Dustin is very focused on Canada’s torture laws at the moment. Very briefly; the law in Canada does not recognize torture as a separate crime when it is committed by a Non State Actor (NSA), or, common citizen. If torture is committed by a State Actor (police, military, someone acting on behalf of a government agency) it is seen as a crime. What this means is that NSA torture is currently prosecuted on the same level as Aggravated Assault which is an insult to those who have endured this horror.

It is Dustin’s (well, ‘our’) wish to have the Government of Canada recognize torture as a separate crime with recourse and retribution fitting and suitable so that sufferers will not feel re-victimized by the trivialization of what they had to endure.

Legally it is made invisible by using an “existing provisions” argument, meaning such acts of torture are misnamed and tried under other existing laws such as simple assault, assault with a weapon, aggravated or sexual assault, forcible confinement, etc.

The results are:

1. The severity of harm a victim suffers is minimized and misunderstood

2. Effective care is not provided

3. A torturer is not held accurately accountable, and

4. Specific investigative, preventive and protective interventions remain undeveloped.

To get even further information, you can visit: http://www.ritualabusetorture.org – a site not done by us, but by two tireless women who have been fighting for this for 17 years,  it has a lot of gut- and heart-wrenching information.

Dustin has made this letter available for people to send to the Prime Minister and/or people’s representative MP’s:

Dear Prime Minister Harper,

Torture is the most horrific violence a human being can suffer and survive, and is considered one of the most evil and brutalizing human rights violations our species is capable of inflicting onto the dignity of another human being. Dustin LaFortune survived months and months of several types… of Non-State Actor Torture (NSAT).

State-actor torture is a specific crime under the Canadian Criminal Code; Non-State Actor Torture (NSAT) is NOT named or listed as a specific crime in the Canadian Criminal Code!!!

Therefore, I urge the Government of Canada to declare Canada a torture free zone – add torture by non-state actors as a specific and distinct crime in the Criminal Code of Canada NOW!!!

Sincerely,

[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, Prov Postal Code]

Join the cause to show your support:

Make Canada a Torture-Free Zone!