Fact Sheet
Bureau of International Organization Affairs
Washington, DC
November 4, 2002
The U.S. Commitment: The United States condemns unequivocally the despicable practice of torture. We have fought to eliminate it around the world. Political will is critical. The United States has led international efforts to put pressure on governments to publicly condemn torture; enact legislation; investigate and prosecute abusive officials; train law enforcement officers and medical personnel, and provide compensation and rehabilitation for victims.
International Organizations: At the international level, the U.S. has strongly supported the work of the UN special rapporteur against torture, who regularly visits nations to ensure compliance with international norms. The U.S. is a Party to the UN Convention Against Torture, which 130 other nations have ratified. The Convention establishes the Committee Against Torture, which considers complaints and conducts visits to countries where torture is alleged. In addition, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and other humanitarian organizations conduct visits to prisons and other places of detention in an effort to prevent or remedy torture. The U.S. is the world’s largest donor to the UN Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture; we contributed $5 million in FY 2002.
Draft Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture (DOPCAT): The DOPCAT would establish a new international oversight body, independent from the Committee Against Torture, which would be required to inspect detention facilities in all nations that are States Parties to the protocol. Such visits to these countries would be scheduled in advance on a rotating basis, rather than conducted on an ad hoc basis. Because of the optional nature of this treaty, many of the worst human rights offenders would not be subject to its provisions. The U.S. opposes funding this program through the UN regular budget, which would require the United States to pay 22% of the total implementation costs. Only parties to the protocol should pay implementation costs. The proposed DOPCAT regime represents a potential diversion of resources from the work of other more results-oriented bodies, including the UN Committee Against Torture. Because the United States abhors torture, we seek the strongest means to end this terrible practice. The DOPCAT does not accomplish that.
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