USA: We Have Crossed the Moral Line on Torture in Some Cases and Accept Responsibility

The U.S. government announced that it has never been indifferent to the issue of torture, but admitted before the UN Committee Against Torture that it has "crossed that line" after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Mary McLeod, the legal advisor to the U.S. government, stated that the country is proud of its record as a nation that has always respected human rights and has led the promotion of these universal rights around the world. However, she added that unfortunately, following the September 11 attacks, it has overlooked its own values in some cases. McLeod reiterated President Barack Obama's statement that the United States "has crossed that moral line and accepts responsibility for it". She is one of 30 senior U.S. officials who appeared before the Committee Against Torture at the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva to respond to questions for the first time. The UN Committee Against Torture is reviewing the cases of 156 member countries regarding the implementation of torture. Allegations against the U.S. include instances of torture by CIA agents in secret detention facilities, the continued detention of prisoners at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, police violence, mistreatment of prisoners, and the detention of illegal immigrants. According to AFP, a senior official from the special committee has stated that there is a common feature in all the committee members' questions regarding the implementation of transparency and accountability by governments. The U.S. government has acknowledged that in the past, during the execution of the so-called "War on Terror" policy, abuses and mistreatment occurred, but Washington has distanced itself from these practices by cleaning up its policies and methods and accepting responsibility. However, human rights activists have deemed the U.S. delegation's emphasis on proper treatment of detainees insufficient, stating that in the past, no punishment has been imposed on the perpetrators of these behaviors, and if full responsibility is ignored, Obama's legacy will be seen as promoting impunity and unaccountability for torture and violence. The UN Committee Against Torture will publish its report on November 28, corresponding to Azar 7.