NEW YORK - January 22 - By executive orders issued today, President Obama acted swiftly to end the use of torture by the U.S., to "promote the safe, lawful, and humane treatment of individuals in United States custody" and "to ensure compliance with the treaty obligations of the United States, including the Geneva Conventions."

The following can be attributed to Jamil Dakwar, Director of the American Civil Liberties Union Human Rights Program:

"President Obama's orders send an important message to the world that United States is prepared to reengage with the international community on human rights issues and to conduct counter-terrorism measures in a manner that respects the rule of law and U.S. treaty obligations. In formulating a plan for the treatment of prisoners at Guantánamo and other international detention centers, the Obama administration should break from the Bush administration's distortion of the definition of torture and cruel and inhumane treatment and end the unlawful rendition program. We are hopeful that the administration will fully comply with international treaties, including the Geneva Conventions and the Convention Against Torture."

President Obama's executive order to end torture is available online at: www.aclu.org/pdfs/safefree/interrogation_exec_order.pdf