Torture was used against political prisoners in over 70 countries. While torture is usually considered an international rather than a domestic issue, torture occurs in the United States as well. In certain key areas, U.S. practices either directly ignore international standards or create an environment that is conducive to torture and ill treatment. These areas pertain mostly to criminals and prisoners. The research done by Amnesty International showed that beating is by far the most common form of torture, occurring in over 150 countries.
Victims suffer bruises, internal bleeding, broken bones, lost teeth and ruptured organs.
Some die of their injuries. Other method of torture includes rape and sexual abuse, electric shocks, suspension of the body, beating on the soles of the feet, suffocation, mock execution, prolonged solitary confinement, submersion in water, dragging behind a vehicle and sensory deprivation. It is not simply a matter of changing notional laws because most forms of torture and ill treatment are already illegal. Eradicating torture must be understood in the broader context of ending unlawful and unacceptable practices. Today the Urgent Action Network mobilizes activists in 78 countries who respond to urgent cases of many kinds.