IV 
108TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 687
Recognizing United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Tor-
ture and reaffirming the commitment of the United States to eliminate 
torture in all countries, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 22, 2004
Ms. MCCOLLUM submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on International Relations 
RESOLUTION 
Recognizing United Nations International Day in Support 
of Victims of Torture and reaffirming the commitment 
of the United States to eliminate torture in all countries, 
and for other purposes.
Whereas the United Nations designates June 26, 2004, as 
International Day in Support of Victims of Torture; 
Whereas the United States has agreed to the United Nations 
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states 
‘‘no one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman 
or degrading treatment or punishment’’; 
Whereas the United States is a party to the United Nations 
Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman 
or Degrading Treatment of Punishment (in this resolu-
tion referred to as the ‘‘Convention on Torture’’), which
•HRES 687 IH 
defines the term ‘‘torture’’ as any act by which severe 
pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is inten-
tionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtain-
ing from him or a third person information or a confes-
sion, punishing him for an act he or a third person has 
committed or is suspected of having committed, or intimi-
dating or coercing him or a third person, or for any rea-
son based on discrimination of any kind, when such pain 
or suffering is inflicted by or at the instigation of or with 
the consent or acquiescence of a public official or other 
person acting in an official capacity; it does not include 
pain or suffering arising only from, inherent in, or inci-
dental to lawful sanctions; 
Whereas the United States Congress reaffirmed its commit-
ment to healing the men, women, and children victimized 
by acts of state sponsored torture and abuse when it 
passed the Torture Victims Relief Reauthorization Act of 
2003 (Public Law 108–179); 
Whereas section 2441 of title 18, United States Code, relat-
ing to war crimes, defines a war crime ‘‘as a grave 
breach in any of the international conventions signed at 
Geneva 12 August 1949, or any protocol to such conven-
tion to which the United States is a party’’; 
Whereas section 2441 of title 18, United States Code, also 
provides that ‘‘Whoever, whether inside or outside the 
United States, commits a war crime . . . shall be fined 
under this title or imprisoned for life or any term of 
years, or both’’; 
Whereas the people of the United States abhor the use of tor-
ture by any government or person, including law enforce-
ment and military personnel and private individuals 
under contract with the United States Government;
•HRES 687 IH 
Whereas incommunicado detention facilitates the use of tor-
ture and other forms of cruel, inhumane, or degrading 
treatment or punishment, and may constitute, in and of 
itself, a form of such practices; 
Whereas the victims of torture and other forms of cruel, in-
humane, or degrading treatment or punishment and their 
families often suffer devastating effects and therefore re-
quire extensive medical and psychological treatment; and 
Whereas medical personnel and torture treatment centers 
play a critical role in the identification, treatment, and 
rehabilitation of victims of torture and other forms of 
cruel, inhumane, or degrading treatment or punishment: 
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives—
(1) recognizes the United Nations International 
Day in Support of the Victims of Torture and ex-
presses support for all victims of torture and other 
forms of cruel, inhumane, or degrading treatment or 
punishment who are struggling to overcome the 
physical scars and psychological effects of such prac-
tices, as well as their family members and caregivers 
who support and assist in the healing process; 
(2) condemns the use of torture and other 
forms of cruel, inhumane, or degrading treatment or 
punishment in the United States and all countries; 
(3) encourages the training of law enforcement 
and military personnel and private contractors who 
are involved in the custody, interrogation, or treat-
•HRES 687 IH 
ment of any individual who is arrested, detained, or 
imprisoned, in the prevention of torture and other 
forms of cruel, inhumane, or degrading treatment or 
punishment, in order to reduce and eradicate such 
practices; 
(4) reaffirms the commitment of the United 
States to eliminate torture in all countries and to 
ensure that no individual in the employment of the 
United States Government or under contract with 
the United States Government engages in any act 
which constitutes torture or any act of physical or 
mental abuse that is cruel, inhumane, or degrading; 
and 
(5) reaffirms the commitment of the United 
States to the Universal Declaration of Human 
Rights, the Convention Against Torture, the Torture 
Victims Relief Reauthorization Act of 2003 (Public 
Law 108–179), the prohibitions against war crimes 
in title 18, Untied States Code, and any inter-
national convention or law that protects individuals 
from torture or other cruel, inhumane, or degrading 
punishment or treatment.
Æ