This paper looks at the acceptability of torture as a national security policy to combat terrorism. This paper finds that torture is an ineffective and unconstitutional practice. It also explains that torture infringes upon the most basic human rights as well as basic democratic rights. The legalization of torture for antiterrorism would lead to the expansion of torture in the future as society became more accepting of torture. The legalization of torture could increase the amount of torture that occurs across the globe because the United States often sets global precedents.

Article 2 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) states that the freedoms and livelihoods of people throughout the world cannot be compromised or denied based on “colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.” The list of characteristics enumerated in the UDHR seems to protect members of all possible social categories; however, Article 2 fails to explicitly mention sexual orientation as a personal trait protected from discrimination and violence.

Using Gambia as the location, the author explores the question of whether it is possible for Human rights organizations to work with/alongside authoritarian regimes to benefit the people in the country.