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Torture has long been a controversial and divisive topic, with debates raging over its morality, effectiveness, and legality. From ancient times to the present day, torture has been used as a means of extracting information, punishing criminals, and asserting power. While many argue that torture is an abhorrent violation of human rights, others believe it is a necessary evil in certain circumstances.

If you are tasked with writing an essay on the topic of torture, you may be struggling to come up with a suitable topic. To help you get started, here are 100 torture essay topic ideas and examples:

• The history of torture: from ancient civilizations to modern times
• The ethics of torture: is it ever justified?
• The effectiveness of torture as a means of obtaining information
• The psychological effects of torture on both victims and perpetrators
• The legal implications of torture in international law
• Torture in the context of war: is it a legitimate tool of warfare?
• The use of torture in interrogations: does it produce reliable information?
• The role of torture in authoritarian regimes
• Torture and human rights: can they ever be reconciled?
• The impact of torture on society as a whole
• The cultural perceptions of torture in different societies
• The role of torture in the fight against terrorism
• The use of torture in prisons: is it a form of punishment or abuse?
• The role of torture in the criminal justice system
• The moral dilemmas faced by those who engage in torture
• The psychological justifications for torture
• The role of torture in the context of political dissent
• The impact of torture on the victims' families
• The use of torture in the context of religious persecution
• The role of torture in shaping public opinion
• The impact of torture on society's perception of justice
• The use of torture in the context of gender-based violence
• The role of torture in the context of colonization and imperialism
• The impact of torture on the victims' physical health
• The role of torture in the context of social control
• The use of torture in the context of mental health treatment
• The impact of torture on the victims' ability to trust others
• The role of torture in the context of state-sponsored violence
• The use of torture in the context of political persecution
• The impact of torture on the victims' sense of self-worth
• The role of torture in the context of military training
• The use of torture in the context of conflict resolution
• The impact of torture on the victims' ability to form relationships
• The role of torture in the context of human experimentation
• The use of torture in the context of social justice movements
• The impact of torture on the victims' ability to function in society
• The role of torture in the context of psychological warfare
• The use of torture in the context of cultural assimilation
• The impact of torture on the victims' sense of identity
• The role of torture in the context of political propaganda
• The use of torture in the context of racial discrimination
• The impact of torture on the victims' ability to seek justice
• The role of torture in the context of religious extremism
• The use of torture in the context of political corruption
• The impact of torture on the victims' ability to feel safe
• The role of torture in the context of state-sanctioned violence
• The use of torture in the context of political manipulation
• The impact of torture on the victims' ability to recover
• The use of torture in the context of psychological manipulation
• The role of torture in the context of gender-based violence
• The use of torture in the context of colonization and imperialism

These essay topics cover a wide range of issues related to torture and can serve as a starting point for your research and writing. Whether you choose to explore the history of torture, the ethics of its use, or its impact on society, there is no shortage of material to delve into. Remember to approach the topic with sensitivity and empathy, and to consider the perspectives of both victims and perpetrators in your analysis. Good luck with your essay!

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Torture and Human Rights Violation Essay

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Torture remains one of the most controversial issues yet to be solved. The contemporary world is pursuing principles of democracy and tolerance. All countries propagate such ideas. Ironically, at the same time torture is still an indispensible part of many people’s lives in both developing and developed world (Davis, 2005).

It is important to note that people in developed countries still resort to torture even though they may share democratic values. Moreover, certain ethical theories may justify torture. Nonetheless, the arguments provided are quite inconsistent. Therefore, it is time to make it perfectly clear that torture has no right to exist in the USA which is considered to be an exemplary democratic state.

Torture violates basic human rights and is against the law of nature. People have no right to torture other people even in the name of the overall good. It is important to define torture as an immoral practice which should be eliminated as justification or even silent tolerance of torture can have global implications.

In the first place, it is necessary to define the word to void any misinterpretation. According to the “Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhumane, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment” which was adopted in 1984, torture is:

any act any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him or a third person information or a confession. (Davis, 2005, p. 163)

Now it is possible to take a closer look at instances of torture in the American society. For instance, torture was a police ethics issue and it was referred to as “the Dirty Harry Problem” (as cited in Davis, 2005, p. 161). The problem was named after a “bad” police officer in the 1971 film. In the film the police officer named Harry tortured a criminal who kidnapped and killed a girl. In the 1970s, people tried to understand whether torture could be justified. Though, the problem remained in the terrain of police ethics.

However, recent events show that the issue has broader implications and it should be considered thoroughly. Davis (2005) provides an example of 2002 news concerning American soldiers who tortured prisoners and combatants in Afghanistan, Guantanamo Bay and Iraq. The researcher notes that the government never provided a clear explanation of the events and their position on the possibility of resorting to torture.

