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Income and expense are whole-filing amounts associated with this lobbyist, not personal compensation or an allocated share.
No topic inference: each bill number appears in source LDA issue text assigned to this lobbyist.
Protection Against Transmission of HIV for Women and Youth Act of 2007
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Treaties and Legislation "Global Online Freedom Act (H.R. 4780) "Child Soldier Prevention Act (S. 1175 and H.R. 3028) "Child Soldiers Accountability Act (S. 2135) International Violence Against Women Act (S. 2279) International Violence Against Women Act (S. 2279) Sexual Violence in Sudan, Chad, CAR resolution (H.R. 726) William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (S. 3061 and H.R. 3887) Vietnam Human Rights Act (S. 3678) Protection Against Transmission of HIV for Women and Youth Act (H.R. 1713) Policies/Issues Algeria: Urged US to reveal whereabouts of two Algerians transferred from Guantanamo to Algeria. Proposed that US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice press the Algerian government on the well-being and status of Guantanamo detainees returned to Algeria. Angola: Urged US to press Angola to improve its election procedures following the flawed parliamentary elections in September 2008. Azerbaijan: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the deteriorating human rights situation in Azerbaijan, especially media freedom; urged US to press Azerbaijan to secure the release of wrongfully imprisoned journalists. Bangladesh: Urged US to limit cooperation with the abusive Rapid Action Battalion to human rights training. Bhutan: Urged US to work with Nepal to ensure full protection of Bhutanese refugees who wish to be resettled in US. Bosnia: Urged US to continue commitment to justice in the Balkans by supporting local war crimes trials in Bosnias cantonal and district courts. Burma: Called for increased US pressure for democratic change in Burma and extended targeted sanctions in Burma; urged US to press other countries to support inclusion of Burma on UN Security Council agenda; urged US to support international humanitarian efforts in Burmathrough bilateral channels and Asean channelsfollowing Cyclone Nagris. Cambodia: Urged US to consider concerns about judicial independence before funding Khmer Rouge tribunal. Chad: Urged US to press Chad for an end to enforced disappearances and clarify the fate of opposition leaders arbitrarily detained in early 2008. China: Urged US to press China to fulfill human rights commitments related to Olympics; urged US to raise concerns about ongoing crackdown against dissidents and human rights defenders as well as lack of rule of law and citizens inability to seek legal redress for injustice; urged US to press China about widespread abuses of migrant construction workers in Beijing; urged US to press China to abolish its discriminatory urban household registration permit system, affecting migrant workers and their families; urged US to expand its human rights monitoring capabilities in China; urged US to press for diplomatic and press access to Tibetan areas; urged US to press China to permanently extend Olympics-related temporary regulations on foreign media freedom. Colombia: Urged effective enforcement of human rights conditions on US military and demobilization aid to Colombia; urged delay of free trade agreement until more progress is made against paramilitary violence. Urged US to prosecute extradited paramilitary leaders for human rights violations. Democratic Republic of the Congo: Urged US to support appointment of international special advisor on human rights for eastern DRC to underpin the Goma peace process. Ethiopia: Urged US to press Ethiopia to investigate and hold accountable individuals responsible for human rights and humanitarian law abuses in Ethiopia (including Ogaden) and Somalia; and urged a strong US response to a new draft Ethiopian law aimed at restricting the activities of civil society organizations. Georgia: Urged US to press Georgia to undertake a thorough investigation into the police crackdown on demonstrators on November 7, 2007, and to undertake reforms in the penitentiary system and the criminal justice system. Urged US to press Georgia and Russia to respect international humanitarian law; to ensure accountability for human rights and international humanitarian law violations during and in the aftermath of the August 2008 conflict over South Ossetia; to lend support to a robust international monitoring presence with a strong civilian protection mandate; and to work to promote the right to return for IDPs wishing to do so. Global: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the Voluntary Principles for Security and Human Rights in the extractive industries; advocated for a cut-off of certain categories of US military aid to countries that recruit and use child soldiers in violation of international law or support non-state armed groups that recruit children. Urged US to produce a report on womens inheritance rights and impact of PEPFAR. Urged US to support stronger language on the juvenile death penalty in UN General Assemblys annual child rights resolution. India: Urged US to push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in India-administered Kashmir, in Punjab in the 1980s, and in Gujarat after the 2002 riots; urged US to continue to refuse an official invitation to Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi his role in 2002 communal violence; urged US to encourage India to adopt equal opportunity policies to protect the rights of Dalits and Tribals; urged US to call for the protection of rights of those likely to be displaced in West Bengal state due to government land acquisition for industry. Indonesia: Supported the continued prohibition by US on International Military Education and Training (IMET) and Foreign Military Financing (FMF) to Indonesia given ongoing Indonesian military abuses; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about abuses against child domestic workers and to press for amending labor law to grant core labor rights to workers in the informal sector, including domestic workers; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about human rights abuses by the Indonesian military exacerbated by the lack of oversight over legal and illicit business practices. Iraq: Urged US to investigate allegations of torture and ill-treatment of detainees by Iraqi security forces; urged US to ensure that assistance to Iraq will not contribute to human rights violations; urged the US to admit substantially more refugees from Iraq and increase financial support to Syria, Jordan, and other countries that have borne the brunt of the refugee crisis. Urged the US to release detainees in Iraq that are unlikely to be charged, and transfer others against whom there is evidence for criminal proceedings to Iraqi courts with the safeguard that no one should be transferred if they are at risk of abuse; urged US forces in Iraq to ensure that children taken into custody are treated as children, given prompt judicial review and access to independent monitors. Israel/Palestinian Authority: Urged US to ensure that political agreements between the two parties be consistent with human rights norms; urged US to inform Israel that continued US military assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations and to inform the Palestinian Authority that any US security assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations by its security forces and by Palestinian armed groups; urged US to press Israel to reverse its strict closure policy towards the Gaza Strip, which is harming Gazas civilian population. Urged the US to avoid being financially complicit in the expansion of illegal new settlement construction and security measures by Israel in the West Bank. Jordan: Urged US to condition funding for Jordan on the improvement of human rights standards relating to free assembly and association, torture in prisons, and misuse of administrative detention. Kazakhstan: Urged US to press Kazakhstan to fulfill the reform pledges it made in exchange for the chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in 2010, and overall to use its relationship with Kazakhstan to advance progress in human rights in areas of key concern such as media freedom and freedom of assembly. Kenya: Urged US to oppose any attempt to grant amnesty to those responsible for violence after Kenyas elections in early 2008; and to suspend bilateral military training until there is a full, independent inquiry into human rights abuses in the Mount Elgon region of the country (in which a US-trained unit has been heavily implicated). Libya: Urged US to push for improvements in human rights practices in Libya. Urged US to condition further improvements in the US-Libya relationship on steps by Libyan authorities to end the incarceration of political prisoners, abolish laws that imprison peaceful critics, promote freedom of expression and assembly, and stop the use of torture. Malaysia: Urged US to press Malaysia to rescind the Internal Security Act and dismantle abusive volunteer corps, and investigate human trafficking along the countrys borders. Morocco: Urged US to press Morocco to increase monitoring of human rights in Western Sahara. Nepal: Urged US to encourage Nepal to end disappearances and torture; urged US to prioritize human rights, particularly the impunity of the Nepal Army; urged US to press Nepal for accountability by all parties to the conflict and support human rights training of security forces; urged US to support better conditions for vulnerable groups such as Dalits, Madhesis, women and children; urged US to press Nepal government not to violate rights of Tibetans in Nepal, including repealing threats to deport them. Nigeria: Urged US to press the Nigerian government to tackle government corruption and mismanagement and bring to account those responsible. North Korea: Urged US to incorporate human rights concerns into security discussions. Pakistan: Urged US to: press for full restoration of judiciary; condition military aid on democratic reform; advocate for womens rights in Pakistan; support free expression for journalists and human rights activists in Pakistan; and push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Philippines: Urged US to condition military aid on progress in the prosecution of members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines who are implicated in human rights violations, urged US to more carefully vet members of the AFP and Philippine National Police who participate in US-funded programs. Russia: Urged US to press Russia to amend its NGO law to conform to international standards. Urged US to press Russia to end violence by S. Ossetian militia; to press Russia and Georgia to respect international humanitarian law; to ensure accountability for human rights and international humanitarian law violations during and in the aftermath of the August 2008 conflict over South Ossetia; to lend support to a robust international monitoring presence with a strong civilian protection mandate; and to work to promote the right to return for IDPs wishing to do so. Rwanda: Urged US not to support the reappointment of war crimes suspect Karake Karenzi as deputy commander of the Rwandan contingent to UNAMID (Darfur); and to press for due process for all crimes committed in Rwanda during and following the 1994 genocide. Saudi Arabia: Urged US to protest Saudi restrictions on the freedom of religion and the freedom of expression and association. Urged US to press Saudi Arabia to improve judiciary, penal code, and respect for due process in criminal justice system. Sierra Leone: Urged US to continue its financial support of the Special Court for Sierra Leone and to quickly disburse FY 2008 funds granted to the court. Sri Lanka: Urged US to push for an international human rights monitoring mission in Sri Lanka to investigate abuses by all sides to the conflict; urged US to address with Sri Lanka issues of child recruitment by armed groups with Sri Lankan military complicity and by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam; urged US to condition aid to Sri Lanka on improvement in human rights standards. Somalia: urged US to focus concerns on needs of the civilian population; promote creation of a Commission of Inquiry into human rights abuses by all parties to the conflict. Sudan: Urged US to press for action in Darfur by asking the UN Security Council to call on the Sudanese government to end human rights abuses and hold violators accountable; urged US to work toward the effective deployment of international peacekeepers into the Darfur region; and urged US to veto any attempts to secure a Security Council deferral of ICC indictments against Sudanese President Bashir. Thailand: Urged US to condemn rights abuses by all sides in the conflict in southern Thailand; urged US to press for full respect of human rights and accountability from Thailand in bilateral drug suppression efforts; urged US to oppose Thailand using extrajudicial killings in the war on drugs; urged US to press Thailand not to return Lao Hmong refugees to Laos and to find durable solutions for Burmese refugees in Thailand; sought US support to press for the resumption of UNHCR status determination process in Thailand; urged US to protest Thai government restrictions on civil liberties and to protect Thai rights defenders. Tunisia: Urged US to press the Tunisia to end its harassment and imprisonment of human rights activists. Turkmenistan: Urged US to link deepening of relations with Turkmenistan to concrete improvements in human rights. Uganda: Urged US to push for human rights improvements in northern Uganda and to press for an end to torture and the continued government use of secret detention centers; urged US to push for accountability for the Lords Resistance Armys atrocities and to support UN Security Council statement on LRA abuses. Uzbekistan: Urged US to formulate and pursue a clear human rights policy vis-a-vis the Uzbek government, including by operationalizing the targeted sanctions sanctions in the form of a visa ban on Uzbek government officials responsible for the May 2005 massacre at Andijan and the ensuing crackdown on civil society, imposed in June 2008 following the Uzbek governments failure to meet the specific human rights benchmarks articulated in the foreign operations bill. Vietnam: Advocated for continuation of Vietnams status as a Country of Particular Concern for its restrictions on religious freedom; called on US to press Vietnam to account for whereabouts of labor activist Le Tri Tue; urged US to continue monitoring rights abuses by Vietnam against ethnic minority populations; called for US to press Vietnam to annul national security legislation that criminalizes peaceful assembly, expression, association, and certain religions. Zimbabwe: Urged US to maintain pressure on Zimbabwe by extending sanctions on officials responsible for human rights abuses and ensuring that perpetrators are held accountable following any power-sharing agreement in the country.
Specific issues are shown only where the LDA source assigned them to this lobbyist. Targets apply to the associated filing.
