Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) has introduced a bill to Reaffirm US Commitment to Uphold Prohibitions on Torture in International Law:. It needs your support:. We received this by e-mail:

Senator Richard Durbin (IL) has introduced an amendment to the Defense Authorization bill to reaffirm US commitment to the Geneva Conventions, the Convention Against Torture, and the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights, and to affirm unequivocally the prohibition against torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment. The notorious photos taken at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq demonstrate that U.S. personnel have been responsible for acts of torture and other forms of abuse, in violation of the US commitments under domestic and international law. It is imperative that the Durbin Torture Amendment receives strong, bipartisan support to send a message around the world that the U.S. opposes such abuse and will uphold international standards for human rights.

Please call or fax your Senator immediately to urge him/her to support the Durbin Torture Amendment to the Defense Authorization bill. If you do not know the number for your Senators’ offices, call the Capitol switchboard: 202-224-3121. We urge you to call your two Senators, given that the Defense Authorization bill is currently under consideration in the Senate.

Here's a sample letter you can send your Senators. Here's the text of the bill. Here's why we need this bill. The main points are: