Comdemning Torture and Abuse of Prisoners

The following resolution was passed by the Democratic National Committee at its meeting on August 19, 2006.

Submitted by:
Michael A. Ceurvorst, Chair, Democrats Abroad Terry Lierman, Chair, Maryland
Lottie Shackelford, DNC Vice Chair/Arkansas Mark Brewer, DNC Vice Chair, President ASDC/Michigan
Mike Honda, DNC Vice Chair/California
Susan Turnbull, DNC Vice Chair/Maryland
Steven K. Alari, California
Robert Bell, Democrats Abroad
Constance Borde, Democrats Abroad
Susan Burke, Democrats Abroad
Liv Gibbons, Democrats Abroad
Renee Gill Pratt, Louisiana
Ben L. Jeffers, At-Large/Louisiana
James K. Metcalfe, Chair, Alaska
Theresa Morelli, Democrats Abroad
Christine Pelosi, California
Leo Perez Minaya, Democrats Abroad
Brent O'Leary, Democrats Abroad
Mirian Saez, At Large/California
Christine Schon Marques, Democrats Abroad

Resolution condemns any incident of abuse of prisoners or the use of torture by any agent or agency of the United States

WHEREAS, torture violates the U.S. Constitution, statutes, and core American beliefs in the dignity and integrity of each person that have always been essential to our system of government and way of life; and

WHEREAS, torture also violates a fundamental prohibition of current international law and specifically the Geneva Conventions, and its breach is considered a crime of universal jurisdiction; and

WHEREAS, torture is not a partisan concern and constitutes a violation that all Americans should resolutely oppose in principle and in practice; and

WHEREAS, rejecting torture re-affirms fundamental American beliefs in the essential dignity of each human being, provides common ground with current and aspiring democracies around the world, and undercuts terrorist recruitment by reaffirming American commitment to human rights; and

WHEREAS, a failure to take a stand against torture and its practice by any agent or agency of our United States of America can be seen to jeopardize our system of values and governance; and

WHEREAS, numerous credible allegations of torture by agents or agencies of the United States await adequate investigation to establish accountability;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Democratic National Committee (DNC) hereby condemns any incident of abuse of prisoners or the use of torture by any agent or agency of the United States; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the DNC reaffirms the importance of making human rights and the rule of law guiding forces for conduct by all agents and agencies of the government of the United States, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the DNC calls on all Americans to demand accountability for those who have demonstrably engaged in torture and those whose policies condoned, allowed, or encouraged the practice of torture and violation of international conventions.