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH via HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
2008 · second_quarter · Q2
Treaties/Legislation "Global Online Freedom Act (H.R. 4780) "Child Soldiers Prevention Act (S. 1175 and H.R. 3028) Treaties/Legislation cont. Child Soldiers Accountability Act (S. 2135) International Violence Against Women Act (S. 2279) Sexual Violence in Sudan, Chad, CAR resolution (H.R. 726) Burma Sanctions bills (S. 2257 and H.R. 3890) William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (S. 3061 and H.R. 3887) Policies/Issues Algeria: Urged US to reveal whereabouts of two Algerians transferred from Guantanamo to Algeria. Azerbaijan: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the deteriorating human rights situation in Azerbaijan, especially in the area of media freedom; urged US to use its leverage with the Azerbaijani government to secure the release of wrongfully imprisoned journalists. Bangladesh: Urged US to raise with Bangladesh: full restoration of human rights; need for in 2008; prosecution of human rights violators in security forces; need for independent monitors at detention facilities. Urged US to limit assistance to abusive police and military forces to human rights education. Bhutan: Urged US to work with Nepal to ensure full protection of Bhutanese refugees who wish to be resettled in US. Bosnia: Urged US to continue commitment to justice in the Balkans by supporting local war crimes trials in Bosnias cantonal and district courts. Burma: Called for increased US pressure for democratic change in Burma and extended targeted sanctions in Burma; advocated for US pressure on other countries to support the inclusion of Burma on the agenda of the UN Security Council; urged US to support international humanitarian efforts in Burmathrough bilateral channels and Asean channelsfollowing Cyclone Nagris. Cambodia: Urged US to consider concerns about judicial independence before funding Khmer Rouge tribunal. China: Urged US to press China to fulfill human rights commitments related to the Olympics; urged US to raise concerns about ongoing pre-Olympics crackdown against dissidents and human rights defenders as well as lack of rule of law and citizens inability to seek legal redress for injustice; urged US to press China about widespread abuses of migrant construction workers in Beijing; urged US to press China to abolish its discriminatory urban household registration permit system, affecting migrant workers and their families. Colombia: Urged effective enforcement of human rights conditions on US military and demobilization aid to Colombia; urged delay of free trade agreement until more progress is made against paramilitary violence. Democratic Republic of the Congo: Urged US to support appointment of international special advisor on human rights for eastern DRC to underpin the Goma peace process. Ethiopia: Urged US to press Ethiopia to investigate and hold accountable individuals responsible for human rights abuses in Ethiopia (including Ogaden) and Somalia. Georgia: Urged US to press Georgia to undertake a thorough investigation into the police crackdown on demonstrators on November 7, 2007, and to undertake reforms in the penitentiary system and the criminal justice system. Global: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the Voluntary Principles for Security and Human Rights in the extractive industries; advocated for a cut-off of certain categories of US military aid to countries that recruit and use child soldiers in violation of international law or support non-state armed groups that recruit children. Urged US to enact the Protection Against Transmission of HIV for Women and Youth Act of 2007 to remove abstinence-until-marriage earmark for PEPFAR programs and ensure that HIV prevention programs are based on scientific evidence, good public health practice, and human rights principles; urged US to produce a report on womens inheritance rights and impact of PEPFAR. India: Urged US to push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in India-administered Kashmir, in Punjab in the 1980s, and in Gujarat after the 2002 riots; urged US to continue to refuse an official invitation to Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi his role in 2002 communal violence; urged US to encourage India to adopt equal opportunity policies to protect the rights of Dalits and Tribals; urged US to call for the protection of rights of those likely to be displaced in West Bengal state due to government land acquisition for industry. Indonesia: Supported the continued prohibition by US on International Military Education and Training (IMET) and Foreign Military Financing (FMF) to Indonesia given ongoing Indonesian military abuses; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about abuses against child domestic workers and to press for amending labor law to grant core labor rights to workers in the informal sector, including domestic workers; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about human rights abuses by the Indonesian military exacerbated by the lack of oversight over legal and illicit business practices. Iraq: Urged US to investigate allegations of torture and ill-treatment of detainees by Iraqi security forces; urged US to ensure that assistance to Iraq will not contribute to human rights violations; urged US military to prevent and prohibit mistreatment of Iraqis in US custody; urged US to accept a higher number of Iraqi refugees and to support other countries in the region who have Iraqi refugees; urged US forces in Iraq to ensure that children taken into custody are treated as children, given prompt judicial review and access to independent monitors. Israel/Palestinian Authority: Urged US to ensure that political agreements between the two parties be consistent with human rights norms; urged US to inform Israel that continued US military assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations and to inform the Palestinian Authority that any US security assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations by its security forces and by Palestinian armed groups; urged US to call on Israel to end its ban preventing Palestinian students from leaving the Gaza Strip to study abroad, to reinstate Fulbright grants offered to Gaza students, to press Israel to reverse its strict closure policy towards the Gaza Strip, which is harming Gazas civilian population. Jordan: Urged US to condition funding for Jordan on the improvement of human rights standards relating to free assembly and association, torture in prisons, and misuse of administrative detention. Kazakhstan: Urged US to condition Kazakhstans bid to chair the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to Kazakhstans progress in addressing human rights concerns such as media freedom and freedom of assembly. Kenya: Urged US to oppose any attempt to grant amnesty to those responsible for violence after Kenyas elections in early 2008. Libya: Urged US to push for improvements in human rights practices in Libya. Malaysia: Urged US to press Malaysia to rescind the Internal Security Act and dismantle abusive volunteer corps. Morocco: Urged US to press Morocco to increase monitoring of human rights in Western Sahara. Nepal: Urged US to encourage Nepal to end disappearances and torture; urged US to prioritize human rights, particularly the impunity of the Nepal Army; urged US to press Nepal for accountability by all parties to the conflict after the Constituent Assembly elections and support human rights training of security forces; urged US to support better conditions for vulnerable groups such as Dalits, Madhesis, women and children. North Korea: Urged US to incorporate human rights concerns into security discussions. Pakistan: Urged US to: press for full restoration of judiciary; condition military aid on democratic reform; advocate for womens rights in Pakistan; support free expression for journalists and human rights activists in Pakistan; and push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Philippines: Urged US to condition military aid on progress in the prosecution of members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines who are implicated in human rights violations. Russia: Urged US to press Russia to amend their NGO law to conform to international standards. Saudi Arabia: Urged US to protest Saudi restrictions on the freedom of religion and the freedom of expression and association. Sierra Leone: Urged US to continue its financial support of the Special Court for Sierra Leone and to quickly disburse FY 2008 funds granted to the court. Sri Lanka: Called on US to push for an international human rights monitoring mission in Sri Lanka to investigate abuses by all sides to the conflict; urged US to address with Sri Lanka issues of child recruitment by armed groups with Sri Lankan military complicity and by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam; urged US to condition aid to Sri Lanka on improvement in human rights standards. Sudan: Urged US to press for action in Darfur by asking the UN Security Council to call on the Sudanese government to end human rights abuses and hold violators accountable; urged US to work toward the effective deployment of international peacekeepers into the Darfur region. Thailand: Urged US to condemn rights abuses by all sides in the conflict in southern Thailand; urged US to press for full respect of human rights and accountability from Thailand in bilateral drug suppression efforts; urged US to oppose Thailand using extrajudicial killings in the war on drugs; urged US to press Thailand not to return Lao Hmong refugees to Laos and to find durable solutions for Burmese refugees in Thailand; sought US support to press for the resumption of UNHCR status determination process in Thailand; urged US to protest Thai government restrictions on civil liberties and to protect Thai rights defenders; urged US to encourage Thailand to support international humanitarian efforts in Burma in aftermath of Cyclone Nagris. Uganda: Urged US to push for human rights improvements in northern Uganda and to press for an end to torture in Uganda; urged US to push for accountability for the Lords Resistance Armys atrocities and to support UN Security Council statement in light of renewed abuses. Uzbekistan: Urged US to impose targeted sanctions against selected Uzbek government officials responsible for the May 2005 massacre at Andijan and the ensuing crackdown on civil society, and overall to condition its relationship with the Uzbek government on its fulfillment of specific human rights benchmarks. Urged US to help ensure protection from forced return and secure urgent resettlement of Uzbek refugees in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia, and other countries where their safety was at risk. Vietnam: Advocated for continuation of Vietnams status as a Country of Particular Concern for its restrictions on religious freedom; called on US to press Vietnam to account for whereabouts of labor activist Le Tri Tue; urged US to continue monitoring rights abuses by Vietnam against ethnic minority populations; called for US to press Vietnam to annul national security legislation that criminalizes peaceful assembly, expression, association, and certain religions.
Source: Senate LDA
MEJA Expansion and Enforcement Act of 2007
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Legislation/Treaties "Department of Defense Authorization Bill: amendments on detainee status, interrogation and rendition (S. 1548) "Material support legislation (H.R. 2764) Legislation/Treaties cont. Habeas Restoration Bills (H.R. 2826 and S. 185) Close Guantanamo legislation (S. 1469 and S. 1249) National Security with Justice Legislation (S. 1876) Taping of Interrogations (H.R. 4951) Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (H.R. 2740) Extraordinary Rendition Legislation (S. 1876) Intelligence Authorization Act (H.R. 2082) Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act (S. 3155) Policies/Issues Detention of and access to courts for alleged enemy combatants held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies of terrorist suspects Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism Use of military commissions, combatant status review tribunals, and applicable fair trial procedures Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances Applicability and definition of fair trial/humane treatment standards in the Geneva Conventions Death penalty: advocacy in favor of abolition and against expansion. Access to courts for vulnerable populations: advocated against restrictions on court access for immigrants, criminal defendants, prisoners and enemy combatant detainees Material witness warrants: advocated in favor of legislation to ensure that suspects are not detained as material witnesses Vulnerable refugees and material support restrictions: protecting victims of terrorism from being defined as supporters of terrorism and barred entry into US Accountability for private security and military contractors Juvenile justice: deinstitutionalization of status offenders, juveniles in adult prisons, ethnic and racial disparities, and conditions of confinement.
MEJA Expansion and Enforcement Act of 2007
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Legislation/Treaties "Department of Defense Authorization Bill: amendments on detainee status, interrogation and rendition (S. 1548) "Material support legislation (H.R. 2764) Legislation/Treaties cont. Habeas Restoration Bills (H.R. 2826 and S. 185) Close Guantanamo legislation (S. 1469 and S. 1249) National Security with Justice Legislation (S. 1876) Taping of Interrogations (H.R. 4951) Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (H.R. 2740) Extraordinary Rendition Legislation (S. 1876) Intelligence Authorization Act (H.R. 2082) Gang Abatement and Suppression Act (S. 456) Gang Prevention, Intervention, and Suppression Act (H.R. 3547) Youth PROMISE Act (H.R. 3846) Juvenile Crime Reduction Act (H.R. 3411) Prison Abuse Remedies Act of 2007 (H.R. 4109) Juvenile Justice Accountability and Improvement Act of 2007 (H.R. 4300) Policies/Issues Detention of and access to courts for persons held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies of terrorist suspects Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism Use of military commissions, combatant status review tribunals, and applicable fair trial procedures Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances Applicability and definition of fair trial/humane treatment standards in the Geneva Conventions Death penalty: advocacy in favor of abolition and against expansion. Access to courts for vulnerable populations: advocated against restrictions on court access for immigrants, criminal defendants, prisoners and enemy combatant detainees Material witness warrants: advocated in favor of legislation to ensure that suspects are not detained as material witnesses Vulnerable refugees and material support restrictions: protecting victims of terrorism from being defined as supporters of terrorism and barred entry into US Accountability for private security and military contractors Gangs: advocacy against life without parole penalties for youth, an overly broad gang definition, and an increase in the disproportionate incarceration of racial and ethnic minorities; advocacy in favor of increased prevention and intervention services for youth Juvenile life without parole: advocacy in favor of requiring the opportunity for parole for all juvenile offenders Mental health: advocacy to increase training and the provision of mental health services to benefit court-involved youth suffering from mental health illness Prison litigation reform: amend current legislation to preserve the rule of law in US prisons and jails, and better protect prisoners from rape, assault, denials of religious freedom, and other constitutional violations
MEJA Expansion and Enforcement Act of 2007
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Treaties/Legislation "Extraordinary rendition legislation (S. 1876) "Guantanamo closure bills (S. 1469 and S. 1249) Treaties/Legislation cont. Habeas restoration bills (H.R. 2826 and S. 185) Material support legislation (H.R. 2764) Intelligence Authorization Act (H.R. 2082) Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (H.R. 2740) Policies/Issues Detention of and access to courts for persons held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies of terrorism suspects Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism Use of military commissions and combatant status review tribunals Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances Terrorism-related bars on admission jeopardizing resettlement and asylum status of vulnerable refugees Admission of Iraqi refugees into the US Accountability for private security and military contractors
MEJA Expansion and Enforcement Act of 2007
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Legislation/Treaties " Department of Defense Authorization Bill: amendments on detainee status,interrogation and rendition (S. 1548) " Material support legislation (H.R. 2764) "National Security with Justice Act (S. 1876) Detainee Interrogation Recording Act (H.R. 4660) Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Expansion and Enforcement Act (H.R. 2740) Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act (S. 3155) Youth PROMISE Act (H.R. 3846) Detainee Basic Medical Care Act (H.R. 5950) Policies/Issues Detention of and access to courts for alleged enemy combatants held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies of terrorist suspects Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism Use of military commissions, combatant status review tribunals, and applicable fair trial procedures Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances Applicability and definition of fair trial/humane treatment standards in the Geneva Conventions Death penalty: advocacy in favor of abolition and against expansion Access to courts for vulnerable populations: advocated against restrictions on court access for immigrants, criminal defendants, prisoners and enemy combatant detainees Vulnerable refugees and material support restrictions: protecting victims of terrorism from being defined as supporters of terrorism and barred entry into US Accountability for private security and military contractors Juvenile justice: deinstitutionalization of status offenders, juveniles in adult prisons, ethnic and racial disparities, and conditions of confinement Prison reduction and support for age-appropriate youth crime prevention and intervention programs Improve medical care for detained immigrants; establish reporting procedures for deaths in detention
MEJA Expansion and Enforcement Act of 2007
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Legislation/Treaties "Department of Defense Authorization Bill: amendments on detainee status, interrogation and rendition (S. 1548) "Material support legislation (H.R. 2764) Legislation/Treaties cont. Habeas Restoration Bills (H.R. 2826 and S. 185) Close Guantanamo legislation (S. 1469 and S. 1249) National Security with Justice Legislation (S. 1876) Taping of Interrogations (H.R. 4951) Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (H.R. 2740) Extraordinary Rendition Legislation (S. 1876) Intelligence Authorization Act (H.R. 2082) Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act (S. 3155) Policies/Issues Detention of and access to courts for alleged enemy combatants held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies of terrorist suspects Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism Use of military commissions, combatant status review tribunals, and applicable fair trial procedures Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances Applicability and definition of fair trial/humane treatment standards in the Geneva Conventions Death penalty: advocacy in favor of abolition and against expansion. Access to courts for vulnerable populations: advocated against restrictions on court access for immigrants, criminal defendants, prisoners and enemy combatant detainees Material witness warrants: advocated in favor of legislation to ensure that suspects are not detained as material witnesses Vulnerable refugees and material support restrictions: protecting victims of terrorism from being defined as supporters of terrorism and barred entry into US Accountability for private security and military contractors Juvenile justice: deinstitutionalization of status offenders, juveniles in adult prisons, ethnic and racial disparities, and conditions of confinement.
