In this New York Times lesson, students research the recent history of torture in the U.S., examine opinions about whether torture is ever justified, and engage in a debate on the issue. (2011-20)

Released in August 2009, The Torture Archive contains primary source documents related to the ”detention and interrogation of individuals by the United States, in connection with the conduct of hostilities in Iraq and Afghanistan.” (GWU 2009)

Is torture ever justified? What if innocent lives are at stake? This excerpt from the BBC documentary “Justice: A Citizen’s Guide to the 21st Century” examines the debate between Kantians and utilitarians on human dignity (2011).

The 6,000-page report details actions by CIA officials and findings of the study of the Detention and Interrogation Program between 2001 and 2006 during the ʺWar on Terrorʺ. The final report was approved on December 13, 2012, by a vote of 9–6, with seven Democrats, one Independent, and one Republican voting in favor of publication and six Republicans voting in opposition ...

Aufgrund aktueller Folterberichte (Guantanomo und Abu Ghraib) setzt sich die Lerngruppe mit völkerrechtlichen Normen (Genfer Konvention, UN-Konvention) auseinander. Texte aus unterschiedlichen Perspektiven regen zur Diskussion an. (Alan Shapiro: Teachable Moment 2005)

Im Jahr 2021 wies ein Bericht von Amnesty International nach, dass die staatlich organisierte Masseninhaftierung, Folter und Verfolgung durch die chinesischen Behörden Verbrechen gegen die Menschlichkeit darstellt (2023).