Newswise — Sen. Cardin Field Hearing at UMD Will Ask "Is it Torture Yet?"
WHAT:
The University of Maryland will host a field hearing by the U.S. Helsinki Commission that asks: "Is it Torture Yet?"
U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), co-chair of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, is convening the hearing to gather expert testimony on torture and other forms of banned treatment. He'll be joined by the commission chair, Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) and four witnesses, including two Maryland faculty members with expertise in human rights and the legal and ethical issues surrounding torture.
Through testimony and questioning of the witnesses, the Commission will gather more information on what constitutes torture or other forms of prohibited ill-treatment, what legal norms apply and what is known about the effectiveness of various interrogation methods. The hearing is open to the public and members of the University of Maryland community.
The Helsinki Commission, a U.S. Government agency, monitors human rights. Formally known as the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, it was created to monitor progress in the implementation of the provisions of the 1975 Helsinki Accords. The Commission consists of nine members from the United States Senate, nine from the House of Representatives, and one member each from the Departments of State, Defense and Commerce. http://www.csce.gov/
WHO:
Scheduled Witnesses:
Thomas C. Hilde: editor of the book, "On Torture" and research professor at the University of Maryland School of Public Policy. In part, the book covers definitions of torture, its use as a means of control and extracting information, and use of government-sanctioned torture in the modern era. http://www.publicpolicy.umd.edu/facstaff/faculty/Hilde.htmlhttp://muse.jhu.edu/journals/south_central_review/v024/24.1hilde01.pdf
Christian Davenport: professor of political science at the University of Maryland whose primary research interests include human rights violations and radical social movements on the left and right. He conducted extensive research on the Rwandan genocide. He's a senior fellow at Maryland's Center for International Development and Conflict Management. http://www.cidcm.umd.edu/people/cdavenport.htmlhttp://www.bsos.umd.edu/gvpt/davenport/home.htm
Devon Chaffee: Associate Attorney, Human Rights First. Ms. Devon was a contributing author of the publication issued jointly by Human Rights First and Physicians for Human Rights, Leave No Marks: Enhanced Interrogation Techniques and the Risk of Criminality (2007).http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/about_us/staff/chaffee_d.htmhttp://www.humanrightsfirst.org/us_law/etn/nomarks/index.asp
Malcolm Nance: director, Special Readiness Services International; director, International Anti-Terrorism Center for Excellence. Nance is a 20-year veteran of the U.S. intelligence community's "Combating Terrorism" program.http://www.govsecinfo.com/events/speaker_detail.php?sid=359
WHEN:
Monday, Dec. 10 from 10 a.m. to 12:00 noon.
WHERE:
Stamp Student Union (Atrium Room) at the University of Maryland, College Park. The Stamp Student Union is at the intersection of Campus Drive and Union Lane. Directions: http://www.union.umd.edu/visitorInfo/directions.shtmlParking is available next door in the Union Lane Garage.
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