To amend titles 28 and 10, United States Code, to restore habeas corpus for individuals detained by the United States at Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and for other purposes.
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Legislation/Treaties "Department of Defense Authorization Bill: amendments on detainee status, interrogation and rendition (S. 1548) "Material support legislation (H.R. 2764) Legislation/Treaties cont. Habeas Restoration Bills (H.R. 2826 and S. 185) Close Guantanamo legislation (S. 1469 and S. 1249) National Security with Justice Legislation (S. 1876) Taping of Interrogations (H.R. 4951) Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (H.R. 2740) Extraordinary Rendition Legislation (S. 1876) Intelligence Authorization Act (H.R. 2082) Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act (S. 3155) Policies/Issues Detention of and access to courts for alleged enemy combatants held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies of terrorist suspects Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism Use of military commissions, combatant status review tribunals, and applicable fair trial procedures Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances Applicability and definition of fair trial/humane treatment standards in the Geneva Conventions Death penalty: advocacy in favor of abolition and against expansion. Access to courts for vulnerable populations: advocated against restrictions on court access for immigrants, criminal defendants, prisoners and enemy combatant detainees Material witness warrants: advocated in favor of legislation to ensure that suspects are not detained as material witnesses Vulnerable refugees and material support restrictions: protecting victims of terrorism from being defined as supporters of terrorism and barred entry into US Accountability for private security and military contractors Juvenile justice: deinstitutionalization of status offenders, juveniles in adult prisons, ethnic and racial disparities, and conditions of confinement.
To amend titles 28 and 10, United States Code, to restore habeas corpus for individuals detained by the United States at Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and for other purposes.
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Legislation/Treaties "Department of Defense Authorization Bill: amendments on detainee status, interrogation and rendition (S. 1548) "Material support legislation (H.R. 2764) Legislation/Treaties cont. Habeas Restoration Bills (H.R. 2826 and S. 185) Close Guantanamo legislation (S. 1469 and S. 1249) National Security with Justice Legislation (S. 1876) Taping of Interrogations (H.R. 4951) Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (H.R. 2740) Extraordinary Rendition Legislation (S. 1876) Intelligence Authorization Act (H.R. 2082) Gang Abatement and Suppression Act (S. 456) Gang Prevention, Intervention, and Suppression Act (H.R. 3547) Youth PROMISE Act (H.R. 3846) Juvenile Crime Reduction Act (H.R. 3411) Prison Abuse Remedies Act of 2007 (H.R. 4109) Juvenile Justice Accountability and Improvement Act of 2007 (H.R. 4300) Policies/Issues Detention of and access to courts for persons held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies of terrorist suspects Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism Use of military commissions, combatant status review tribunals, and applicable fair trial procedures Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances Applicability and definition of fair trial/humane treatment standards in the Geneva Conventions Death penalty: advocacy in favor of abolition and against expansion. Access to courts for vulnerable populations: advocated against restrictions on court access for immigrants, criminal defendants, prisoners and enemy combatant detainees Material witness warrants: advocated in favor of legislation to ensure that suspects are not detained as material witnesses Vulnerable refugees and material support restrictions: protecting victims of terrorism from being defined as supporters of terrorism and barred entry into US Accountability for private security and military contractors Gangs: advocacy against life without parole penalties for youth, an overly broad gang definition, and an increase in the disproportionate incarceration of racial and ethnic minorities; advocacy in favor of increased prevention and intervention services for youth Juvenile life without parole: advocacy in favor of requiring the opportunity for parole for all juvenile offenders Mental health: advocacy to increase training and the provision of mental health services to benefit court-involved youth suffering from mental health illness Prison litigation reform: amend current legislation to preserve the rule of law in US prisons and jails, and better protect prisoners from rape, assault, denials of religious freedom, and other constitutional violations
To amend titles 28 and 10, United States Code, to restore habeas corpus for individuals detained by the United States at Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and for other purposes.
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Legislation/Treaties "Department of Defense Authorization Bill: amendments on detainee status, interrogation and rendition (S. 1548) "Material support legislation (H.R. 2764) Legislation/Treaties cont. Habeas Restoration Bills (H.R. 2826 and S. 185) Close Guantanamo legislation (S. 1469 and S. 1249) National Security with Justice Legislation (S. 1876) Taping of Interrogations (H.R. 4951) Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (H.R. 2740) Extraordinary Rendition Legislation (S. 1876) Intelligence Authorization Act (H.R. 2082) Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act (S. 3155) Policies/Issues Detention of and access to courts for alleged enemy combatants held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies of terrorist suspects Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism Use of military commissions, combatant status review tribunals, and applicable fair trial procedures Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances Applicability and definition of fair trial/humane treatment standards in the Geneva Conventions Death penalty: advocacy in favor of abolition and against expansion. Access to courts for vulnerable populations: advocated against restrictions on court access for immigrants, criminal defendants, prisoners and enemy combatant detainees Material witness warrants: advocated in favor of legislation to ensure that suspects are not detained as material witnesses Vulnerable refugees and material support restrictions: protecting victims of terrorism from being defined as supporters of terrorism and barred entry into US Accountability for private security and military contractors Juvenile justice: deinstitutionalization of status offenders, juveniles in adult prisons, ethnic and racial disparities, and conditions of confinement.
To amend titles 28 and 10, United States Code, to restore habeas corpus for individuals detained by the United States at Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and for other purposes.
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Treaties/Legislation "Extraordinary rendition legislation (S. 1876) "Guantanamo closure bills (S. 1469 and S. 1249) Treaties/Legislation cont. Habeas restoration bills (H.R. 2826 and S. 185) Material support legislation (H.R. 2764) Intelligence Authorization Act (H.R. 2082) Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (H.R. 2740) Policies/Issues Detention of and access to courts for persons held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies of terrorism suspects Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism Use of military commissions and combatant status review tribunals Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances Terrorism-related bars on admission jeopardizing resettlement and asylum status of vulnerable refugees Admission of Iraqi refugees into the US Accountability for private security and military contractors
Treaties/Legislation "Global Online Freedom Act (H.R. 4780) "Child Soldiers Prevention Act (S. 1175 and H.R. 3028) Treaties/Legislation cont. Child Soldiers Accountability Act (S. 2135) International Violence Against Women Act (S. 2279) Sexual Violence in Sudan, Chad, CAR resolution (H.R. 726) Burma Sanctions bills (S. 2257 and H.R. 3890) William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (S. 3061 and H.R. 3887) Policies/Issues Algeria: Urged US to reveal whereabouts of two Algerians transferred from Guantanamo to Algeria. Azerbaijan: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the deteriorating human rights situation in Azerbaijan, especially in the area of media freedom; urged US to use its leverage with the Azerbaijani government to secure the release of wrongfully imprisoned journalists. Bangladesh: Urged US to raise with Bangladesh: full restoration of human rights; need for in 2008; prosecution of human rights violators in security forces; need for independent monitors at detention facilities. Urged US to limit assistance to abusive police and military forces to human rights education. Bhutan: Urged US to work with Nepal to ensure full protection of Bhutanese refugees who wish to be resettled in US. Bosnia: Urged US to continue commitment to justice in the Balkans by supporting local war crimes trials in Bosnias cantonal and district courts. Burma: Called for increased US pressure for democratic change in Burma and extended targeted sanctions in Burma; advocated for US pressure on other countries to support the inclusion of Burma on the agenda of the UN Security Council; urged US to support international humanitarian efforts in Burmathrough bilateral channels and Asean channelsfollowing Cyclone Nagris. Cambodia: Urged US to consider concerns about judicial independence before funding Khmer Rouge tribunal. China: Urged US to press China to fulfill human rights commitments related to the Olympics; urged US to raise concerns about ongoing pre-Olympics crackdown against dissidents and human rights defenders as well as lack of rule of law and citizens inability to seek legal redress for injustice; urged US to press China about widespread abuses of migrant construction workers in Beijing; urged US to press China to abolish its discriminatory urban household registration permit system, affecting migrant workers and their families. Colombia: Urged effective enforcement of human rights conditions on US military and demobilization aid to Colombia; urged delay of free trade agreement until more progress is made against paramilitary violence. Democratic Republic of the Congo: Urged US to support appointment of international special advisor on human rights for eastern DRC to underpin the Goma peace process. Ethiopia: Urged US to press Ethiopia to investigate and hold accountable individuals responsible for human rights abuses in Ethiopia (including Ogaden) and Somalia. Georgia: Urged US to press Georgia to undertake a thorough investigation into the police crackdown on demonstrators on November 7, 2007, and to undertake reforms in the penitentiary system and the criminal justice system. Global: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the Voluntary Principles for Security and Human Rights in the extractive industries; advocated for a cut-off of certain categories of US military aid to countries that recruit and use child soldiers in violation of international law or support non-state armed groups that recruit children. Urged US to enact the Protection Against Transmission of HIV for Women and Youth Act of 2007 to remove abstinence-until-marriage earmark for PEPFAR programs and ensure that HIV prevention programs are based on scientific evidence, good public health practice, and human rights principles; urged US to produce a report on womens inheritance rights and impact of PEPFAR. India: Urged US to push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in India-administered Kashmir, in Punjab in the 1980s, and in Gujarat after the 2002 riots; urged US to continue to refuse an official invitation to Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi his role in 2002 communal violence; urged US to encourage India to adopt equal opportunity policies to protect the rights of Dalits and Tribals; urged US to call for the protection of rights of those likely to be displaced in West Bengal state due to government land acquisition for industry. Indonesia: Supported the continued prohibition by US on International Military Education and Training (IMET) and Foreign Military Financing (FMF) to Indonesia given ongoing Indonesian military abuses; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about abuses against child domestic workers and to press for amending labor law to grant core labor rights to workers in the informal sector, including domestic workers; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about human rights abuses by the Indonesian military exacerbated by the lack of oversight over legal and illicit business practices. Iraq: Urged US to investigate allegations of torture and ill-treatment of detainees by Iraqi security forces; urged US to ensure that assistance to Iraq will not contribute to human rights violations; urged US military to prevent and prohibit mistreatment of Iraqis in US custody; urged US to accept a higher number of Iraqi refugees and to support other countries in the region who have Iraqi refugees; urged US forces in Iraq to ensure that children taken into custody are treated as children, given prompt judicial review and access to independent monitors. Israel/Palestinian Authority: Urged US to ensure that political agreements between the two parties be consistent with human rights norms; urged US to inform Israel that continued US military assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations and to inform the Palestinian Authority that any US security assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations by its security forces and by Palestinian armed groups; urged US to call on Israel to end its ban preventing Palestinian students from leaving the Gaza Strip to study abroad, to reinstate Fulbright grants offered to Gaza students, to press Israel to reverse its strict closure policy towards the Gaza Strip, which is harming Gazas civilian population. Jordan: Urged US to condition funding for Jordan on the improvement of human rights standards relating to free assembly and association, torture in prisons, and misuse of administrative detention. Kazakhstan: Urged US to condition Kazakhstans bid to chair the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to Kazakhstans progress in addressing human rights concerns such as media freedom and freedom of assembly. Kenya: Urged US to oppose any attempt to grant amnesty to those responsible for violence after Kenyas elections in early 2008. Libya: Urged US to push for improvements in human rights practices in Libya. Malaysia: Urged US to press Malaysia to rescind the Internal Security Act and dismantle abusive volunteer corps. Morocco: Urged US to press Morocco to increase monitoring of human rights in Western Sahara. Nepal: Urged US to encourage Nepal to end disappearances and torture; urged US to prioritize human rights, particularly the impunity of the Nepal Army; urged US to press Nepal for accountability by all parties to the conflict after the Constituent Assembly elections and support human rights training of security forces; urged US to support better conditions for vulnerable groups such as Dalits, Madhesis, women and children. North Korea: Urged US to incorporate human rights concerns into security discussions. Pakistan: Urged US to: press for full restoration of judiciary; condition military aid on democratic reform; advocate for womens rights in Pakistan; support free expression for journalists and human rights activists in Pakistan; and push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Philippines: Urged US to condition military aid on progress in the prosecution of members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines who are implicated in human rights violations. Russia: Urged US to press Russia to amend their NGO law to conform to international standards. Saudi Arabia: Urged US to protest Saudi restrictions on the freedom of religion and the freedom of expression and association. Sierra Leone: Urged US to continue its financial support of the Special Court for Sierra Leone and to quickly disburse FY 2008 funds granted to the court. Sri Lanka: Called on US to push for an international human rights monitoring mission in Sri Lanka to investigate abuses by all sides to the conflict; urged US to address with Sri Lanka issues of child recruitment by armed groups with Sri Lankan military complicity and by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam; urged US to condition aid to Sri Lanka on improvement in human rights standards. Sudan: Urged US to press for action in Darfur by asking the UN Security Council to call on the Sudanese government to end human rights abuses and hold violators accountable; urged US to work toward the effective deployment of international peacekeepers into the Darfur region. Thailand: Urged US to condemn rights abuses by all sides in the conflict in southern Thailand; urged US to press for full respect of human rights and accountability from Thailand in bilateral drug suppression efforts; urged US to oppose Thailand using extrajudicial killings in the war on drugs; urged US to press Thailand not to return Lao Hmong refugees to Laos and to find durable solutions for Burmese refugees in Thailand; sought US support to press for the resumption of UNHCR status determination process in Thailand; urged US to protest Thai government restrictions on civil liberties and to protect Thai rights defenders; urged US to encourage Thailand to support international humanitarian efforts in Burma in aftermath of Cyclone Nagris. Uganda: Urged US to push for human rights improvements in northern Uganda and to press for an end to torture in Uganda; urged US to push for accountability for the Lords Resistance Armys atrocities and to support UN Security Council statement in light of renewed abuses. Uzbekistan: Urged US to impose targeted sanctions against selected Uzbek government officials responsible for the May 2005 massacre at Andijan and the ensuing crackdown on civil society, and overall to condition its relationship with the Uzbek government on its fulfillment of specific human rights benchmarks. Urged US to help ensure protection from forced return and secure urgent resettlement of Uzbek refugees in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia, and other countries where their safety was at risk. Vietnam: Advocated for continuation of Vietnams status as a Country of Particular Concern for its restrictions on religious freedom; called on US to press Vietnam to account for whereabouts of labor activist Le Tri Tue; urged US to continue monitoring rights abuses by Vietnam against ethnic minority populations; called for US to press Vietnam to annul national security legislation that criminalizes peaceful assembly, expression, association, and certain religions.
