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To commemorate the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture (June 26), please contact your members of Congress and ask them to increase funding for Leahy Law vetting. The Leahy Law restricts U.S. aid to foreign security forces (police, military, and other) that are credibly alleged to have engaged in torture. It is an important tool for ensuring that U.S. tax dollars aren't given to torturers in other countries.
In FY 2012, only $2 million were available to determine whether foreign security forces engaged in torture. Given the challenge of investigating security forces from countries in the midst of political and civil strife, this amount is insufficient. As a result, we risk U.S. funds going to torturers.
Please contact Congress now. Tell them to increase funding for Leahy Law vetting so that no U.S. funds go to those who torture. Go to the NRCAT website and click on the "write to your members of Congress" link in the third paragraph.