10 years on: Close Guantánamo Bay

Campaigns: Security with Human Rights

On 11 January 2002 the first detainees were transferred to Guantánamo Bay. Since then, the US detention facility has made headlines with allegations of torture, enforced disappearances and illegal detention.

A decade on and 171 detainees remain at Guantánamo Bay. At least 12 arrived as part of the original group first transferred ten years ago. Most have never been charged with a crime and don't know when they will face trial, if at all. Those who have been charged face unfair trial by military commission.

Indefinite detention without trial violates international human rights law and must end now.

We have asked United States President Barack Obama to address the detentions at Guantánamo Bay as a human rights issue that requires urgent attention.

- Guantánamo detainees should either be charged and prosecuted in fair trials or released to countries that will respect their human rights, including into the USA if that is the only available option;

- The US military commissions, which do not meet international fair trial standards, should be abandoned, as should any pursuit of the death penalty;

- Former or current US officials responsible for human rights violations must be held to account, including in respect of crimes under international law such as torture and enforced disappearance by bringing them to justice. Victims of human rights violations must be provided genuine access to effective remedy

- The USA must recognise the applicability of, and fully respect international human rights law, when conducting counterterrorism operations, including detentions in Guantánamo, detention facilities at Bagram in Afghanistan and elsewhere.

For the latest on our work around Guantánamo, see www.amnesty.org.uk/guantanamo