Nathaniel Raymond
Encyclopedia
Nathaniel Raymond is an American human rights investigator, specializing in the prevention and detection of torture
. Raymond is best known for his leadership of the anti-torture campaign at Physicians for Human Rights
, and his usage of satellite surveillance in the South Sudan
as part of the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative
. Raymond is an advocate of the use of intelligence
by human rights
groups and other non-governmental organizations.
in 1977 to Richard N. Raymond, an antiques dealer, and Susan Swedis, a biology and environmental science professor. He grew up in the towns of Brimfield
and Northborough
in Massachusetts. Raymond is a graduate of Drew University
in Madison
, New Jersey with a B.A. in Religious Studies. Raymond resides in Northampton
, Massachusetts, and is engaged to Megan Griscom, a Harvard-educated architect. He has a younger sister who is a business owner.
investigation into torture by the United States government and other governments as part of the War on Terror
. He led an inquiry into an alleged 2001 Dasht-e-Leili massacre in northern Afghanistan, which included the discovery of a mass grave site in 2002. Raymond directed an investigation into the role of psychologists during torture sessions, and has alleged that the American Psychological Association
(APA) changed its ethics policy specifically to allow psychologists to be present during investigations when torture is used.
, which utilizes satellite imagery and other information to produce up-to-date reports on the security situation in the newly-independent South Sudan
. The project is sponsored by George Clooney
, and is coordinated through the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative
. In 2011, the Satellite Sentinel Project detected images of freshly-dug mass grave sites in the Southern Kordofan state of South Sudan, where Sudan’s
Arab military has been targeting a black ethnic minority.
Torture
Torture is the act of inflicting severe pain as a means of punishment, revenge, forcing information or a confession, or simply as an act of cruelty. Throughout history, torture has often been used as a method of political re-education, interrogation, punishment, and coercion...
. Raymond is best known for his leadership of the anti-torture campaign at Physicians for Human Rights
Physicians for Human Rights
Physicians for Human Rights was founded in 1986 by a small group of doctors who believed the unique scientific expertise and authority of health professionals could bring human rights violations to light and provide justice for victims...
, and his usage of satellite surveillance in the South Sudan
South Sudan
South Sudan , officially the Republic of South Sudan, is a landlocked country located in the Sahel region of northeastern Africa. It is also part of the North Africa UN sub-region. Its current capital is Juba, which is also its largest city; the capital city is planned to be moved to the more...
as part of the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative
Harvard Humanitarian Initiative
The Harvard Humanitarian Initiative is an interfaculty Harvard University initiative dedicated to advancing research, practice, and policy in the field of humanitarian assistance...
. Raymond is an advocate of the use of intelligence
Intelligence (information gathering)
Intelligence assessment is the development of forecasts of behaviour or recommended courses of action to the leadership of an organization, based on a wide range of available information sources both overt and covert. Assessments are developed in response to requirements declared by the leadership...
by human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
groups and other non-governmental organizations.
Early life and personal information
Nathaniel Adam Raymond was born in MassachusettsMassachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
in 1977 to Richard N. Raymond, an antiques dealer, and Susan Swedis, a biology and environmental science professor. He grew up in the towns of Brimfield
Brimfield, Massachusetts
Brimfield is a town in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 3,609 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
and Northborough
Northborough, Massachusetts
Northborough is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The official spelling of the town's name is "Northborough", but the shorter spelling "Northboro" is also used...
in Massachusetts. Raymond is a graduate of Drew University
Drew University
Drew University is a private university located in Madison, New Jersey.Originally established as the Drew Theological Seminary in 1867, the university later expanded to include an undergraduate liberal arts college in 1928 and commenced a program of graduate studies in 1955...
in Madison
Madison, New Jersey
Madison is a borough in Morris County, New Jersey, in the United States. As of the 2000 United States Census, the population was 16,530. It also is known as "The Rose City".-Geography:Madison is located at ....
, New Jersey with a B.A. in Religious Studies. Raymond resides in Northampton
Northampton, Massachusetts
The city of Northampton is the county seat of Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population of Northampton's central neighborhoods, was 28,549...
, Massachusetts, and is engaged to Megan Griscom, a Harvard-educated architect. He has a younger sister who is a business owner.
Anti-torture campaign
Raymond was the director of Physicians for Human Rights'Physicians for Human Rights
Physicians for Human Rights was founded in 1986 by a small group of doctors who believed the unique scientific expertise and authority of health professionals could bring human rights violations to light and provide justice for victims...
investigation into torture by the United States government and other governments as part of the War on Terror
War on Terror
The War on Terror is a term commonly applied to an international military campaign led by the United States and the United Kingdom with the support of other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation as well as non-NATO countries...
. He led an inquiry into an alleged 2001 Dasht-e-Leili massacre in northern Afghanistan, which included the discovery of a mass grave site in 2002. Raymond directed an investigation into the role of psychologists during torture sessions, and has alleged that the American Psychological Association
American Psychological Association
The American Psychological Association is the largest scientific and professional organization of psychologists in the United States. It is the world's largest association of psychologists with around 154,000 members including scientists, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. The APA...
(APA) changed its ethics policy specifically to allow psychologists to be present during investigations when torture is used.
South Sudan campaign
Raymond is currently directing the Satellite Sentinel ProjectSatellite Sentinel Project
The Satellite Sentinel Project, or SSP, was conceived by George Clooney during an October 2010 visit to Southern Sudan with Enough Project co-founder, John Prendergast...
, which utilizes satellite imagery and other information to produce up-to-date reports on the security situation in the newly-independent South Sudan
South Sudan
South Sudan , officially the Republic of South Sudan, is a landlocked country located in the Sahel region of northeastern Africa. It is also part of the North Africa UN sub-region. Its current capital is Juba, which is also its largest city; the capital city is planned to be moved to the more...
. The project is sponsored by George Clooney
George Clooney
George Timothy Clooney is an American actor, film director, producer, and screenwriter. For his work as an actor, he has received two Golden Globe Awards and an Academy Award...
, and is coordinated through the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative
Harvard Humanitarian Initiative
The Harvard Humanitarian Initiative is an interfaculty Harvard University initiative dedicated to advancing research, practice, and policy in the field of humanitarian assistance...
. In 2011, the Satellite Sentinel Project detected images of freshly-dug mass grave sites in the Southern Kordofan state of South Sudan, where Sudan’s
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
Arab military has been targeting a black ethnic minority.