The term torture means the action or practice of inflicting severe pain on someone as a punishment or to force them to do or say something, or for the pleasure of the person inflicting the pain. Torture is not only immoral but experts have said that torture is impractical and ineffective. Torture dates back to 530 A.D. In the 12th Century Roman law was edited so that officials could use torture in criminal proceedings. Even though torture has been used for a long time there were people even then that were against it. In the 4th century philosophers such as Aristotle realized that those under pressure are just as likely to give false evidence as true. They also understood that the person being tortured can make false accusations against others in hope of being sooner released. Torture is being used in modern war all over the world as well. Lynching, stun belt, third degree, police brutality and much more are forms of torture that is still happening today. Torture can cause negative feelings towards the society that practices it. People that practice torture are considered evil and this may affect the publics opinion of them. Torture is medieval and inhumane. The use of torture is not acceptable even on a Legislative level. Article 3:1(a) of the Geneva conventions restrict the use of violence to life and person, in a particular murder of all kinds, mutilation, cruel treatment and torture (Securing Liberty). The U.N Convention Against Torture says No exceptional circumstances whatsoever, whether a state of war or a threat of war, internal political instability or any other public emergency, may be invoked as a justification for torture." Also in article 5 of The United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights says that No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. The same thing is applied in The United Nations Convention Against Torture, and the Rome Stature of the International Criminal Court.