Treaties and Legislation "Global Online Freedom Act (H.R. 4780) "Child Soldier Prevention Act (S. 1175 and H.R. 3028) "Child Soldiers Accountability Act (S. 2135) International Violence Against Women Act (S. 2279) International Violence Against Women Act (S. 2279) Sexual Violence in Sudan, Chad, CAR resolution (H.R. 726) William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (S. 3061 and H.R. 3887) Vietnam Human Rights Act (S. 3678) Protection Against Transmission of HIV for Women and Youth Act (H.R. 1713) Policies/Issues Algeria: Urged US to reveal whereabouts of two Algerians transferred from Guantanamo to Algeria. Proposed that US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice press the Algerian government on the well-being and status of Guantanamo detainees returned to Algeria. Angola: Urged US to press Angola to improve its election procedures following the flawed parliamentary elections in September 2008. Azerbaijan: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the deteriorating human rights situation in Azerbaijan, especially media freedom; urged US to press Azerbaijan to secure the release of wrongfully imprisoned journalists. Bangladesh: Urged US to limit cooperation with the abusive Rapid Action Battalion to human rights training. Bhutan: Urged US to work with Nepal to ensure full protection of Bhutanese refugees who wish to be resettled in US. Bosnia: Urged US to continue commitment to justice in the Balkans by supporting local war crimes trials in Bosnias cantonal and district courts. Burma: Called for increased US pressure for democratic change in Burma and extended targeted sanctions in Burma; urged US to press other countries to support inclusion of Burma on UN Security Council agenda; urged US to support international humanitarian efforts in Burmathrough bilateral channels and Asean channelsfollowing Cyclone Nagris. Cambodia: Urged US to consider concerns about judicial independence before funding Khmer Rouge tribunal. Chad: Urged US to press Chad for an end to enforced disappearances and clarify the fate of opposition leaders arbitrarily detained in early 2008. China: Urged US to press China to fulfill human rights commitments related to Olympics; urged US to raise concerns about ongoing crackdown against dissidents and human rights defenders as well as lack of rule of law and citizens inability to seek legal redress for injustice; urged US to press China about widespread abuses of migrant construction workers in Beijing; urged US to press China to abolish its discriminatory urban household registration permit system, affecting migrant workers and their families; urged US to expand its human rights monitoring capabilities in China; urged US to press for diplomatic and press access to Tibetan areas; urged US to press China to permanently extend Olympics-related temporary regulations on foreign media freedom. Colombia: Urged effective enforcement of human rights conditions on US military and demobilization aid to Colombia; urged delay of free trade agreement until more progress is made against paramilitary violence. Urged US to prosecute extradited paramilitary leaders for human rights violations. Democratic Republic of the Congo: Urged US to support appointment of international special advisor on human rights for eastern DRC to underpin the Goma peace process. Ethiopia: Urged US to press Ethiopia to investigate and hold accountable individuals responsible for human rights and humanitarian law abuses in Ethiopia (including Ogaden) and Somalia; and urged a strong US response to a new draft Ethiopian law aimed at restricting the activities of civil society organizations. Georgia: Urged US to press Georgia to undertake a thorough investigation into the police crackdown on demonstrators on November 7, 2007, and to undertake reforms in the penitentiary system and the criminal justice system. Urged US to press Georgia and Russia to respect international humanitarian law; to ensure accountability for human rights and international humanitarian law violations during and in the aftermath of the August 2008 conflict over South Ossetia; to lend support to a robust international monitoring presence with a strong civilian protection mandate; and to work to promote the right to return for IDPs wishing to do so. Global: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the Voluntary Principles for Security and Human Rights in the extractive industries; advocated for a cut-off of certain categories of US military aid to countries that recruit and use child soldiers in violation of international law or support non-state armed groups that recruit children. Urged US to produce a report on womens inheritance rights and impact of PEPFAR. Urged US to support stronger language on the juvenile death penalty in UN General Assemblys annual child rights resolution. India: Urged US to push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in India-administered Kashmir, in Punjab in the 1980s, and in Gujarat after the 2002 riots; urged US to continue to refuse an official invitation to Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi his role in 2002 communal violence; urged US to encourage India to adopt equal opportunity policies to protect the rights of Dalits and Tribals; urged US to call for the protection of rights of those likely to be displaced in West Bengal state due to government land acquisition for industry. Indonesia: Supported the continued prohibition by US on International Military Education and Training (IMET) and Foreign Military Financing (FMF) to Indonesia given ongoing Indonesian military abuses; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about abuses against child domestic workers and to press for amending labor law to grant core labor rights to workers in the informal sector, including domestic workers; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about human rights abuses by the Indonesian military exacerbated by the lack of oversight over legal and illicit business practices. Iraq: Urged US to investigate allegations of torture and ill-treatment of detainees by Iraqi security forces; urged US to ensure that assistance to Iraq will not contribute to human rights violations; urged the US to admit substantially more refugees from Iraq and increase financial support to Syria, Jordan, and other countries that have borne the brunt of the refugee crisis. Urged the US to release detainees in Iraq that are unlikely to be charged, and transfer others against whom there is evidence for criminal proceedings to Iraqi courts with the safeguard that no one should be transferred if they are at risk of abuse; urged US forces in Iraq to ensure that children taken into custody are treated as children, given prompt judicial review and access to independent monitors. Israel/Palestinian Authority: Urged US to ensure that political agreements between the two parties be consistent with human rights norms; urged US to inform Israel that continued US military assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations and to inform the Palestinian Authority that any US security assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations by its security forces and by Palestinian armed groups; urged US to press Israel to reverse its strict closure policy towards the Gaza Strip, which is harming Gazas civilian population. Urged the US to avoid being financially complicit in the expansion of illegal new settlement construction and security measures by Israel in the West Bank. Jordan: Urged US to condition funding for Jordan on the improvement of human rights standards relating to free assembly and association, torture in prisons, and misuse of administrative detention. Kazakhstan: Urged US to press Kazakhstan to fulfill the reform pledges it made in exchange for the chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in 2010, and overall to use its relationship with Kazakhstan to advance progress in human rights in areas of key concern such as media freedom and freedom of assembly. Kenya: Urged US to oppose any attempt to grant amnesty to those responsible for violence after Kenyas elections in early 2008; and to suspend bilateral military training until there is a full, independent inquiry into human rights abuses in the Mount Elgon region of the country (in which a US-trained unit has been heavily implicated). Libya: Urged US to push for improvements in human rights practices in Libya. Urged US to condition further improvements in the US-Libya relationship on steps by Libyan authorities to end the incarceration of political prisoners, abolish laws that imprison peaceful critics, promote freedom of expression and assembly, and stop the use of torture. Malaysia: Urged US to press Malaysia to rescind the Internal Security Act and dismantle abusive volunteer corps, and investigate human trafficking along the countrys borders. Morocco: Urged US to press Morocco to increase monitoring of human rights in Western Sahara. Nepal: Urged US to encourage Nepal to end disappearances and torture; urged US to prioritize human rights, particularly the impunity of the Nepal Army; urged US to press Nepal for accountability by all parties to the conflict and support human rights training of security forces; urged US to support better conditions for vulnerable groups such as Dalits, Madhesis, women and children; urged US to press Nepal government not to violate rights of Tibetans in Nepal, including repealing threats to deport them. Nigeria: Urged US to press the Nigerian government to tackle government corruption and mismanagement and bring to account those responsible. North Korea: Urged US to incorporate human rights concerns into security discussions. Pakistan: Urged US to: press for full restoration of judiciary; condition military aid on democratic reform; advocate for womens rights in Pakistan; support free expression for journalists and human rights activists in Pakistan; and push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Philippines: Urged US to condition military aid on progress in the prosecution of members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines who are implicated in human rights violations, urged US to more carefully vet members of the AFP and Philippine National Police who participate in US-funded programs. Russia: Urged US to press Russia to amend its NGO law to conform to international standards. Urged US to press Russia to end violence by S. Ossetian militia; to press Russia and Georgia to respect international humanitarian law; to ensure accountability for human rights and international humanitarian law violations during and in the aftermath of the August 2008 conflict over South Ossetia; to lend support to a robust international monitoring presence with a strong civilian protection mandate; and to work to promote the right to return for IDPs wishing to do so. Rwanda: Urged US not to support the reappointment of war crimes suspect Karake Karenzi as deputy commander of the Rwandan contingent to UNAMID (Darfur); and to press for due process for all crimes committed in Rwanda during and following the 1994 genocide. Saudi Arabia: Urged US to protest Saudi restrictions on the freedom of religion and the freedom of expression and association. Urged US to press Saudi Arabia to improve judiciary, penal code, and respect for due process in criminal justice system. Sierra Leone: Urged US to continue its financial support of the Special Court for Sierra Leone and to quickly disburse FY 2008 funds granted to the court. Sri Lanka: Urged US to push for an international human rights monitoring mission in Sri Lanka to investigate abuses by all sides to the conflict; urged US to address with Sri Lanka issues of child recruitment by armed groups with Sri Lankan military complicity and by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam; urged US to condition aid to Sri Lanka on improvement in human rights standards. Somalia: urged US to focus concerns on needs of the civilian population; promote creation of a Commission of Inquiry into human rights abuses by all parties to the conflict. Sudan: Urged US to press for action in Darfur by asking the UN Security Council to call on the Sudanese government to end human rights abuses and hold violators accountable; urged US to work toward the effective deployment of international peacekeepers into the Darfur region; and urged US to veto any attempts to secure a Security Council deferral of ICC indictments against Sudanese President Bashir. Thailand: Urged US to condemn rights abuses by all sides in the conflict in southern Thailand; urged US to press for full respect of human rights and accountability from Thailand in bilateral drug suppression efforts; urged US to oppose Thailand using extrajudicial killings in the war on drugs; urged US to press Thailand not to return Lao Hmong refugees to Laos and to find durable solutions for Burmese refugees in Thailand; sought US support to press for the resumption of UNHCR status determination process in Thailand; urged US to protest Thai government restrictions on civil liberties and to protect Thai rights defenders. Tunisia: Urged US to press the Tunisia to end its harassment and imprisonment of human rights activists. Turkmenistan: Urged US to link deepening of relations with Turkmenistan to concrete improvements in human rights. Uganda: Urged US to push for human rights improvements in northern Uganda and to press for an end to torture and the continued government use of secret detention centers; urged US to push for accountability for the Lords Resistance Armys atrocities and to support UN Security Council statement on LRA abuses. Uzbekistan: Urged US to formulate and pursue a clear human rights policy vis-a-vis the Uzbek government, including by operationalizing the targeted sanctions sanctions in the form of a visa ban on Uzbek government officials responsible for the May 2005 massacre at Andijan and the ensuing crackdown on civil society, imposed in June 2008 following the Uzbek governments failure to meet the specific human rights benchmarks articulated in the foreign operations bill. Vietnam: Advocated for continuation of Vietnams status as a Country of Particular Concern for its restrictions on religious freedom; called on US to press Vietnam to account for whereabouts of labor activist Le Tri Tue; urged US to continue monitoring rights abuses by Vietnam against ethnic minority populations; called for US to press Vietnam to annul national security legislation that criminalizes peaceful assembly, expression, association, and certain religions. Zimbabwe: Urged US to maintain pressure on Zimbabwe by extending sanctions on officials responsible for human rights abuses and ensuring that perpetrators are held accountable following any power-sharing agreement in the country.
