The Center for Victims of Torture announced that President Clinton signed the Torture Victims Relief Act on Friday, October 30, 1998. The bill provides funding for treatment centers that care for victims of government-inflicted torture worldwide.

Then in December, President Clinton announced that the U.S. will increase funding to the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Torture Victims for fiscal year 1999 from $1.3 million to $3 million, as called for in bill.

The bill passed unanimously on the Senate floor October 8. The successful vote on the bill October 10 by the House of Representatives followed.

President Clinton's Statement:

"Today I am pleased to sign into law H.R. 4309, the "Torture Victims Relief Act of 1998." This Act authorizes continued and expanded U.S. contributions to the treatment centers, both in the United States and around the world, for persons who suffer from the mental and physical anguish of having been tortured."

"The United States has contributed to these centers for many years —directly to domestic centers thought the Department of Health and Human Services and to overseas centers through the Agency for International Development, and indirectly, through Department of State Contributions to the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture. Contributions of this nature are a concrete and practical step that the U.S. Government takes to mitigate the effects of this serious, and far too pervasive, human rights violation." "I want to stress, however, that assisting torture victims does not end the curse of torture. The United States will continue its efforts to shine a spotlight on this horrible practice wherever it occurs, and we will do all we can to bring it to an end."

"I want to take this opportunity to thank all those who have contributed to the successful passage of this legislation. I also salute those non-government organizations active in the cause of human rights who encouraged congressional passage of this Act and who work tirelessly to keep alive the spirit of human rights, in our hearts and in our domestic and foreign policy."

The legislation authorizes the Department of Health and Human Services to allocate $5 million in fiscal year 1999 and $7.5 million in fiscal year 2000 to treat victims of torture by foreign governments who now live in the United States. It also authorizes the same amounts for the U.S. Agency for International Development to assist victims of torture abroad. Finally, it authorizes the United States to contribute in each of these fiscal years $3 million to the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture. The Fund> provides grants to nearly 100 treatment programs in more than 50 countries.

First introduced in 1994 by Senator Dave Durenberger (D-MN), this year’s legislation was co-sponsored by Senators Rod Grams (R-MN) and Paul Wellstone (D-MN) and Representatives Christopher Smith (R-NJ) and Tom Lantos (D-CA).  Senator Rod Grams stated, "When I originally introduced this legislation in the Senate, I told my colleagues that it would help assist over 400,000 torture survivors now living the United States. I reintroduced it to help expedite it through the legislative process — survivors’ very real needs demanded a timely response. The United States now takes a leading role in encouraging additional treatment programs with the President signing my legislation into law. We are making progress by turning victims into survivors."

Senator Wellstone stated, "The practice of torture is one of the most serious human rights issues of our time. This legislation provides a focus and framework for the debate about where torture survivors, and our response to the practice of torture by other countries, fit within our foreign policy priorities. Providing treatment for torture survivors is one of the best ways we can show our commitment to fighting human rights abuses around the world."

Douglas Johnson, Executive Director of the Cent said, "Torture is the most effective weapon against democracy. Repressive governments torture grassroots leaders struggling to obtain human rights and democracy. U.S. support for rehabilitation of these leaders demonstrates our support for their struggle and our opposition to torture. Treating victims in this country enables them to become contributing members of our communities."