Abstract

The main aim of this paper is to make a conceptual comparison between torture, especially terroristic, and DV, two phenomena highly prevalent in Chilean history. In order to do this, I am going to define torture and DV separately, showing a representative sample of fragmentary stories from Chilean experience in both concepts. Finally, I will draw a parallel between these two kinds of acts, and then, address the political consequences of that appraisal. I will sustain that torture and DV share some elements that make them similar. At least, the wrongness and outcomes (in agency) equated both behaviours. Consequently, I claim that the seriousness of these two kinds of actions should be reflected in the attention they receive from the Chilean public policy. At this point I would like to emphasize the necessarily introductory character of that final section since the complexity of institutional responses justifies the writing of a separate article.