Speech #1050107080

There is no domestic legislation. however. to implement these international legal provisions. Our legislation will rectify this oversight by providing the legal provisions necessary to implement the Convention on Torture. Furthermore. our important bill will make important changes in the immigration procedures under which torture victims will be handled. The provisions of this bill expedite the processing for asylum applicants who make credible claims that they have been victims of torture. The legislation establishes the presumption that such applicants should not be detained while their asylum case is pending. and it designates refugees who are torture victims as refugees of special humanitarian concern with priority for resettlement at least as high as that given to any other refugee group. In addition. the Torture Victims Relief Act provides for special training for officials who are involved in implementing immigration procedures. This training will provide information about torture and its longterm effects. and this will help these officials to consider the special physical and psychological circumstances a torture victim has to endure when they have to provide evidence in support of their asylum claim. In order to ensure an adequate rehabilitation treatment for victims of torture. this bill authorizes $5 million for FY 1999 and $7.5 million for FY 2000 from funds authorized for the Department of Health and Human Services to support domestic torture treatment programs. In addition. the bill fully supports the international efforts I have outlined above.