Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 112 Part 5.djvu/258

 112 STAT. 3016 PUBLIC LAW 105-320—OCT. 30, 1998 Public Law 105-320 105th Congress An Act — To provide a comprehensive program of support for victims of torture. [H.R. 4309] Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of Torture Victims the United States of America in Congress assembled, Relief Act of 1998. SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 99 Tmr* 91 ^^9 note This Act may be cited as the "Torture Victims Relief Act of 1998". 22 USC 2152 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. Congress makes the following findings: (1) The American people abhor torture by any government or person. The existence of torture creates a climate of fear and international insecurity that affects all people. (2) Torture is the deliberate mental and physical damage caused by governments to individuals to destroy individual personality and terrorize society. The effects of torture are long term. Those effects can last a lifetime for the survivors and affect future generations. (3) By eliminating the leadership of their opposition and frightening the general public, repressive governments often use torture as a weapon agednst democracy. (4) Torture survivors remain under physical and psychological threats, especially in communities where the perpetrators are not brought to justice. In many nations, even those who treat torture survivors are threatened with reprisals, including torture, for carrying out their ethical duty to provide care. Both the survivors of torture and their treatment providers should be accorded protection from further repression. (5) A significant number of refugees and asylees entering the United States have been victims of torture. Those claiming asylum deserve prompt consideration of their applications for political asylum to minimize their insecurity and sense of dainger. Many torture survivors now live in the United States. They should be provided with the rehabilitation services which would enable them to become productive members of our communities. (6) The development of a treatment movement for torture survivors has created new opportunities for action by the United States and other nations to oppose state-sponsored and other acts of torture. (7) There is a need for a comprehensive strategy to protect and support torture victims and their treatment providers, together with overall efforts to eliminate torture.

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