On the one hand, the government “publicly condemned “torture” and blamed the well-documented instances on “a few bad apples” (poorly trained guards, rogue intelligence officers, and so on)” (Davis, 2005, p. 162). On the other hand, the government reported about new ways of interrogating prisoners and combatants, though they did not specify what exactly was meant by those new ways. Therefore, it becomes obvious that torture is still present in the US society.

Though it is officially condemned, it is justified in a variety of cases. There are still two camps in the American society. Some claim that torture cannot be justified and should be eliminated, while others stress that there are cases when torture is inevitable for the good of many.

Followers of such ethical theories as Deontological ethical theory or Natural Law condemn torture and claim that it cannot exist in the human society. For instance, in terms of Deontological ethical theory torture is unacceptable practice as it cannot become the so-called universal law.

According to Deontologists, torture “violates fundamental principles of humanity” (Bellamy, 2006). If torture can be applied to combatants, terrorists, prisoners or inmates, it becomes applicable in other situations and settings. In that case, torture in everyday settings should also be justified and any misdeed can lead to violence. Admittedly, violence leads to more violence. Clearly, torture is inappropriate and immoral practice which cannot exist in the human society.

As for the ethical theory of Natural Law, it also condemns torture which is unnatural (Banks, 2008). Again, it is stressed that torture violates major principles of humanness. There is no torture in the wild. Animals do not torture each other. Since a human is a part of the world of animals, torture cannot exist in the world of humans either (Banks, 2008). No individual can feel he/she has the right to cause pain and suffering to another person.

However, there is an ethical theory that justifies torture. Arguments justifying torture can be found within Teleological ethical theory. Thus, proponents of this ethical approach claim that consequences of the act define whether the act is rightful or wrongful. Thus, if torture is a tool that can make combatants or terrorists reveal important information which can save people’s lives, the tool can be used.

Sufferings of an individual can be justified if they will lead to the good of many. Of course, it is not articulated but it is still an important factor to be mentioned that combatants and terrorists are regarded as hostile aliens and enemies, which makes their sufferings less significant for proponents of the approach.

Nonetheless, opponents of this approach argue that sufferings of a close person or people’s personal sufferings would be seen differently (Banks, 2008). More so, effectiveness of the tool has not been proved as people often say anything to stop their torturers (Bellamy, 2006). Furthermore, there are certain pharmacological tools which can make people tell the truth. Therefore, the act of causing a person pain is not anymore an inevitable act of mercy to other people, but a simple sadistic act.

Admittedly, nothing can justify torture as no human being can cause suffering (physical or mental) to another human being. This is violation of basic human rights. All people are equal and no one can have the right to do wrong to another individual. Importantly, victims are not the only affected people.

Torture leads to a certain corruption of the very human nature as people causing pain to other people will inevitably lose major human characteristics. People causing suffering are likely to become cruel and violent. They can soon lose the sense of reality as it is unnatural to see (and cause) pain. This is also inhumane to make people cause suffering to another person, and, in this way, lose major human characteristics.

It is important to note that the issue has to be solved as soon as possible as the contemporary world needs clearly cut values. Globalization is one of the major reasons why torture should be eliminated as ideas, values and practices spread all over the world and people should focus on propagating real values and rightful practices.

Supposedly, torture remains an acceptable practice in the developed world. Globalization will contribute to the spread of such practices. Countries where torture was condemned can reconsider attitude toward this practice. Torture as a tool to cause pain to a restricted number of people to save thousands and millions will soon turn into a common practice applicable in all spheres of people’s life.

More so, this will have another implication on the global scale. The system of people’s values can become corrupted. People will reconsider values, which can lead to a distorted understanding of what is right and what is wrong. Justification of torture will inevitably lead to justification of any kind of violence. The entire basis of humanity can be reconsidered. Of course, this scenario is highly unlikely to happen as in the majority of countries people condemn torture of any kind.

On balance, it is necessary to note that the ethical issue concerning torture is to be solved in the nearest future as justification of torture can corrupt major human characteristics. This issue has been considered throughout centuries and there are a number of theoretical approaches to solve the issue. There is even at least one ethical theory that justifies torture. Thus, followers of Teleological ethical theory claim that suffering of an individual can be justified if many can be saved.

Nonetheless, it is important to remember that no reason can be sufficient to justify torture as it violates basic human rights. Not only the victim’s rights are violated, but the torturer’s basic right to live in accordance with certain (societal or personal) moral conventions is also violated. Justification of torture will inevitably have a number of implications globally.

