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 evil violation of human rights, continues to be used as a means of interrogation. Even here in the United States of America, officials resort to torture to get the information they need from foreign prisoners of war. Torture, even under the most terrible conditions, should never be allowed. The act of torture should not be used under any circumstances, as demonstrated by the violation of international law, human rights and false information provided by torture. Torture, by law, is undoubtedly illegal. In 1975, the United Nations General Assembly passed 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 every country in the United Nations is subject to this law: including the United States. In authoritarian states, however, citizens ordered to take part in torture may claim that they are simply loyal citizens. Even in the United States, where free speech is allowed, torture still prevails. Guantanamo Bay prison has been a subject of controversy for years. Prison is used to hold 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. Much of the information about the offshore prison is unknown to the public, even though the Freedom of Information Act was passed. The CIA detained people without warning, calling it an "enforced disappearance." Thousands of pages, now public, testify that torture was used as an interrogation... half of the 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 Papa. Academic Press, October 2001. Web. 1 March 2011. http://kpope.com/torvic/torture-abst.php.Schell, Jonathan. “What's wrong with torture?” Common dreams. Jonathan Schell, January 20, 2005. Network. February 28, 2011. http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0120-25.htm.Siems, Larry. "Chapter 1- Origins." The torture report. American Civil Liberties Union, October 16, 2009. Network. 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/.