On this International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, we stand in solidarity with survivors worldwide and sound the alarm about policies and actions that threaten the legal protections and weaken human rights mechanisms created to prevent and punish acts of torture and abuse. 

For four decades, the Convention Against Torture (CAT) has served as one of the strongest safeguards against torture, and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, affirming that no person, under any circumstances, should be subjected to it. It requires governments to prevent torture, hold perpetrators accountable, and provide redress to survivors. The U.S., upon the advice and consent of the Senate, joined the treaty in 1990. The CAT’s protections extend beyond borders and circumstances: from migrants and refugees, human rights defenders, religious minorities, journalists and political dissidents, to travelers, businesspeople, and military personnel – including U.S. citizens abroad. It remains essential to safeguarding human dignity and the rule of law.

Yet, around the world, individuals continue to be subjected to treatment, conditions and practices that inflict lasting psychological and physical harm, including those fleeing persecution in search of refuge. In the United States, this includes excessive use of force by law enforcement, inhumane treatment in prisons and detention facilities including prisoners on death row, corporal punishment and removal without due process of individuals to third countries, such as to CECOT in El Salvador, where they face abuse or torture. 

Survivors of torture themselves have affirmed that torture does not end when the abuse stops. It breaks bodies and spirits. Its effects remain in scars and minds, in families and communities, compounded by long struggles to be believed, to access care and to obtain justice. The CAT recognizes this harm, requires accountability and empowers survivors with rights to rehabilitation and redress. That demands attention. 

Survivors are not merely witnesses. They are rights-holders and agents of change. They are entitled to truth, accountability, and to meaningful participation in designing and strengthening justice systems to ensure those systems are survivor centered. The U.S. should be proud to be a party to a treaty seeking to end torture. On this day, we call on the United States and governments around the world to double their efforts to eradicate torture and uphold, in practice, their obligations under CAT to protect people from this irreparable harm, support survivors, and ensure no one, under any circumstances, is at risk of being subjected to it. 

Justice for survivors is not a matter of charity. It is a legal obligation and moral imperative.

Signatures

1. AACI-Center for Survivors of Torture
2. ACAT Belgium
3. Albanian Rehabilitation Center for Torture Victims – ARCT
4. Almonqith organization for Human Rights
5. American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
6. American Friends Service Committee (AFSC)
7. Amnesty International USA
8. Asia Alliance Against Torture (A3T)
9. ASSAF
10. Association jeunesse pour la paix et la Non violence
11. Boston Center for Refugee Health and Human Rights
12. CAGE International
13. Campaign for Peace, Disarmament and Common Security
14. Campaña Colombiana Contra Minas
15. Canadian Centre for Torture Victims
16. Cedar Centre for Legal Studies
17. Center for Constitutional Rights
18. Center for Gender & Refugee Studies
19. Center for International Policy
20. Center for Justice and Accountability
21. Center for Victims of Torture
22. Centre de Documentation et de Formation sur les Droits de l’Homme (CDFDH)
23. Church Women United in New York State
24. Church World Service
25. Close Guantanamo
26. Coalition to Stop Trident
27. Consortium des Associations de Jeunes Pour la Défense des Victimes de Violences en Guinée (COJEDEV )
28. Council for Global Equality
29. Counselling Services Unit
30. De Novo Center for Justice and Healing
31. Defending Rights & Dissent
32. Drug Policy Alliance
33. EATIP (Equipo Argentino de Trabajo e Investigación Psicosocial)
34. Ecumenical Officer, Council of Bishops, United Methodist Churc
35. Ensaaf
36. FEDERATION DES FEMMES POUR LE DEVELOPPEMENT INTEGRAL AU CONGO “FEDICONGO”
37. Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL)
38. GIPA
39. Global Justice Center
40. Guantanamo Survivors Fund
41. Heartland Alliance International
42. Hindus for Human Rights
43. Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters, USA-JPIC
44. Human Rights First
45. Human Rights Watch
46. ICAR foundation
47. Immigrant Guide
48. Independent Medico-Legal Unit
49. Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace
50. International Peace Bureau (IPB)
51. International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT)
52. Irish Council for Civil Liberties
53. Jiyan Foundation for Human Rights
54. Jiyan Stiftung für Menschenrechte e.V.
55. justice network for prisoners JNP
56. JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF)
57. Kenya Human Rights Commission
58. Kenya Workers Rights and Harmonization Program
59. L.I.Alliance for Peaceful Alternatives
60. Latin America Working Group (LAWG)
61. Lebanese Center for Human Rights (CLDH)
62. Legend Golden Care Foundation (LGCF)
63. Liberia Association of Psychosocial Services (LAPS)
64. Listening and Assistance Center, LAC
65. Marjorie Kovler Center, Heartland Alliance International
66. Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns
67. MCT- MEDICI CONTRO LA TORTURA – ROMA (IT)
68. Medical Action Group
69. MPower Change Action Fund
70. Multifaith Voices for Peace & Justice
71. Muslim Counterpublics Lab
72. Muslim Justice League
73. Mwatikho Torture Survivors Foundation
74. National Immigrant Justice Center
75. National Religious Campaign Against Torture
76. New England Survivors of Torture and Trauma
77. North Carolina Council of Churches
78. North Carolina Peace Action
79. North Carolina Stop Torture Now
80. Oasis Legal Services
81. Omega Research Foundation
82. ourconstitution.info
83. Pax Christi USA
84. Peace Catalyst International
85. Peoples’ Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR)
86. Physicians for Human Rights
87. PRAWA
88. Program for Torture Victims
89. Provincial Council Clerics of St. Viator
90. Psychosocial Centre for Refugees Duesseldorf e.V. (Germany)
91. RCT RehabiliteringsCenter for Traumatiserede
92. Refugee Council USA
93. Reprieve
94. Reprieve US
95. Robert & Ethel Kennedy Human Rights Center
96. Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre
97. September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows
98. Services, Immigrant Rights and Education Network (SIREN)
99. SOHRAM- CASRA Centre d’Action Sociale, Réhabilitation et Adaptation pour la Victime de la Torture, de la guerre et de la Violence
100. Somali Human Rights Association (SOHRA)
101. SOVIP
102. StoptheDrugWar.org
103. T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights
104. Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP)
105. Tea Project
106. Temblores ONG
107. The National Immigration Law Center
108. Torture Abolition and survivors Support Coalition International TASSC
109. Transcultural Psychosocial Organization Nepal (TPO Nepal)
110. TTCO
111. U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI)
112. United Church of Christ
113. Upper Hudson Peace Action
114. Vive Žene, Center for therapy and rehabilitation
115. Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA)
116. Win Without War
117. Witness Against Torture
118. Women and Children Protection, WCP
119. Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom UK
120. World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT)