Amnesty International/Reprieve conference: Guantánamo - only the tip of an
iceberg of abuse.
"Where is public outrage?" asked Irene Khan, Secretary General of Amnesty
International, on the final day of conference the organisation has hosted
with Reprieve conference.
In the past three days, the conference has highlighted Guantánamo, where
many conference delegates have spent time, as the public face of authority
stepping outside the rule law in the name of the "war on terror".
However, Guantánamo is only the tip of an iceberg of abuse. Secret
detentions, renditions, unfair trials and "disappearances" are practices
that fuel torture and create division; ultimately endangering us all.
"We are forced to grapple with a betrayal of common values, double standards
and double speak," Ms. Khan said. "Only through continuing to work together:
ex-detainees, families, lawyers and other activists -- using a variety of
tactics, from media work to litigation, demonstrations to letter-writing --
can we end the abuse and combat impunity for torture and other ill-treatment
"
"Through AI's global network of activists in 74 countries, we must galvanize
public opinion to work towards achieving security through the respect of
human rights and dignity. We each must take the responsibility of shattering
public apathy. "
In the words of Clive Stafford-Smith, Reprieve's Legal Director: "What are YOU going to do about it?"
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