Thursday 19 May 2011

Psychologists Propose Broadening the Definition of Torture

In a new study, two psychologists claim that the international legal definition of torture is 'psychologically untenable' and argue that is should be broadened significantly.The researchers focus on the term 'severe' as it is used to describe 'physical or mental pain or suffering', and suggest that there is a strong tendency to underassess severity. Perhaps the problem they raise can be solved by interpreting the definition rather than revising it. They make a good case for a broad understanding of 'severity'. This is an interesting example of interdisciplinary issues in human rights.
Thanks to David Scheffer.

2 comments:

Evelyne said...

In this respect, there is a very interesting ongoing case: Four residents of Ohio filed a complaint with the state psychology board. They allege that Larry James, a retired Army colonel who served as a senior interrogation psychologist at the military base in Guantánamo Bay advised on interrogations that included torture. The complaint to the Ohio Psychology Board was dismissed and the four residents now filed for a writ of mandamus in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, asking the Court to compel the Board to take action against Dr. James.
http://harvardhumanrights.wordpress.com/category/u-s-health-professionals-involved-in-torture/

Evelyne said...

In this respect, there is an interesting ongoing case in the US: Four residents of Ohio filed a complaint with the state psychology board. They allege that Larry James, a retired Army colonel who served as a senior interrogation psychologist at the military base in Guantánamo Bay advised on interrogations that included torture. The complaint to the Ohio Psychology Board was dismissed and the four residents have filed for a writ of mandamus in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, asking the Court to compel the Board to take action against Dr. James.
http://harvardhumanrights.wordpress.com/category/u-s-health-professionals-involved-in-torture/