USA: No impunity for war crimes: US administration seeking to amend the War Crimes Act

USA: No impunity for war crimes: US administration seeking to amend the War Crimes Act

Index Number: AMR 51/136/2006
Date Published: 10 August 2006
Categories: Americas, USA

Amnesty International is concerned that the United States administration is seeking to persuade Congress to narrow the scope of the US War Crimes Act to prevent prosecutions of US personnel for humiliating and degrading treatment of detainees in the "war on terror". The organization believes that any such measure would undermine the rule of law and send a dangerous message about impunity. Torture and ill-treatment thrive on impunity.