or degrading treatment or punishment in the United 
        States and all countries;
            (3) encourages the training of law enforcement and military 
        personnel and private contractors who are involved in the 
        custody, interrogation, or treatment of any individual who is 
        arrested, detained, or imprisoned, in the prevention of torture 
        and other forms of cruel, inhumane, or degrading treatment or 
        punishment, in order to reduce and eradicate such practices;
            (4) reaffirms the commitment of the United States to 
        eliminate torture in all countries and to ensure that no 
        individual in the employment of the United States Government or 
        under contract with the United States Government engages in any 
        act which constitutes torture or any act of physical or mental 
        abuse that is cruel, inhumane, or degrading; and
            (5) reaffirms the commitment of the United States to the 
        Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Convention Against 
        Torture, the Torture Victims Relief Reauthorization Act of 2003 
        (Public Law 108-179), the prohibitions against war crimes in 
        title 18, Untied States Code, and any international convention 
        or law that protects individuals from torture or other cruel, 
        inhumane, or degrading punishment or treatment.
                                 <all>