What happens to a society when torture becomes mainstream? How does it impact accepted ethical and spiritual systems?

UN special rapporteur on torture Juan E. Méndez moderates a discussion that explores these questions with scholar Rebecca Gordon and author Sarah Sentilles. Méndez is a lawyer and human rights activist known for his work on behalf of political prisoners. As a result of this work, the Argentinean military dictatorship arrested and subjected him to torture for more than a year. In addition to his position with the UN, he is currently a Visiting Professor of Law at the American University- Washington College of Law and the author of Taking A Stand: The Evolution of Human Rights.

Gordon is an author lecturer at the University of San Francisco who focuses on ethics and the common good. Her most recent publication is Mainstreaming Torture: Ethical Approaches in the Post-9/11 United States.

Sentilles is a writer, scholar of religion, critical theorist and author of numerous books that investigate the roles language, images and practices play in oppression, violence, social transformation and justice movements. She currently teaches at Pacific Northwest College of Art in Portland.

A book signing and reception follow the program.