Discussion Dr. Rebecca Gordon and Dr. Sarah Sentilles, moderated by Juan E. Méndez

What happens to a society when torture becomes mainstreamed? How does it impact accepted ethical and spiritual systems? Is it possible to bring awareness to torture through depictions without revictimizing those pictured? UN Special Rapporteur on Torture Juan E. Méndez moderates a discussion exploring these questions with scholar Dr. Rebecca Gordon and author Dr. 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. Dr. Gordon is an author and lecturer at the University of San Francisco focusing on ethics and the common good. Her most recent publication is Mainstreaming Torture: Ethical Approaches in the Post-9/11 United States. Dr. Sentilles is a writer, scholar of religion, critical theorist, and author of numerous books investigating 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.