It can lead to corruption of the major human values as well as corruption of the very nature of humanity. Of course, no society can afford such kind of corruption in the contemporary globalized world as the world is becoming small and major human values start playing paramount importance since these values help people cooperate and develop.

Reference List

Banks, C. (2008). Criminal justice ethics: Theory and practice. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications.

Bellamy, A.J. (2006). No pain, no gain? Torture and ethics in the war on terror. International Affairs, 82 (1), 121-148.

Davis, M. (2005). The moral justifiability of torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment. International Journal of Applied Philosophy, 19 (2), 161-178.

• Current Human Rights Issues
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Essays on Torture

Confronting Torture

Essays on the ethics, legality, history, and psychology of torture today.

Edited by Scott A. Anderson and Martha C. Nussbaum

384 pages | 6 x 9 | © 2018

Law and Legal Studies: Law and Society

Philosophy: Ethics

Political Science: Public Policy

Psychology: Social Psychology

Sociology: Social Change, Social Movements, Political Sociology

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Torture essay.

The practice of torture is so ancient that its origins are lost in the distant past. However, recorded history shows that all major civilizations practiced it, either as a form of punishment or as a means of obtaining information. The ancient Egyptians, Assyrians, Greeks, Persians, Romans, and Chinese left records of it, and the Bible recounts many examples.

During the 15th and 16th centuries in Europe, the Holy Inquisition used torture to elicit confessions of heresy or other beliefs or actions contrary to the dogma of the Catholic Church. During the 17th century, suspected witches were subjected to tortures for essentially the same purpose, with those found guilty of heresy or of witchcraft burned alive.

Examination of ancient castles reveals areas reserved as prisons and designed to be as unpleasant as possible. Some spaces were simply deep pits below the lower floor of a castle tower, where a prisoner was literally dropped and then left until such time as someone cared to retrieve him. Such spaces are called “oubliettes,” after the French word oublier, meaning “to forget.” Sometimes formal detention facilities were in basement areas with barred entrances. These were usually too low for a person inside to stand upright, and their location permitted frequent flooding from ground water or the castle moat. In general, the quarters reserved for housing prisoners were themselves a mode of torture.

Modern practices of torture have several possible goals: extraction of information, incitement of fear or terror, inflicting pain to punish, obtaining a confession pursuant to a criminal investigation, or, in rarer instances, application of pain for perverse sexual pleasure.

Legal Barriers to Torture

Among Western nations, legal barriers to torture became universal between 1750 and 1820, partly as a result of the Enlightenment and partly in recognition that torture was not an effective method of obtaining confessions or information, since the victim would say anything to make the torture stop. The Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution prohibits “cruel and unusual punishment,” thereby outlawing torture.

International efforts to end torture by legislation resulted in a number of conventions. Article 1 of the UN Convention Against Torture defines torture as “any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person… when such pain or suffering is inflicted by or at the instigation of or with the consent or acquiescence of a public official.” The European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment also prohibit torture. The Geneva Convention Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War also specifically prohibits torture and mistreatment of prisoners. This is but the latest in a series of Geneva Conventions beginning in 1864, all of which prohibited torture. Article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of the United Nations states, “No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.”

Despite this apparent universality of legal bars to torture, resistance to its abandonment was remarkably stubborn, and local police routinely brutalized prisoners to elicit confessions well into the 20th century. Many nations still allow their police to beat and torture prisoners, especially throughout Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

Torture Methods

Generally, torture attempts to obtain compliance from the victim by inflicting or threatening severe pain or mutilation or through psychological methods, where one is deprived of sleep, disoriented, isolated, and in some instances subjected to sensory deprivation and the application of drugs. Threats or displays of torture of others may also be used.

Torture methods vary by culture and utilize available technology. The ancient Greeks wrote about the use of a brazen bull in which victims were roasted to death. The Romans practiced crucifixion and flagellation (whipping with a special multistrand whip weighted with lead at the ends). In the Middle Ages, the state and/or the church used mechanical devices in torture. The thumbscrew, rack, and iron maiden are a few of the best known of these tools of torture.

Modern torture methods vary by country. For instance, Latin American countries favor using la capucha, placing a hood filled with noxious fumes over the victim’s head, and submarino, suspending upside down by the ankles and submerging in a barrel of water until the victim nearly drowns. Many Arab states practice falanga, beating the soles of the feet with a narrow hard object, inflicting excruciating pain and leaving the victim unable to walk. Strapping may be part of other torture methods, or a torture by itself, and involves immobilizing the individual in unnatural positions by means of ropes or other restraints.

In the United States, where the law prohibits torture, intelligence agencies practice forms of psychological torture and teach them to agents of other nations. The CIA has run a training program for decades at the School of the Americas at Fort Benning, Georgia, teaching many interrogation techniques, including those defined as forms of torture, as illustrated by the acts committed at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq.

