Torture

Torture

Introduction to Torture

Torture, the infliction of bodily pain or mental suffering either as punishment, to compel a person to confess to a crime or provide information, or to intimidate, coerce, discriminate against, or repress a person or group of people for political purposes. The methods of torture and the reasons for it have varied throughout history. The word torture comes from the Latin term tortus, which means “to twist.”

Throughout history, the extreme measure of torture has often been reserved, even in societies condoning it, for offenses of the highest ideological order, where the offender is perceived as threatening the society’s basic beliefs.

Although torture has been documented throughout much of human history and prohibited by law in many countries, it was not addressed explicitly by international law until the modern human rights movement began following World War II (1939-1945). This movement was born in reaction to crimes against humanity carried out by Nazi Germany and Japan.

Some historians believe torture was carried out more widely in the 20th century than at any other time in human history. And torture continues to be practiced. In the early part of the 21st century, for example, members of U.S. military and intelligence agencies reportedly used methods of torture in Afghanistan and Iraq, and at the detention facility at the U.S. Naval Station in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. In spite of an absolute prohibition against torture under international law, some efforts have been made to justify torture as an appropriate method for combating terrorism. ” (1)

Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment

In relation to the international law practice and torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment in this world legal Encyclopedia, please see the following section:

Human Rights

Note: there is detailed information and resources under these topics during the year 2013, covered by this entry on torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment in this law Encyclopedia.

Torture

Embracing mainstream international law, this section on torture explores the context, history and effect of the area of the law covered here.

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See Also

  • Social Problem
  • Crime
  • Delinquency
  • Juvenile Delinquency
  • Delinquent
  • Social Issues
  • Crime Prevention

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Further Reading

  • The entry “torture” in the Parry and Grant Encyclopaedic Dictionary of International Law (currently, the Encyclopaedic Dictionary of International Law, 2009), Oxford University Press

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Notes and References

Guide to Torture

The Legal History of Torture

This section provides an overview of Torture

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See Also

  • Legal Biography
  • Legal Traditions
  • Historical Laws
  • History of Law

Further Reading

Hierarchical Display of Torture

Politics > Politics and public safety > Public safety > Political violence
Law > Rights and freedoms > Human rights
Law > Rights and freedoms > Rights of the individual > Cruel and degrading treatment

Torture

Concept of Torture

See the dictionary definition of Torture.

Characteristics of Torture

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Translation of Torture

Thesaurus of Torture

Politics > Politics and public safety > Public safety > Political violence > Torture
Law > Rights and freedoms > Human rights > Torture
Law > Rights and freedoms > Rights of the individual > Cruel and degrading treatment > Torture

See also

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