Shadow Report to the United Nations Committee Against Torture on the Review of the Periodic Report of the United States of America

Prepared by: Advocates for U.S. Torture Prosecutions Dr. Trudy Bond, Prof. Benjamin Davis, Dr. Curtis F. J. Doebbler, and The International Human Rights Clinic at Harvard Law School

Summary: Since the United States last reported to the Committee Against Torture in 2006, even more evidence has emerged confirming that civilian and military officials at the highest level created, designed, authorized, and implemented a sophisticated, international criminal program of torture. In August 2014, President Barack Obama conceded that the United States tortured people as part of its so-called “War on Terror,” yet the United States continues to shield senior officials from liability for these crimes, in violation of its obligations under the Convention Against Torture.

Recommended Questions:
1. Why has the United States not prosecuted senior officials for authorizing conduct it admits was torture?
2. Were the following people ever criminally investigated for their role in torture, and why have they not been prosecuted?
a.Former President George W. Bush
b.Former Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) at
the Department of Justice lawyer John Yoo
c.Former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) contractor Dr. James Mitchell

Suggested Recommendation:
1.That the United States promptly and impartially prosecute senior military and civilian
officials responsible for authorizing, acquiescing, or consenting in any way to acts of torture committed by their subordinates

To read the full 45 page report click here.