June 26 is the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. It commemorates the signing of the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment [CAT]. The United States, a signatory of the CAT, defines torture as “an act committed by a person acting under color of law specifically intended to inflict severe physical or mental pain or suffering upon another person within his custody or control”. Torture by officials around the world is inflicted on people in the dark recesses of prisons, jails, and secret detention centers where the only onlookers are complicit guards or prisoners in peril. Among torture survivors who have received treatment at specialized rehabilitation treatment centers which participated in a national study, 5.7% experienced asphyxiation and survived. We don’t know how many perished. Indeed within our own Center, we have heard some of our patients talk about how they too cried out for their mothers at those moments of total vulnerability.  Torture is about exerting one’s total power over another, and often arises in authoritative systems worldwide that condone such violence upon another human being. The torture of Mr. George Floyd occurred in broad daylight. This raises questions about the prevalence of torture in the United States, the misuse of power, and the number of unknown victims within this country.

Linda Piwowarczyk, MD, MPH

Boston Center for Refugee Health and Human Rights

Boston