Treaties and Legislation "Global Online Freedom Act (H.R. 4780) "Child Soldiers Prevention Act (S. 1175 and H.R. 3028) Treaties and Legislation cont. Child Soldiers Accountability Act (S. 2135) International Violence Against Women Act (S. 2279) Sexual Violence in Sudan, Chad, CAR resolution (H.Res. 726) Burma Sanctions bills (S. 2257; H.R. 3890) Colombia Free Trade Agreement ratification Policies/Issues Afghanistan: Advocated for greater support for security in Afghanistan, particularly for women; advocated for US to support vetting of Afghan officials potentially involved in war crimes; advocated for allowing access by the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission to detainees in US custody. Azerbaijan: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the deteriorating human rights situation in Azerbaijan, especially in the area of media freedoms; urged US to use its leverage with the Azerbaijani government to secure the release of wrongfully imprisoned journalists. Bangladesh: Urged US to raise with Bangladesh concerns about the abuse of emergency laws leading to widespread arbitrary detentions and torture in custody. Burma: Called for increased US pressure for democratic change in Burma and extended sanctions in Burma; advocated for US pressure on other countries to support the inclusion of Burma on the agenda of the UN Security Council. Cambodia: Urged US to press the Cambodian government to fulfill its promise to release land activists wrongfully imprisoned in 2007. China: Advocated for US to press China to fulfill human rights commitments related to the Olympics; urged US to raise concerns about ongoing pre-Olympics crackdown against dissidents and human rights defenders as well as lack of rule of law and citizens inability to seek legal redress for injustice. Colombia: Urged effective enforcement of human rights conditions on US military and demobilization aid to Colombia; urged delay of free trade agreement until more progress is made against paramilitary violence. Ethiopia: Urged US to call for the release of political detainees and deny assistance to abusive military units. Georgia: Urged US to press the Georgian government to undertake a thorough investigation into the police crackdown on demonstrators on November 7, 2007, and to undertake reforms in the penitentiary system and the criminal justice system. Global: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the Voluntary Principles for Security and Human Rights in the extractive industries; advocated for a cut-off of certain categories of US military aid to countries that recruit and use child soldiers in violation of international law or support non-state armed groups that recruit children. India: Urged US to push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in India-administered Kashmir. Indonesia: Supported the continued prohibition by the US on International Military Education and Training (IMET) and Foreign Military Financing (FMF) to Indonesia given continued abuses by the Indonesian military; urged US to raise the issue of abuses against child domestic workers with Indonesia and to press for amending the labor law to grant core labor rights to workers in the informal sector, including domestic workers; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about human rights abuses by the Indonesian military that are exacerbated by the lack of oversight over legal and illicit business practices. Iraq: Urged US to investigate allegations of torture and ill-treatment of detainees by Iraqi security forces; urged US to ensure that assistance to Iraq will not contribute to human rights violations; urged US military to prevent and prohibit mistreatment of Iraqis in US custody; urged US to accept a higher number of Iraqi refugees and to support other countries in the region who have Iraqi refugees. Israel/Palestinian Authority: Urged US to ensure that political agreements between the two parties be consistent with human rights norms; urged US to inform Israel that continued US military assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations and to inform the Palestinian Authority that any US security assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations by its security forces and by Palestinian armed groups. Jordan: Urged US to press Jordan to ensure that its counterterrorism measures comply with international human rights guarantees; urged US to support Iraqi refugees in Jordan; urged US to condition aid to Jordan on improvement in human rights standards. Kazakhstan: Urged US to condition Kazakhstans bid to chair the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to Kazakhstans progress in addressing human rights concerns such as media freedom and freedom of assembly. Libya: Urged US to push for improvements in human rights practices in Libya. Malaysia: Urged US to raise concerns about human rights abuses in the application of the Internal Security Act. Morocco: Urged US to press the Moroccan government to increase monitoring of human rights in Western Sahara. Nepal: Urged US to encourage Nepal to end disappearances and torture; urged US to prioritize human rights, particularly the impunity of the Nepal Army. North Korea: Urged US to incorporate human rights concerns into security discussions. Pakistan: Urged US to condition military aid on democratic reform; urged US to advocate for womens rights issues in Pakistan; urged US to support free expression for journalists and human rights activists in Pakistan; urged US to push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in Pakistan administered Kashmir. Philippines: Urged US to condition military aid on progress in the prosecution of members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines who are implicated in human rights violations. Russia: Urged US to press Russia to amend their NGO law to conform to international standards. Saudi Arabia: Urged US to protest Saudi restrictions on the freedom of religion and the freedom of expression and association. Sri Lanka: Called on US to push for an international human rights monitoring mission in Sri Lanka to investigate abuses by all sides to the conflict; urged US to address with Sri Lanka issues of child recruitment by armed groups with Sri Lankan military complicity and by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam; urged US to condition aid to Sri Lanka on improvement in human rights standards. Sudan: Urged US to press for action in Darfur by asking the UN Security Council to call on the Sudanese government to end human rights abuses and hold violators accountable. Thailand: Urged US to protest Thai government restrictions on civil liberties and to protect Thai human rights defenders; sought US to press Thailand not to return Lao Hmong refugees to Laos and to find durable solutions for Burmese refugees in Thailand; sought US support to press for the resumption of UNHCR status determination process in Thailand; urged US to condemn rights abuses by all sides in the conflict in southern Thailand; urged US to demand full respect of human rights and accountability from Thai counterparts in bilateral drug suppression efforts. Uganda: Urged US to push for human rights improvements in northern Uganda and to press for an end to torture in Uganda. Uzbekistan: Urged US to impose targeted sanctions against selected Uzbek government officials responsible for the May 2005 massacre at Andijan and the ensuing crackdown on civil society, and overall to condition its relationship with the Uzbek government on its fulfillment of specific human rights benchmarks. Urged US to help ensure protection from forced return and secure urgent resettlement of Uzbek refugees in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia, and other countries where their safety was at risk. Vietnam: Advocated for continuation of Vietnams status as a Country of Particular Concern for its restrictions on religious freedom.
Treaties/Legislation "Global Online Freedom Act (H.R. 4780) "Child Soldiers Prevention Act (S. 1175 and H.R. 3028) Treaties/Legislation cont. Child Soldiers Accountability Act (S. 2135) International Violence Against Women Act (S. 2279) Sexual Violence in Sudan, Chad, CAR resolution (H.R. 726) Burma Sanctions bills (S. 2257 and H.R. 3890) William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (S. 3061 and H.R. 3887) Policies/Issues Algeria: Urged US to reveal whereabouts of two Algerians transferred from Guantanamo to Algeria. Azerbaijan: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the deteriorating human rights situation in Azerbaijan, especially in the area of media freedom; urged US to use its leverage with the Azerbaijani government to secure the release of wrongfully imprisoned journalists. Bangladesh: Urged US to raise with Bangladesh: full restoration of human rights; need for in 2008; prosecution of human rights violators in security forces; need for independent monitors at detention facilities. Urged US to limit assistance to abusive police and military forces to human rights education. Bhutan: Urged US to work with Nepal to ensure full protection of Bhutanese refugees who wish to be resettled in US. Bosnia: Urged US to continue commitment to justice in the Balkans by supporting local war crimes trials in Bosnias cantonal and district courts. Burma: Called for increased US pressure for democratic change in Burma and extended targeted sanctions in Burma; advocated for US pressure on other countries to support the inclusion of Burma on the agenda of the UN Security Council; urged US to support international humanitarian efforts in Burmathrough bilateral channels and Asean channelsfollowing Cyclone Nagris. Cambodia: Urged US to consider concerns about judicial independence before funding Khmer Rouge tribunal. China: Urged US to press China to fulfill human rights commitments related to the Olympics; urged US to raise concerns about ongoing pre-Olympics crackdown against dissidents and human rights defenders as well as lack of rule of law and citizens inability to seek legal redress for injustice; urged US to press China about widespread abuses of migrant construction workers in Beijing; urged US to press China to abolish its discriminatory urban household registration permit system, affecting migrant workers and their families. Colombia: Urged effective enforcement of human rights conditions on US military and demobilization aid to Colombia; urged delay of free trade agreement until more progress is made against paramilitary violence. Democratic Republic of the Congo: Urged US to support appointment of international special advisor on human rights for eastern DRC to underpin the Goma peace process. Ethiopia: Urged US to press Ethiopia to investigate and hold accountable individuals responsible for human rights abuses in Ethiopia (including Ogaden) and Somalia. Georgia: Urged US to press Georgia to undertake a thorough investigation into the police crackdown on demonstrators on November 7, 2007, and to undertake reforms in the penitentiary system and the criminal justice system. Global: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the Voluntary Principles for Security and Human Rights in the extractive industries; advocated for a cut-off of certain categories of US military aid to countries that recruit and use child soldiers in violation of international law or support non-state armed groups that recruit children. Urged US to enact the Protection Against Transmission of HIV for Women and Youth Act of 2007 to remove abstinence-until-marriage earmark for PEPFAR programs and ensure that HIV prevention programs are based on scientific evidence, good public health practice, and human rights principles; urged US to produce a report on womens inheritance rights and impact of PEPFAR. India: Urged US to push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in India-administered Kashmir, in Punjab in the 1980s, and in Gujarat after the 2002 riots; urged US to continue to refuse an official invitation to Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi his role in 2002 communal violence; urged US to encourage India to adopt equal opportunity policies to protect the rights of Dalits and Tribals; urged US to call for the protection of rights of those likely to be displaced in West Bengal state due to government land acquisition for industry. Indonesia: Supported the continued prohibition by US on International Military Education and Training (IMET) and Foreign Military Financing (FMF) to Indonesia given ongoing Indonesian military abuses; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about abuses against child domestic workers and to press for amending labor law to grant core labor rights to workers in the informal sector, including domestic workers; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about human rights abuses by the Indonesian military exacerbated by the lack of oversight over legal and illicit business practices. Iraq: Urged US to investigate allegations of torture and ill-treatment of detainees by Iraqi security forces; urged US to ensure that assistance to Iraq will not contribute to human rights violations; urged US military to prevent and prohibit mistreatment of Iraqis in US custody; urged US to accept a higher number of Iraqi refugees and to support other countries in the region who have Iraqi refugees; urged US forces in Iraq to ensure that children taken into custody are treated as children, given prompt judicial review and access to independent monitors. Israel/Palestinian Authority: Urged US to ensure that political agreements between the two parties be consistent with human rights norms; urged US to inform Israel that continued US military assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations and to inform the Palestinian Authority that any US security assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations by its security forces and by Palestinian armed groups; urged US to call on Israel to end its ban preventing Palestinian students from leaving the Gaza Strip to study abroad, to reinstate Fulbright grants offered to Gaza students, to press Israel to reverse its strict closure policy towards the Gaza Strip, which is harming Gazas civilian population. Jordan: Urged US to condition funding for Jordan on the improvement of human rights standards relating to free assembly and association, torture in prisons, and misuse of administrative detention. Kazakhstan: Urged US to condition Kazakhstans bid to chair the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to Kazakhstans progress in addressing human rights concerns such as media freedom and freedom of assembly. Kenya: Urged US to oppose any attempt to grant amnesty to those responsible for violence after Kenyas elections in early 2008. Libya: Urged US to push for improvements in human rights practices in Libya. Malaysia: Urged US to press Malaysia to rescind the Internal Security Act and dismantle abusive volunteer corps. Morocco: Urged US to press Morocco to increase monitoring of human rights in Western Sahara. Nepal: Urged US to encourage Nepal to end disappearances and torture; urged US to prioritize human rights, particularly the impunity of the Nepal Army; urged US to press Nepal for accountability by all parties to the conflict after the Constituent Assembly elections and support human rights training of security forces; urged US to support better conditions for vulnerable groups such as Dalits, Madhesis, women and children. North Korea: Urged US to incorporate human rights concerns into security discussions. Pakistan: Urged US to: press for full restoration of judiciary; condition military aid on democratic reform; advocate for womens rights in Pakistan; support free expression for journalists and human rights activists in Pakistan; and push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Philippines: Urged US to condition military aid on progress in the prosecution of members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines who are implicated in human rights violations. Russia: Urged US to press Russia to amend their NGO law to conform to international standards. Saudi Arabia: Urged US to protest Saudi restrictions on the freedom of religion and the freedom of expression and association. Sierra Leone: Urged US to continue its financial support of the Special Court for Sierra Leone and to quickly disburse FY 2008 funds granted to the court. Sri Lanka: Called on US to push for an international human rights monitoring mission in Sri Lanka to investigate abuses by all sides to the conflict; urged US to address with Sri Lanka issues of child recruitment by armed groups with Sri Lankan military complicity and by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam; urged US to condition aid to Sri Lanka on improvement in human rights standards. Sudan: Urged US to press for action in Darfur by asking the UN Security Council to call on the Sudanese government to end human rights abuses and hold violators accountable; urged US to work toward the effective deployment of international peacekeepers into the Darfur region. Thailand: Urged US to condemn rights abuses by all sides in the conflict in southern Thailand; urged US to press for full respect of human rights and accountability from Thailand in bilateral drug suppression efforts; urged US to oppose Thailand using extrajudicial killings in the war on drugs; urged US to press Thailand not to return Lao Hmong refugees to Laos and to find durable solutions for Burmese refugees in Thailand; sought US support to press for the resumption of UNHCR status determination process in Thailand; urged US to protest Thai government restrictions on civil liberties and to protect Thai rights defenders; urged US to encourage Thailand to support international humanitarian efforts in Burma in aftermath of Cyclone Nagris. Uganda: Urged US to push for human rights improvements in northern Uganda and to press for an end to torture in Uganda; urged US to push for accountability for the Lords Resistance Armys atrocities and to support UN Security Council statement in light of renewed abuses. Uzbekistan: Urged US to impose targeted sanctions against selected Uzbek government officials responsible for the May 2005 massacre at Andijan and the ensuing crackdown on civil society, and overall to condition its relationship with the Uzbek government on its fulfillment of specific human rights benchmarks. Urged US to help ensure protection from forced return and secure urgent resettlement of Uzbek refugees in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia, and other countries where their safety was at risk. Vietnam: Advocated for continuation of Vietnams status as a Country of Particular Concern for its restrictions on religious freedom; called on US to press Vietnam to account for whereabouts of labor activist Le Tri Tue; urged US to continue monitoring rights abuses by Vietnam against ethnic minority populations; called for US to press Vietnam to annul national security legislation that criminalizes peaceful assembly, expression, association, and certain religions.
