Title: U.N. Body Condemns Torture: It's Time for the U.S. to Own Up and Take Action It's 2023, and yet we still find ourselves reading headlines about the use of torture in detention centers around the world. The latest news from the United Nations panel condemning the United States and seven other nations for torture of prisoners at Guantánamo Bay is both disheartening and infuriating. The fact that this is happening on American soil only adds to the gravity of the situation. In particular, the panel's call for the release of Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri should be heeded. Al-Nashiri is accused of orchestrating the bombing of the Navy destroyer Cole and yet he has been subjected to years of torture while awaiting his capital trial. This is a clear violation of human rights and due process, and it's time for the U.S. to own up to its mistakes and take corrective action. The United States should take this condemnation from the U.N. as an opportunity to reassess its policies and practices when it comes to detention and interrogation. It's clear that the use of torture is both ineffective and immoral, and it's time to abandon it altogether. Furthermore, the U.S. should take steps to ensure that detainees at Guantánamo Bay are treated in accordance with international human rights law. This means regular visits by independent monitors, access to legal representation and fair trials. We must also recognize that the use of torture not only violates the rights of the individual detainees, but it also has wider implications for national security and international relations. If the U.S. is seen as flouting human rights in its detention centers, it is only going to make it harder for us to work with other nations in important matters such as counterterrorism. In conclusion, the U.N.'s condemnation of torture at Guantánamo Bay should serve as a wake-up call to the United States. It's time to take a hard look at our policies and practices and make concrete changes to ensure that the basic human rights of all individuals in our custody are respected. Anything less would be a betrayal of our values and our obligations under international law. The panel denounced the United States and seven other nations. It also called for the release of Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, who is accused of orchestrating the bombing of the Navy destroyer Cole.
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