Print this Email this

Obama commits to close Guantánamo

18 November 2008, 11:23AM

President-elect Obama's statement in a CBS interview on 16 November that he will follow through on his commitment to close the detention centre at Guantánamo Bay is an important step in the right direction.

"Amnesty International welcomes the President-elect's confirmation that he intends to close Guantánamo and ensure that the USA does not use torture. We urge him to seize the initiative after taking office in January and to prioritise ending all internationally unlawful detention and interrogation practices by the USA," said Rob Freer, Amnesty International's researcher on the USA.

"We urge President-elect Obama to turn his words into action within the first 100 days of his presidency and demonstrate his commitment to meeting the USA's international obligations, including by signing an executive order prohibiting torture and other ill-treatment, as defined under international law.

"President George W. Bush also said that the USA would not torture, but the use of "waterboarding" and other "enhanced interrogation techiques" against detainees held in secret CIA custody and the torture or other ill-treatment of detainees in Afghanistan, Iraq and Guantánamo have told a different story. They reveal the sad and disturbing fact that the USA has authorized and justified the use of torture and other unlawful practices in the name of national security," said Rob Freer.

Amnesty International is also calling on the President-elect to support an independent commission of inquiry into all aspects of the USA's detention and interrogation practices in the "war on terror", and to ensure full accountability for human rights violations committed in that context.

The organization has written to President-elect Obama to urge him to ensure that closing Guantánamo, ending torture and other ill-treatment, and supporting a commission of inquiry are among his priorities for his first 100 days in office.

See Amnesty International's checklist for President-elect Obama.

Sorry, commenting is no longer available in this weblog entry.

Make an impact

You can make a difference right now. Your action will help to shine the light of hope into people's lives across the world.

You can make a difference right now. Your action will help shine the light of hope into people's lives across the world.

Check out what 77,945 people are doing right now to support human rights.

Act now

Stay Informed

Sign up for email updates

Subscribe using RSS

Get Involved

Two Columbian boys smiling and holding their arms out with their thumbs up - a sign of hope

Amnesty International relies on your support to continue our vital work protecting human rights. Please help us keep governments accountable, bring the guilty to justice, and save lives.

Donate