Legislation/Treaties "Department of Defense Authorization Bill: amendments on detainee status, interrogation and rendition (S. 1548) "Material support legislation (H.R. 2764) Legislation/Treaties cont. Habeas Restoration Bills (H.R. 2826 and S. 185) Close Guantanamo legislation (S. 1469 and S. 1249) National Security with Justice Legislation (S. 1876) Taping of Interrogations (H.R. 4951) Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (H.R. 2740) Extraordinary Rendition Legislation (S. 1876) Intelligence Authorization Act (H.R. 2082) Gang Abatement and Suppression Act (S. 456) Gang Prevention, Intervention, and Suppression Act (H.R. 3547) Youth PROMISE Act (H.R. 3846) Juvenile Crime Reduction Act (H.R. 3411) Prison Abuse Remedies Act of 2007 (H.R. 4109) Juvenile Justice Accountability and Improvement Act of 2007 (H.R. 4300) Policies/Issues Detention of and access to courts for persons held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies of terrorist suspects Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism Use of military commissions, combatant status review tribunals, and applicable fair trial procedures Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances Applicability and definition of fair trial/humane treatment standards in the Geneva Conventions Death penalty: advocacy in favor of abolition and against expansion. Access to courts for vulnerable populations: advocated against restrictions on court access for immigrants, criminal defendants, prisoners and enemy combatant detainees Material witness warrants: advocated in favor of legislation to ensure that suspects are not detained as material witnesses Vulnerable refugees and material support restrictions: protecting victims of terrorism from being defined as supporters of terrorism and barred entry into US Accountability for private security and military contractors Gangs: advocacy against life without parole penalties for youth, an overly broad gang definition, and an increase in the disproportionate incarceration of racial and ethnic minorities; advocacy in favor of increased prevention and intervention services for youth Juvenile life without parole: advocacy in favor of requiring the opportunity for parole for all juvenile offenders Mental health: advocacy to increase training and the provision of mental health services to benefit court-involved youth suffering from mental health illness Prison litigation reform: amend current legislation to preserve the rule of law in US prisons and jails, and better protect prisoners from rape, assault, denials of religious freedom, and other constitutional violations
Gang Prevention, Intervention, and Suppression Act
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Legislation/Treaties "Department of Defense Authorization Bill: amendments on detainee status, interrogation and rendition (S. 1548) "Material support legislation (H.R. 2764) Legislation/Treaties cont. Habeas Restoration Bills (H.R. 2826 and S. 185) Close Guantanamo legislation (S. 1469 and S. 1249) National Security with Justice Legislation (S. 1876) Taping of Interrogations (H.R. 4951) Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (H.R. 2740) Extraordinary Rendition Legislation (S. 1876) Intelligence Authorization Act (H.R. 2082) Gang Abatement and Suppression Act (S. 456) Gang Prevention, Intervention, and Suppression Act (H.R. 3547) Youth PROMISE Act (H.R. 3846) Juvenile Crime Reduction Act (H.R. 3411) Prison Abuse Remedies Act of 2007 (H.R. 4109) Juvenile Justice Accountability and Improvement Act of 2007 (H.R. 4300) Policies/Issues Detention of and access to courts for persons held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies of terrorist suspects Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism Use of military commissions, combatant status review tribunals, and applicable fair trial procedures Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances Applicability and definition of fair trial/humane treatment standards in the Geneva Conventions Death penalty: advocacy in favor of abolition and against expansion. Access to courts for vulnerable populations: advocated against restrictions on court access for immigrants, criminal defendants, prisoners and enemy combatant detainees Material witness warrants: advocated in favor of legislation to ensure that suspects are not detained as material witnesses Vulnerable refugees and material support restrictions: protecting victims of terrorism from being defined as supporters of terrorism and barred entry into US Accountability for private security and military contractors Gangs: advocacy against life without parole penalties for youth, an overly broad gang definition, and an increase in the disproportionate incarceration of racial and ethnic minorities; advocacy in favor of increased prevention and intervention services for youth Juvenile life without parole: advocacy in favor of requiring the opportunity for parole for all juvenile offenders Mental health: advocacy to increase training and the provision of mental health services to benefit court-involved youth suffering from mental health illness Prison litigation reform: amend current legislation to preserve the rule of law in US prisons and jails, and better protect prisoners from rape, assault, denials of religious freedom, and other constitutional violations
Legislation/Treaties " Department of Defense Authorization Bill: amendments on detainee status,interrogation and rendition (S. 1548) " Material support legislation (H.R. 2764) "National Security with Justice Act (S. 1876) Detainee Interrogation Recording Act (H.R. 4660) Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Expansion and Enforcement Act (H.R. 2740) Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act (S. 3155) Youth PROMISE Act (H.R. 3846) Detainee Basic Medical Care Act (H.R. 5950) Policies/Issues Detention of and access to courts for alleged enemy combatants held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies of terrorist suspects Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism Use of military commissions, combatant status review tribunals, and applicable fair trial procedures Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances Applicability and definition of fair trial/humane treatment standards in the Geneva Conventions Death penalty: advocacy in favor of abolition and against expansion Access to courts for vulnerable populations: advocated against restrictions on court access for immigrants, criminal defendants, prisoners and enemy combatant detainees Vulnerable refugees and material support restrictions: protecting victims of terrorism from being defined as supporters of terrorism and barred entry into US Accountability for private security and military contractors Juvenile justice: deinstitutionalization of status offenders, juveniles in adult prisons, ethnic and racial disparities, and conditions of confinement Prison reduction and support for age-appropriate youth crime prevention and intervention programs Improve medical care for detained immigrants; establish reporting procedures for deaths in detention
Legislation/Treaties "Department of Defense Authorization Bill: amendments on detainee status, interrogation and rendition (S. 1548) "Material support legislation (H.R. 2764) Legislation/Treaties cont. Habeas Restoration Bills (H.R. 2826 and S. 185) Close Guantanamo legislation (S. 1469 and S. 1249) National Security with Justice Legislation (S. 1876) Taping of Interrogations (H.R. 4951) Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (H.R. 2740) Extraordinary Rendition Legislation (S. 1876) Intelligence Authorization Act (H.R. 2082) Gang Abatement and Suppression Act (S. 456) Gang Prevention, Intervention, and Suppression Act (H.R. 3547) Youth PROMISE Act (H.R. 3846) Juvenile Crime Reduction Act (H.R. 3411) Prison Abuse Remedies Act of 2007 (H.R. 4109) Juvenile Justice Accountability and Improvement Act of 2007 (H.R. 4300) Policies/Issues Detention of and access to courts for persons held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies of terrorist suspects Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism Use of military commissions, combatant status review tribunals, and applicable fair trial procedures Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances Applicability and definition of fair trial/humane treatment standards in the Geneva Conventions Death penalty: advocacy in favor of abolition and against expansion. Access to courts for vulnerable populations: advocated against restrictions on court access for immigrants, criminal defendants, prisoners and enemy combatant detainees Material witness warrants: advocated in favor of legislation to ensure that suspects are not detained as material witnesses Vulnerable refugees and material support restrictions: protecting victims of terrorism from being defined as supporters of terrorism and barred entry into US Accountability for private security and military contractors Gangs: advocacy against life without parole penalties for youth, an overly broad gang definition, and an increase in the disproportionate incarceration of racial and ethnic minorities; advocacy in favor of increased prevention and intervention services for youth Juvenile life without parole: advocacy in favor of requiring the opportunity for parole for all juvenile offenders Mental health: advocacy to increase training and the provision of mental health services to benefit court-involved youth suffering from mental health illness Prison litigation reform: amend current legislation to preserve the rule of law in US prisons and jails, and better protect prisoners from rape, assault, denials of religious freedom, and other constitutional violations
William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2007
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Treaties/Legislation "Global Online Freedom Act (H.R. 4780) "Child Soldiers Prevention Act (S. 1175 and H.R. 3028) Treaties/Legislation cont. Child Soldiers Accountability Act (S. 2135) International Violence Against Women Act (S. 2279) Sexual Violence in Sudan, Chad, CAR resolution (H.R. 726) Burma Sanctions bills (S. 2257 and H.R. 3890) William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (S. 3061 and H.R. 3887) Policies/Issues Algeria: Urged US to reveal whereabouts of two Algerians transferred from Guantanamo to Algeria. Azerbaijan: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the deteriorating human rights situation in Azerbaijan, especially in the area of media freedom; urged US to use its leverage with the Azerbaijani government to secure the release of wrongfully imprisoned journalists. Bangladesh: Urged US to raise with Bangladesh: full restoration of human rights; need for in 2008; prosecution of human rights violators in security forces; need for independent monitors at detention facilities. Urged US to limit assistance to abusive police and military forces to human rights education. Bhutan: Urged US to work with Nepal to ensure full protection of Bhutanese refugees who wish to be resettled in US. Bosnia: Urged US to continue commitment to justice in the Balkans by supporting local war crimes trials in Bosnias cantonal and district courts. Burma: Called for increased US pressure for democratic change in Burma and extended targeted sanctions in Burma; advocated for US pressure on other countries to support the inclusion of Burma on the agenda of the UN Security Council; urged US to support international humanitarian efforts in Burmathrough bilateral channels and Asean channelsfollowing Cyclone Nagris. Cambodia: Urged US to consider concerns about judicial independence before funding Khmer Rouge tribunal. China: Urged US to press China to fulfill human rights commitments related to the Olympics; urged US to raise concerns about ongoing pre-Olympics crackdown against dissidents and human rights defenders as well as lack of rule of law and citizens inability to seek legal redress for injustice; urged US to press China about widespread abuses of migrant construction workers in Beijing; urged US to press China to abolish its discriminatory urban household registration permit system, affecting migrant workers and their families. Colombia: Urged effective enforcement of human rights conditions on US military and demobilization aid to Colombia; urged delay of free trade agreement until more progress is made against paramilitary violence. Democratic Republic of the Congo: Urged US to support appointment of international special advisor on human rights for eastern DRC to underpin the Goma peace process. Ethiopia: Urged US to press Ethiopia to investigate and hold accountable individuals responsible for human rights abuses in Ethiopia (including Ogaden) and Somalia. Georgia: Urged US to press Georgia to undertake a thorough investigation into the police crackdown on demonstrators on November 7, 2007, and to undertake reforms in the penitentiary system and the criminal justice system. Global: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the Voluntary Principles for Security and Human Rights in the extractive industries; advocated for a cut-off of certain categories of US military aid to countries that recruit and use child soldiers in violation of international law or support non-state armed groups that recruit children. Urged US to enact the Protection Against Transmission of HIV for Women and Youth Act of 2007 to remove abstinence-until-marriage earmark for PEPFAR programs and ensure that HIV prevention programs are based on scientific evidence, good public health practice, and human rights principles; urged US to produce a report on womens inheritance rights and impact of PEPFAR. India: Urged US to push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in India-administered Kashmir, in Punjab in the 1980s, and in Gujarat after the 2002 riots; urged US to continue to refuse an official invitation to Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi his role in 2002 communal violence; urged US to encourage India to adopt equal opportunity policies to protect the rights of Dalits and Tribals; urged US to call for the protection of rights of those likely to be displaced in West Bengal state due to government land acquisition for industry. Indonesia: Supported the continued prohibition by US on International Military Education and Training (IMET) and Foreign Military Financing (FMF) to Indonesia given ongoing Indonesian military abuses; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about abuses against child domestic workers and to press for amending labor law to grant core labor rights to workers in the informal sector, including domestic workers; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about human rights abuses by the Indonesian military exacerbated by the lack of oversight over legal and illicit business practices. Iraq: Urged US to investigate allegations of torture and ill-treatment of detainees by Iraqi security forces; urged US to ensure that assistance to Iraq will not contribute to human rights violations; urged US military to prevent and prohibit mistreatment of Iraqis in US custody; urged US to accept a higher number of Iraqi refugees and to support other countries in the region who have Iraqi refugees; urged US forces in Iraq to ensure that children taken into custody are treated as children, given prompt judicial review and access to independent monitors. Israel/Palestinian Authority: Urged US to ensure that political agreements between the two parties be consistent with human rights norms; urged US to inform Israel that continued US military assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations and to inform the Palestinian Authority that any US security assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations by its security forces and by Palestinian armed groups; urged US to call on Israel to end its ban preventing Palestinian students from leaving the Gaza Strip to study abroad, to reinstate Fulbright grants offered to Gaza students, to press Israel to reverse its strict closure policy towards the Gaza Strip, which is harming Gazas civilian population. Jordan: