It has been 30 years since the United Nations adopted the Convention Against Torture, which commits all governments to combating the abuse.
And yet, torture remains widespread across Asia.
Amnesty International reports there are at least 23 Asia-Pacific countries still carrying out acts of torture. It adds that the true number is likely to be higher.
The human rights group says China and North Korea are among the worst offenders.
Torture is also used to force confessions or silence activists in other countries in the region including India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.
What is needed to finally stop torture?
I posed that question to Roseann Rife, East Asia Research Director of Amnesty International. Click on to hear her thoughts on what can finally end the brutal practice.
These countries should use the term "Enhanced Interrogation Techniques" in place of torture. Then everything will be just fine. This euphemism has worked really well in the US for more than a decade.
It seems odd that the excited states is missing from the list of nations engaged in torture. They torture more people per year than most countries.
Guantanamo bay?
1) Legal access?
2) Reporting of interrogation?
Something tells me this won't get posted.
Excellent subject about torture. It's polemical all around the world. It must be stopped. We are human being, not an animal, even animals are well treated.