Perspectives on Torture in Latin America

Merriam-Webster defines torture as “anguish of body or mind; something that causes agony or pain” or “the infliction of intense pain (as from burning, crushing, or wounding) to punish, coerce, or afford sadistic pleasure” (Torture 2011). For our purposes, we will focus on state-sponsored torture. Members of the military and police have almost universally been permitted, or even encouraged, to engage in acts that have resulted in significant physical or psychological pain, sometimes even resulting in death, in order to obtain information or to punish an act considered contradictory to the stated policies of the government. These government agencies would engage in torturous acts ranging from sleep deprivation to rape to mutilation and other forms of physical abuse.