Urged US to condition funding for Jordan on the improvement of human rights standards relating to free assembly and association, torture in prisons, and misuse of administrative detention. Kazakhstan: Urged US to condition Kazakhstans bid to chair the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to Kazakhstans progress in addressing human rights concerns such as media freedom and freedom of assembly. Kenya: Urged US to oppose any attempt to grant amnesty to those responsible for violence after Kenyas elections in early 2008. Libya: Urged US to push for improvements in human rights practices in Libya. Malaysia: Urged US to press Malaysia to rescind the Internal Security Act and dismantle abusive volunteer corps. Morocco: Urged US to press Morocco to increase monitoring of human rights in Western Sahara. Nepal: Urged US to encourage Nepal to end disappearances and torture; urged US to prioritize human rights, particularly the impunity of the Nepal Army; urged US to press Nepal for accountability by all parties to the conflict after the Constituent Assembly elections and support human rights training of security forces; urged US to support better conditions for vulnerable groups such as Dalits, Madhesis, women and children. North Korea: Urged US to incorporate human rights concerns into security discussions. Pakistan: Urged US to: press for full restoration of judiciary; condition military aid on democratic reform; advocate for womens rights in Pakistan; support free expression for journalists and human rights activists in Pakistan; and push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Philippines: Urged US to condition military aid on progress in the prosecution of members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines who are implicated in human rights violations. Russia: Urged US to press Russia to amend their NGO law to conform to international standards. Saudi Arabia: Urged US to protest Saudi restrictions on the freedom of religion and the freedom of expression and association. Sierra Leone: Urged US to continue its financial support of the Special Court for Sierra Leone and to quickly disburse FY 2008 funds granted to the court. Sri Lanka: Called on US to push for an international human rights monitoring mission in Sri Lanka to investigate abuses by all sides to the conflict; urged US to address with Sri Lanka issues of child recruitment by armed groups with Sri Lankan military complicity and by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam; urged US to condition aid to Sri Lanka on improvement in human rights standards. Sudan: Urged US to press for action in Darfur by asking the UN Security Council to call on the Sudanese government to end human rights abuses and hold violators accountable; urged US to work toward the effective deployment of international peacekeepers into the Darfur region. Thailand: Urged US to condemn rights abuses by all sides in the conflict in southern Thailand; urged US to press for full respect of human rights and accountability from Thailand in bilateral drug suppression efforts; urged US to oppose Thailand using extrajudicial killings in the war on drugs; urged US to press Thailand not to return Lao Hmong refugees to Laos and to find durable solutions for Burmese refugees in Thailand; sought US support to press for the resumption of UNHCR status determination process in Thailand; urged US to protest Thai government restrictions on civil liberties and to protect Thai rights defenders; urged US to encourage Thailand to support international humanitarian efforts in Burma in aftermath of Cyclone Nagris. Uganda: Urged US to push for human rights improvements in northern Uganda and to press for an end to torture in Uganda; urged US to push for accountability for the Lords Resistance Armys atrocities and to support UN Security Council statement in light of renewed abuses. Uzbekistan: Urged US to impose targeted sanctions against selected Uzbek government officials responsible for the May 2005 massacre at Andijan and the ensuing crackdown on civil society, and overall to condition its relationship with the Uzbek government on its fulfillment of specific human rights benchmarks. Urged US to help ensure protection from forced return and secure urgent resettlement of Uzbek refugees in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia, and other countries where their safety was at risk. Vietnam: Advocated for continuation of Vietnams status as a Country of Particular Concern for its restrictions on religious freedom; called on US to press Vietnam to account for whereabouts of labor activist Le Tri Tue; urged US to continue monitoring rights abuses by Vietnam against ethnic minority populations; called for US to press Vietnam to annul national security legislation that criminalizes peaceful assembly, expression, association, and certain religions.
William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2007
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Treaties/Legislation "Global Online Freedom Act (H.R. 4780) "Child Soldiers Prevention Act (S. 1175 and H.R. 3028) Treaties/Legislation cont. Child Soldiers Accountability Act (S. 2135) International Violence Against Women Act (S. 2279) Sexual Violence in Sudan, Chad, CAR resolution (H.R. 726) Burma Sanctions bills (S. 2257 and H.R. 3890) William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (S. 3061 and H.R. 3887) Policies/Issues Algeria: Urged US to reveal whereabouts of two Algerians transferred from Guantanamo to Algeria. Azerbaijan: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the deteriorating human rights situation in Azerbaijan, especially in the area of media freedom; urged US to use its leverage with the Azerbaijani government to secure the release of wrongfully imprisoned journalists. Bangladesh: Urged US to raise with Bangladesh: full restoration of human rights; need for in 2008; prosecution of human rights violators in security forces; need for independent monitors at detention facilities. Urged US to limit assistance to abusive police and military forces to human rights education. Bhutan: Urged US to work with Nepal to ensure full protection of Bhutanese refugees who wish to be resettled in US. Bosnia: Urged US to continue commitment to justice in the Balkans by supporting local war crimes trials in Bosnias cantonal and district courts. Burma: Called for increased US pressure for democratic change in Burma and extended targeted sanctions in Burma; advocated for US pressure on other countries to support the inclusion of Burma on the agenda of the UN Security Council; urged US to support international humanitarian efforts in Burmathrough bilateral channels and Asean channelsfollowing Cyclone Nagris. Cambodia: Urged US to consider concerns about judicial independence before funding Khmer Rouge tribunal. China: Urged US to press China to fulfill human rights commitments related to the Olympics; urged US to raise concerns about ongoing pre-Olympics crackdown against dissidents and human rights defenders as well as lack of rule of law and citizens inability to seek legal redress for injustice; urged US to press China about widespread abuses of migrant construction workers in Beijing; urged US to press China to abolish its discriminatory urban household registration permit system, affecting migrant workers and their families. Colombia: Urged effective enforcement of human rights conditions on US military and demobilization aid to Colombia; urged delay of free trade agreement until more progress is made against paramilitary violence. Democratic Republic of the Congo: Urged US to support appointment of international special advisor on human rights for eastern DRC to underpin the Goma peace process. Ethiopia: Urged US to press Ethiopia to investigate and hold accountable individuals responsible for human rights abuses in Ethiopia (including Ogaden) and Somalia. Georgia: Urged US to press Georgia to undertake a thorough investigation into the police crackdown on demonstrators on November 7, 2007, and to undertake reforms in the penitentiary system and the criminal justice system. Global: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the Voluntary Principles for Security and Human Rights in the extractive industries; advocated for a cut-off of certain categories of US military aid to countries that recruit and use child soldiers in violation of international law or support non-state armed groups that recruit children. Urged US to enact the Protection Against Transmission of HIV for Women and Youth Act of 2007 to remove abstinence-until-marriage earmark for PEPFAR programs and ensure that HIV prevention programs are based on scientific evidence, good public health practice, and human rights principles; urged US to produce a report on womens inheritance rights and impact of PEPFAR. India: Urged US to push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in India-administered Kashmir, in Punjab in the 1980s, and in Gujarat after the 2002 riots; urged US to continue to refuse an official invitation to Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi his role in 2002 communal violence; urged US to encourage India to adopt equal opportunity policies to protect the rights of Dalits and Tribals; urged US to call for the protection of rights of those likely to be displaced in West Bengal state due to government land acquisition for industry. Indonesia: Supported the continued prohibition by US on International Military Education and Training (IMET) and Foreign Military Financing (FMF) to Indonesia given ongoing Indonesian military abuses; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about abuses against child domestic workers and to press for amending labor law to grant core labor rights to workers in the informal sector, including domestic workers; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about human rights abuses by the Indonesian military exacerbated by the lack of oversight over legal and illicit business practices. Iraq: Urged US to investigate allegations of torture and ill-treatment of detainees by Iraqi security forces; urged US to ensure that assistance to Iraq will not contribute to human rights violations; urged US military to prevent and prohibit mistreatment of Iraqis in US custody; urged US to accept a higher number of Iraqi refugees and to support other countries in the region who have Iraqi refugees; urged US forces in Iraq to ensure that children taken into custody are treated as children, given prompt judicial review and access to independent monitors. Israel/Palestinian Authority: Urged US to ensure that political agreements between the two parties be consistent with human rights norms; urged US to inform Israel that continued US military assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations and to inform the Palestinian Authority that any US security assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations by its security forces and by Palestinian armed groups; urged US to call on Israel to end its ban preventing Palestinian students from leaving the Gaza Strip to study abroad, to reinstate Fulbright grants offered to Gaza students, to press Israel to reverse its strict closure policy towards the Gaza Strip, which is harming Gazas civilian population. Jordan: Urged US to condition funding for Jordan on the improvement of human rights standards relating to free assembly and association, torture in prisons, and misuse of administrative detention. Kazakhstan: Urged US to condition Kazakhstans bid to chair the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to Kazakhstans progress in addressing human rights concerns such as media freedom and freedom of assembly. Kenya: Urged US to oppose any attempt to grant amnesty to those responsible for violence after Kenyas elections in early 2008. Libya: Urged US to push for improvements in human rights practices in Libya. Malaysia: Urged US to press Malaysia to rescind the Internal Security Act and dismantle abusive volunteer corps. Morocco: Urged US to press Morocco to increase monitoring of human rights in Western Sahara. Nepal: Urged US to encourage Nepal to end disappearances and torture; urged US to prioritize human rights, particularly the impunity of the Nepal Army; urged US to press Nepal for accountability by all parties to the conflict after the Constituent Assembly elections and support human rights training of security forces; urged US to support better conditions for vulnerable groups such as Dalits, Madhesis, women and children. North Korea: Urged US to incorporate human rights concerns into security discussions. Pakistan: Urged US to: press for full restoration of judiciary; condition military aid on democratic reform; advocate for womens rights in Pakistan; support free expression for journalists and human rights activists in Pakistan; and push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Philippines: Urged US to condition military aid on progress in the prosecution of members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines who are implicated in human rights violations. Russia: Urged US to press Russia to amend their NGO law to conform to international standards. Saudi Arabia: Urged US to protest Saudi restrictions on the freedom of religion and the freedom of expression and association. Sierra Leone: Urged US to continue its financial support of the Special Court for Sierra Leone and to quickly disburse FY 2008 funds granted to the court. Sri Lanka: Called on US to push for an international human rights monitoring mission in Sri Lanka to investigate abuses by all sides to the conflict; urged US to address with Sri Lanka issues of child recruitment by armed groups with Sri Lankan military complicity and by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam; urged US to condition aid to Sri Lanka on improvement in human rights standards. Sudan: Urged US to press for action in Darfur by asking the UN Security Council to call on the Sudanese government to end human rights abuses and hold violators accountable; urged US to work toward the effective deployment of international peacekeepers into the Darfur region. Thailand: Urged US to condemn rights abuses by all sides in the conflict in southern Thailand; urged US to press for full respect of human rights and accountability from Thailand in bilateral drug suppression efforts; urged US to oppose Thailand using extrajudicial killings in the war on drugs; urged US to press Thailand not to return Lao Hmong refugees to Laos and to find durable solutions for Burmese refugees in Thailand; sought US support to press for the resumption of UNHCR status determination process in Thailand; urged US to protest Thai government restrictions on civil liberties and to protect Thai rights defenders; urged US to encourage Thailand to support international humanitarian efforts in Burma in aftermath of Cyclone Nagris. Uganda: Urged US to push for human rights improvements in northern Uganda and to press for an end to torture in Uganda; urged US to push for accountability for the Lords Resistance Armys atrocities and to support UN Security Council statement in light of renewed abuses. Uzbekistan: Urged US to impose targeted sanctions against selected Uzbek government officials responsible for the May 2005 massacre at Andijan and the ensuing crackdown on civil society, and overall to condition its relationship with the Uzbek government on its fulfillment of specific human rights benchmarks. Urged US to help ensure protection from forced return and secure urgent resettlement of Uzbek refugees in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia, and other countries where their safety was at risk. Vietnam: Advocated for continuation of Vietnams status as a Country of Particular Concern for its restrictions on religious freedom; called on US to press Vietnam to account for whereabouts of labor activist Le Tri Tue; urged US to continue monitoring rights abuses by Vietnam against ethnic minority populations; called for US to press Vietnam to annul national security legislation that criminalizes peaceful assembly, expression, association, and certain religions.
