Human Rights Responsibilities of Private Companies Operating in Iraq

Recent allegations of torture and ill treatment by Coalition forces and by civilians employed by private contractors in Iraqi prisons echo the frequent reports of human rights violations that Amnesty International has received over the past year. Even as we call on President Bush to support a thorough, independent and public investigation into the abuses, we also call on companies to support independent investigations and to help ensure that any person guilty of committing acts of torture or cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment is brought to justice.

The Titan Corporation and CACI International, Inc. have performed services contracts with the U.S. military that have led to public allegations of complicity in abuses against detainees by some of their employees. Amnesty International USA has written to these companies, asking them to clarify their human rights policies and practices and calling on them to support and facilitate public investigations in order to help bring persons found responsible to justice.

We have received a reply from CACI International, which is posted below. Though we are encouraged by CACI’s quick and thoughtful response to our letter, the steps they have taken so far are inadequate. Thus, we continue to call on them to develop and institute a comprehensive human rights policy and to commit to reporting on its implementation. Our follow up letter is posted below.

By contrast, we have yet to receive any response from The Titan Corporation. ACT NOW to demand that Titan support and facilitate public investigations into the abuses at Abu Ghraib prison and acknowledge their human rights responsibilities by adopting and implementing a comprehensive human rights policy.