The world should not sit back and ignore the blatant violation of basic human rights. Without human rights, the world would be in total chaos. Yet torture, the most pernicious violation of human rights, continues to be used as a means of interrogation. Even here in the United States of America, authorities use torture to obtain the information they need from foreign prisoners of war. Torture, even in the most extreme conditions, should never be permitted. Under no circumstances should the act of torture be used, as proven by its violation of international law, human rights and the false information provided by torture. Torture, according to the law, is undoubtedly illegal. In 1975, the United Nations General Assembly approved the Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (Pope). This vote, being unanimous, means that all countries of the United Nations are subject to this law: including the United States. However, in authoritarian states, citizens who are ordered to participate in torture may claim that they are simply loyal citizens. Even in the United States, where freedom of expression is permitted, torture continues to prevail. The Guantanamo Bay prison has sparked controversy for years. Prison is used to keep enemies of the state in custody until they are tried and/or confess. The CIA's interrogation tactics have been called into question in recent years. Most information about the offshore prison is unknown to the public, even though the Freedom of Information Act has been passed. The CIA detained people without warning, calling it “enforced disappearance.” Thousands of pages, now public, testify that torture was used as a means of interrogation...... middle of paper ...... Publishers, 2001. eBook.Jayatunge, Ruwan M. "Psychological effects of torture." Groundviews.org. Groundviews, April 15, 2010. Web. March 10, 2011. http://groundviews.org/2010/04/15/psychological-effects-of-torture/.Pope, Kenneth S. “Torture.” KS Pope. Academic Press, October 2001. Web. March 1, 2011. http://kspope.com/torvic/torture-abst.php. Schell, Jonathan. "What's wrong with torture." Common dreams. Jonathan Schell, January 20, 2005. Internet. February 28, 2011. http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0120-25.htm.Siems, Larry. "Chapter 1- Origins." The report on torture. American Civil Liberties Union, October 16, 2009. Internet. February 25, 2011. http://www.thetorturereport.org/report/chapter-1-origins.Strong, Susan C. “Torture Leads to Lies.” AlterNet. AlterNet.org, November 30, 2007. Web. March 3, 2011. http://www.alternet.org/rights/69363/.