Following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the United States used torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment of terror suspects. Once an international leader in efforts to end torture, the U.S. became a perpetrator.

Americans from across the political spectrum voiced the shared vision that our fight against terrorism must reflect our character and values as Americans. CVT, working with the National Religious Campaign Against Torture, formed a coalition of religious leaders of many faiths, former military commanders, and foreign and security policy experts. The coalition shared the knowledge that torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment not only does not work, but endangers US personnel abroad, discourages political, military and intelligence cooperation from our allies, and ultimately does not enhance our security.

In January 2009, President Obama signed an executive order banning torture and cruelty. His decision, hailed around the world, sent a clear message that the United States was making a decisive break from the policies that led us to use torture.

But much work remains. The Obama Administration continues a policy begun by its predecessor allowing terror suspects to be imprisoned indefinitely without charge or trial. Some Members of Congress have called for legislation that would codify this fundamental violation of civil liberties.

In the last year, torture proponents have consistently criticized the ban on torture. They argue that the return of "harsh interrogation techniques" - what we know constitute torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment of prisoners - is necessary. The lack of accountability for those who wrote and implemented policies permitting torture allow a small but vocal group to rewrite history. Indeed, now more than ever there is a need for an independent, nonpartisan commission to study and report the facts, and offer steps to prevent future abuses.

In 25 years of providing care to torture survivors, we have learned that physical and psychological forms of torture and cruel treatment cause long-lasting health effects, serious pain and unimaginable fear. We also know from our clients that persons being tortured will tell their torturer anything to end their suffering. We will continue to advocate for the following principles:

• Establish an independent, non-partisan commission to examine and report publicly on torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment of detainees in the period since September 11, 2001. The commission should look into the facts and circumstances of such abuses, report on lessons learned, and recommend measures that would prevent any future abuses.

• End extraordinary rendition, secret prisons and forced disappearances.

• Ban the use of information obtained through torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.

• Establish a single national standard for all U.S. personnel and agencies for the interrogation and treatment of prisoners based on international law and the Golden Rule principle. (We will not authorize or use any methods of interrogation that we would not find acceptable if used against Americans, be they civilians or soldiers.)

• Release all documents regarding U.S. interrogation and detention policies;

• Register with the International Committee of the Red Cross all detainees in U.S. custody anywhere in the world, and grant access to those detainees by the ICRC and the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture;

• Assure judicial review (including habeas corpus) so detainees can challenge their detention and treatment;

• Provide victims with legal remedies and as full a rehabilitation as possible as called for by the Convention Against Torture;

• Hold accountable U.S. personnel who are responsible for authorizing and/or implementing the use of torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.