1. The Torture of Prisoners by the US Government An Issue of Human Rights

2. Overview Definition of human rights What constitutes torture?
Guantanamo bay
Protection against torture

3. Human Rights
Webster’s definition of human rights: rights (as freedom from unlawful imprisonment, torture and execution) regarded as belonging fundamentally to all persons
Human rights are rights inherent to all human beings, whatever our nationality, place of residence, sex, national or ethnic origin, color, religion, language, or any other status. We are all equally entitled to our human rights without discrimination. These rights are all interrelated, interdependent and indivisible.

4. TORTURE
According to Article 1 of the United Nations Convention Against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (UNCAT): The term ‘torture’ means any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining information or a confession.

5. Guantanamo Bay
After the 9/11 attacks in 2001, the Bush administration decided to send anyone who had links to terrorist organizations to Guantanamo, contending that US laws do not apply there. It was also decided that detainees were not entitled to any of the protections of the Geneva Convention. Torture techniques include waterboarding, sleep deprivation, isolation, sexual assault and other psychological techniques like mock executions, loud music and sensory deprivation.

6. US Detainees at Guantanamo Bay

7. Protection against torture
The United Nations Convention against Torture is an international human rights treaty, that aims to prevent torture and other acts of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment. The committee Against Torture (CAT) is the body of ten independent individuals that monitors the implementation of the Convention.

8. Essentially the United States, a country which was founded on the principles of human rights as stated in the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence is now turning against the principles and beliefs on which it was created.

9. References
umanRights.aspx
human-rights/
es/CAT.aspx