It is devastating that in the 21st century we’re seeing the acceptance of torture rising around the world. Authoritarian governments continue to clamp down on dissent and use torture to silence activists and destroy lives. And now, the US has re-elected a President who has advocated torture, and previously spoken publicly about how he believes torture “works”.
As someone who works with survivors of torture, I know that President Trump’s statements are not only wrong but extremely dangerous. His re-election may be seen as a green light by torturing states around the world, and we should all be very concerned.
President Trump’s re-entry to the White House follows the 40th anniversary of the United Nations Convention against Torture, a landmark document in the fight against torture. But shockingly, torture is on the rise. Time and time again, we’re seeing authoritarian regimes show how willing they are to use torture as a tool to silence and to repress in countries such as Afghanistan and Iran, from which survivors of torture in the UK often seek sanctuary.
