March 13, 2006 --

American values, and is antithetical to the core beliefs in the integrity of the individual on which the United States was founded;

WHEREAS torture violates one of the most basic prohibitions of international law - a prohibition so fundamental that its breach is considered a crime of universal jurisdiction, prosecutable in any competent court worldwide;

WHEREAS this is not a partisan concern, not an issue limited to one part of the political spectrum and is a matter that all Americans, and their friends around the world, should insist be meaningfully addressed and changed;

WHEREAS a society that rejects torture affirms the essential dignity and humanity of each individual. A society that refrains from torture is best able to find common ground with would-be allies around the world, build a cooperative front against terrorism and present a positive ideal that counters terrorist recruitment. A society that eschews torture upholds the rules of human rights that, in the end, provide the best argument for why it is wrong for the terrorists to attack ordinary citizens;

WHEREAS if this fundamental right is not affirmed, it risks rocking the foundation on which all of our rights rest;

WHEREAS there is no more important rights violation facing America today; 

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Executive Committee of the Democratic Party Committee Abroad hereby: CONDEMNS any incident of abuse of prisoners or the use of torture by any agent or agency of the United States; and REAFFIRMS the importance of making human rights and the rule of law guiding forces for United States conduct.