Torture is Universally Illegal

Torture is prohibited under international and national laws, with no exceptions. The United Nations Convention Against Torture (UNCAT) bans torture globally, obligating all signatories to prevent and prosecute acts of torture. This prohibition extends to the United States and most other nations, where torture is a crime and punishable by law. Importantly, these laws apply universally, regardless of wartime status, national security, or states of emergency​.

As many as 1.3 million refugee torture survivors live in the U.S.

The UN reports that 110 million people have been displaced from their homes. This is a crisis unprecedented in history. And according to CVT’s research, up to 1.3 million refugees living in the U.S. have survived torture. This is as high as 44 percent of all refugees in the U.S. Your neighbor could be a survivor.

What is the purpose of Torture?

Torture is used to break down people’s will, ultimately destroying trust and communities. When torture is used to create fear, people become afraid to speak up. CVT’s clients often tell us they were not tortured to gain information; they were tortured to punish, injure and silence them. Torture is about control. Its purposes often include:

While often justified by governments as a means of intelligence gathering, many survivors report that torture was inflicted to punish, silence, or intimidate them rather than to extract information.

How Torture Impacts Human Needs

The effects of torture extend beyond physical injury, targeting core human needs like safety, self-worth, control, trust, and connection. Victims often experience:

• Heightened insecurity and constant anxiety.
• Loss of self-worth from the humiliation and powerlessness of torture.
• Isolation from community as they struggle to reconnect and rebuild trust.

These impacts disrupt survivors’ relationships and social functioning, affecting families and entire communities.

Psychological or Physical?

Torture has severe psychological effects, which can be just as damaging as physical wounds. Techniques like sleep deprivation, stress positions, and intimidation tactics can cause long-term psychological trauma, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety. This form of psychological torture does not leave physical scars, but it severely damages an individual’s emotional and mental health.

Many people associate torture with scars. But torturers have perfected ways of inflicting grave pain without ever leaving a mark on the flesh: forced nakedness and sexual humiliation, stress positions, sleep deprivation, sensory overload, sensory deprivation and mock executions. From a medical and psychological perspective, these abuses constitute torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment. Learn more about the hidden harms of torture.

Children are Not Safe

In conflict zones and oppressive regimes, children are sometimes tortured or used as leverage against their parents. The psychological and physical damage to children can be profound and long-lasting, highlighting the urgent need for protective measures and rehabilitative care.

For example, a ten year-old Syrian girl, was violently grabbed by a man one day. He threw her by her arm into a pickup with other screaming children. She was taken to force her father to turn himself in. They put her with other children in a dark dungeon, underground, for 22 days. Read more stories about her here.

Rehabilitative Care is Essential for Survivors

Survivors of torture benefit greatly from rehabilitative care, which can address the complex physical and psychological trauma they endure. Proper therapy and community support help restore survivors’ sense of safety, trust, and self-worth, enabling them to heal and rebuild their lives.

CVT’s holistic approach to healing, which includes physical and psychological treatment, social service, and community connections, empowers survivors to rebuild their lives and overcome the trauma they have experienced. If you are looking for help, please check here.

Understanding these facts about torture underscores the importance of legal frameworks, community support, and global awareness in preventing and responding to torture. Comprehensive rehabilitative care is crucial to helping survivors reclaim their lives and move forward.