Rape and sexual abuse are common methods of torture worldwide. Both men and women may be subjected to sexual abuse and mutilation to humiliate them and break down their will to resist questioning. Societal taboos about sexuality often work in favor of the torturer, so that the victim becomes a social outcast as well as a traumatized torture survivor. Soldiers, insurgents, guerilla fighters, and paramilitary forces routinely use severe beatings and rape to torture and terrorize the civilian population.

Implements of torture can be ordinary tools or utensils, or sophisticated techniques, including drugs, behavioral conditioning, and acupuncture. Electronic immobilization devices (stun guns), which emit high-voltage shocks, are other implements of torture.

Most arguments justifying the use of torture tend to be pragmatic, such as the “ticking bomb” scenario proposed by legal expert Alan Dershowitz. However, modern interrogation techniques are far more effective than torture in extracting factual information. When laws prevent security agencies from using torture within their home countries, they sometimes resort to involuntary removal of prisoners to countries where torture is still practiced.

The Torturers

Little sets torturers apart from other people. Some become torturers out of political or social conviction or a religious belief. Child soldiers engage in torture because they are themselves terrorized by their commanders, or because they are trying to impress their fellow troopers with their “toughness.” Some members of security forces regard it as routine job performance. Some torturers may be sociopaths, but in other instances the government trains people to perform torture and commit atrocities. In societies where torture is traditionally used, no shame or guilt attaches to its performance, and therefore police, security, and military personnel will act as torturers without compunction, even though the practice may be unlawful. In many instances, torture techniques may be developed and practiced with the assistance of health care professionals, in violation of ethical standards.

Results of Torture

The individual torture survivor suffers many consequences of the torture, some physical, some mental. These can be acute or chronic and come at great cost to the individual, the family, and society, with the possibility of long-term disabilities resulting from the torture and related maltreatment.

Psychological consequences of torture include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, phobic reactions, guilt feelings (especially survivor guilt), sexual dysfunction (especially in rape victims), and personality changes. Torture survivors often turn to substance abuse in an attempt to self-medicate their trauma. Family members may even develop PTSD vicariously or suffer ambiguous loss when individuals are abducted by security forces or militias.

Another consequence of torture to society is the loss of educated and skilled individuals. Wherever torture and atrocities were committed against the civilian population, the bulk of the middle class disappeared. These individuals were some of the first targets of rebel forces, and those not killed often fled the country entirely, their potential contribution to their nation lost forever.

Treatments for Torture Victims

Treatment of survivors of torture varies with the availability of facilities within the society, the willingness of victims to access treatment, and the training available to health care professionals. While the prevalent method of treatment worldwide has been psychodynamic, evidence shows that other methods are more effective and efficient. Cognitive-behavioral therapy, pharmacological treatment, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), and conjoint marital and family therapy have all successfully reduced symptoms and improved the long-term functioning of torture survivors. Especially needed is family therapy in cases where entire families were terrorized as a result of the torture or disappearance of a family member.

The Abolition of Torture

Several nongovernmental agencies attempt to combat torture worldwide through monitoring, publicity campaigns, public education, and humanitarian efforts. These include Amnesty International, the UN Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights in Geneva, the International Red Cross, Physicians for Human Rights, and the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims in Copenhagen, Denmark. These organizations also train professionals and paraprofessionals in how to deal with trauma and publicize the consequences of torture and trauma for society. Recently, commissions of truth and reconciliation served a role in raising public awareness of torture and its use in armed conflicts within some societies.

Bibliography:

• American Psychiatric Association. 2000. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 4th ed. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.
• Boss, Pauline. 2000. Ambiguous Loss. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
• Duner, Bertil, ed. 1999. An End to Torture: Strategies for Its Eradication. New York: Zed.
• European Union. 2000. Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. Brussels, Belgium: European Union.
• Foa, Edna B., Terence M. Keane, and Matthew J. Friedman, eds. 2004. Effective Treatments for PTSD. New York: Guilford.
• Forrest, Duncan, ed. 1996. A Glimpse of Hell: Reports on Torture Worldwide. New York: New York University Press.
• Harbury, Jennifer K. 2005. Truth, Torture, and the American Way. Boston: Beacon Press.
• Levinson, Sanford, ed. 2004. Torture: A Collection. New York: Oxford University Press.
• Prip, Karen. 1994. “Physical Torture Methods and Their Sequelae.” Torture (suppl. 1):9—13.
• Timerman, Jacobo. 2002. Prisoner without a Name, Cell without a Number. Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin Press.

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