Immigrant Detainees Tortured, Degraded in the US: Report from Chicago’s John Marshall Law School
(PRWEB) October 22, 2014 -- Torture is occurring right now in our community. The John Marshall Law School’s International Human Rights Clinic wants you to know that currently across the United States, there is pervasive mistreatment and abuse of adult immigrant detainees in U.S. detention facilities.
“Asylum seekers in search of safety and protection often find themselves arrested and imprisoned upon entry to the United States. Immigrants are criminalized for trying to seek protection and dehumanized by harsh detention conditions,” according to the report.
Groups from around the United States are joining The John Marshall Law School’s International Human Rights Clinic today in proclaiming torture in their own communities. The nationwide action, which can be followed on Twitter via #endtorture, is being coordinated by the US Human Rights Network to coincide with Stop Police Brutality Day and the United Nations Convention Against Torture Day of Action.
“By formally accepting this treaty 20 years ago, the U.S. Government made a commitment to end the use of torture and inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment." said Ejim Dike, Executive Director of US Human Rights Network. "Sadly, the U.S. Government has failed to meet this obligation and people continue to be subjected to torture, and cruel and dehumanizing treatment in the United States. The death penalty, police brutality, shackling of pregnant women, and the state of prison and detention conditions are all forms of torture. We need to end torture in all its forms now.”
The International Human Rights Clinic at The John Marshall Law School in Chicago will host a forum on Nov. 12, 2014, on the recent developments in the United States immigrant detention system in relation to the United Nations’ review of the U.S. Government’s compliance with the Convention Against Torture. The event has the purpose of shedding light onto current policies and practices that are in violation of the Convention Against Torture, including the government’s failure to sufficiently address cruel and inhumane treatment of immigrant detainees within U.S. borders.
Read The John Marshall Law School’s International Human Rights Clinic and Heartland Alliance’s National Immigration Justice Center’s report, “Joint Submission to the U.N. Committee Against Torture, Concerning the United States’ Mistreatment of Immigrant Detainees in Violation of the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.”
About The John Marshall Law School International Human Rights Clinic
The International Human Rights Clinic promotes human rights domestically and around the world by providing direct legal representation to clients and organizations in international and domestic forums; documenting human rights violations in the United States and abroad; collaborating with other human rights organizations on cases and projects; and publishing and presenting reports, papers and other materials related to human rights.
Christine Kraly, The John Marshall Law School, http://www.jmls.edu, +1 (312) 427-2737 Ext: 171, [email protected]
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