William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2007
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Treaties and Legislation "Global Online Freedom Act (H.R. 4780) "Child Soldier Prevention Act (S. 1175 and H.R. 3028) "Child Soldiers Accountability Act (S. 2135) International Violence Against Women Act (S. 2279) International Violence Against Women Act (S. 2279) Sexual Violence in Sudan, Chad, CAR resolution (H.R. 726) William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (S. 3061 and H.R. 3887) Vietnam Human Rights Act (S. 3678) Protection Against Transmission of HIV for Women and Youth Act (H.R. 1713) Policies/Issues Algeria: Urged US to reveal whereabouts of two Algerians transferred from Guantanamo to Algeria. Proposed that US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice press the Algerian government on the well-being and status of Guantanamo detainees returned to Algeria. Angola: Urged US to press Angola to improve its election procedures following the flawed parliamentary elections in September 2008. Azerbaijan: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the deteriorating human rights situation in Azerbaijan, especially media freedom; urged US to press Azerbaijan to secure the release of wrongfully imprisoned journalists. Bangladesh: Urged US to limit cooperation with the abusive Rapid Action Battalion to human rights training. Bhutan: Urged US to work with Nepal to ensure full protection of Bhutanese refugees who wish to be resettled in US. Bosnia: Urged US to continue commitment to justice in the Balkans by supporting local war crimes trials in Bosnias cantonal and district courts. Burma: Called for increased US pressure for democratic change in Burma and extended targeted sanctions in Burma; urged US to press other countries to support inclusion of Burma on UN Security Council agenda; urged US to support international humanitarian efforts in Burmathrough bilateral channels and Asean channelsfollowing Cyclone Nagris. Cambodia: Urged US to consider concerns about judicial independence before funding Khmer Rouge tribunal. Chad: Urged US to press Chad for an end to enforced disappearances and clarify the fate of opposition leaders arbitrarily detained in early 2008. China: Urged US to press China to fulfill human rights commitments related to Olympics; urged US to raise concerns about ongoing crackdown against dissidents and human rights defenders as well as lack of rule of law and citizens inability to seek legal redress for injustice; urged US to press China about widespread abuses of migrant construction workers in Beijing; urged US to press China to abolish its discriminatory urban household registration permit system, affecting migrant workers and their families; urged US to expand its human rights monitoring capabilities in China; urged US to press for diplomatic and press access to Tibetan areas; urged US to press China to permanently extend Olympics-related temporary regulations on foreign media freedom. Colombia: Urged effective enforcement of human rights conditions on US military and demobilization aid to Colombia; urged delay of free trade agreement until more progress is made against paramilitary violence. Urged US to prosecute extradited paramilitary leaders for human rights violations. Democratic Republic of the Congo: Urged US to support appointment of international special advisor on human rights for eastern DRC to underpin the Goma peace process. Ethiopia: Urged US to press Ethiopia to investigate and hold accountable individuals responsible for human rights and humanitarian law abuses in Ethiopia (including Ogaden) and Somalia; and urged a strong US response to a new draft Ethiopian law aimed at restricting the activities of civil society organizations. Georgia: Urged US to press Georgia to undertake a thorough investigation into the police crackdown on demonstrators on November 7, 2007, and to undertake reforms in the penitentiary system and the criminal justice system. Urged US to press Georgia and Russia to respect international humanitarian law; to ensure accountability for human rights and international humanitarian law violations during and in the aftermath of the August 2008 conflict over South Ossetia; to lend support to a robust international monitoring presence with a strong civilian protection mandate; and to work to promote the right to return for IDPs wishing to do so. Global: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the Voluntary Principles for Security and Human Rights in the extractive industries; advocated for a cut-off of certain categories of US military aid to countries that recruit and use child soldiers in violation of international law or support non-state armed groups that recruit children. Urged US to produce a report on womens inheritance rights and impact of PEPFAR. Urged US to support stronger language on the juvenile death penalty in UN General Assemblys annual child rights resolution. India: Urged US to push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in India-administered Kashmir, in Punjab in the 1980s, and in Gujarat after the 2002 riots; urged US to continue to refuse an official invitation to Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi his role in 2002 communal violence; urged US to encourage India to adopt equal opportunity policies to protect the rights of Dalits and Tribals; urged US to call for the protection of rights of those likely to be displaced in West Bengal state due to government land acquisition for industry. Indonesia: Supported the continued prohibition by US on International Military Education and Training (IMET) and Foreign Military Financing (FMF) to Indonesia given ongoing Indonesian military abuses; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about abuses against child domestic workers and to press for amending labor law to grant core labor rights to workers in the informal sector, including domestic workers; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about human rights abuses by the Indonesian military exacerbated by the lack of oversight over legal and illicit business practices. Iraq: Urged US to investigate allegations of torture and ill-treatment of detainees by Iraqi security forces; urged US to ensure that assistance to Iraq will not contribute to human rights violations; urged the US to admit substantially more refugees from Iraq and increase financial support to Syria, Jordan, and other countries that have borne the brunt of the refugee crisis. Urged the US to release detainees in Iraq that are unlikely to be charged, and transfer others against whom there is evidence for criminal proceedings to Iraqi courts with the safeguard that no one should be transferred if they are at risk of abuse; urged US forces in Iraq to ensure that children taken into custody are treated as children, given prompt judicial review and access to independent monitors. Israel/Palestinian Authority: Urged US to ensure that political agreements between the two parties be consistent with human rights norms; urged US to inform Israel that continued US military assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations and to inform the Palestinian Authority that any US security assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations by its security forces and by Palestinian armed groups; urged US to press Israel to reverse its strict closure policy towards the Gaza Strip, which is harming Gazas civilian population. Urged the US to avoid being financially complicit in the expansion of illegal new settlement construction and security measures by Israel in the West Bank. Jordan: Urged US to condition funding for Jordan on the improvement of human rights standards relating to free assembly and association, torture in prisons, and misuse of administrative detention. Kazakhstan: Urged US to press Kazakhstan to fulfill the reform pledges it made in exchange for the chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in 2010, and overall to use its relationship with Kazakhstan to advance progress in human rights in areas of key concern such as media freedom and freedom of assembly. Kenya: Urged US to oppose any attempt to grant amnesty to those responsible for violence after Kenyas elections in early 2008; and to suspend bilateral military training until there is a full, independent inquiry into human rights abuses in the Mount Elgon region of the country (in which a US-trained unit has been heavily implicated). Libya: Urged US to push for improvements in human rights practices in Libya. Urged US to condition further improvements in the US-Libya relationship on steps by Libyan authorities to end the incarceration of political prisoners, abolish laws that imprison peaceful critics, promote freedom of expression and assembly, and stop the use of torture. Malaysia: Urged US to press Malaysia to rescind the Internal Security Act and dismantle abusive volunteer corps, and investigate human trafficking along the countrys borders. Morocco: Urged US to press Morocco to increase monitoring of human rights in Western Sahara. Nepal: Urged US to encourage Nepal to end disappearances and torture; urged US to prioritize human rights, particularly the impunity of the Nepal Army; urged US to press Nepal for accountability by all parties to the conflict and support human rights training of security forces; urged US to support better conditions for vulnerable groups such as Dalits, Madhesis, women and children; urged US to press Nepal government not to violate rights of Tibetans in Nepal, including repealing threats to deport them. Nigeria: Urged US to press the Nigerian government to tackle government corruption and mismanagement and bring to account those responsible. North Korea: Urged US to incorporate human rights concerns into security discussions. Pakistan: Urged US to: press for full restoration of judiciary; condition military aid on democratic reform; advocate for womens rights in Pakistan; support free expression for journalists and human rights activists in Pakistan; and push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Philippines: Urged US to condition military aid on progress in the prosecution of members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines who are implicated in human rights violations, urged US to more carefully vet members of the AFP and Philippine National Police who participate in US-funded programs. Russia: Urged US to press Russia to amend its NGO law to conform to international standards. Urged US to press Russia to end violence by S. Ossetian militia; to press Russia and Georgia to respect international humanitarian law; to ensure accountability for human rights and international humanitarian law violations during and in the aftermath of the August 2008 conflict over South Ossetia; to lend support to a robust international monitoring presence with a strong civilian protection mandate; and to work to promote the right to return for IDPs wishing to do so. Rwanda: Urged US not to support the reappointment of war crimes suspect Karake Karenzi as deputy commander of the Rwandan contingent to UNAMID (Darfur); and to press for due process for all crimes committed in Rwanda during and following the 1994 genocide. Saudi Arabia: Urged US to protest Saudi restrictions on the freedom of religion and the freedom of expression and association. Urged US to press Saudi Arabia to improve judiciary, penal code, and respect for due process in criminal justice system. Sierra Leone: Urged US to continue its financial support of the Special Court for Sierra Leone and to quickly disburse FY 2008 funds granted to the court. Sri Lanka: Urged US to push for an international human rights monitoring mission in Sri Lanka to investigate abuses by all sides to the conflict; urged US to address with Sri Lanka issues of child recruitment by armed groups with Sri Lankan military complicity and by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam; urged US to condition aid to Sri Lanka on improvement in human rights standards. Somalia: urged US to focus concerns on needs of the civilian population; promote creation of a Commission of Inquiry into human rights abuses by all parties to the conflict. Sudan: Urged US to press for action in Darfur by asking the UN Security Council to call on the Sudanese government to end human rights abuses and hold violators accountable; urged US to work toward the effective deployment of international peacekeepers into the Darfur region; and urged US to veto any attempts to secure a Security Council deferral of ICC indictments against Sudanese President Bashir. Thailand: Urged US to condemn rights abuses by all sides in the conflict in southern Thailand; urged US to press for full respect of human rights and accountability from Thailand in bilateral drug suppression efforts; urged US to oppose Thailand using extrajudicial killings in the war on drugs; urged US to press Thailand not to return Lao Hmong refugees to Laos and to find durable solutions for Burmese refugees in Thailand; sought US support to press for the resumption of UNHCR status determination process in Thailand; urged US to protest Thai government restrictions on civil liberties and to protect Thai rights defenders. Tunisia: Urged US to press the Tunisia to end its harassment and imprisonment of human rights activists. Turkmenistan: Urged US to link deepening of relations with Turkmenistan to concrete improvements in human rights. Uganda: Urged US to push for human rights improvements in northern Uganda and to press for an end to torture and the continued government use of secret detention centers; urged US to push for accountability for the Lords Resistance Armys atrocities and to support UN Security Council statement on LRA abuses. Uzbekistan: Urged US to formulate and pursue a clear human rights policy vis-a-vis the Uzbek government, including by operationalizing the targeted sanctions sanctions in the form of a visa ban on Uzbek government officials responsible for the May 2005 massacre at Andijan and the ensuing crackdown on civil society, imposed in June 2008 following the Uzbek governments failure to meet the specific human rights benchmarks articulated in the foreign operations bill. Vietnam: Advocated for continuation of Vietnams status as a Country of Particular Concern for its restrictions on religious freedom; called on US to press Vietnam to account for whereabouts of labor activist Le Tri Tue; urged US to continue monitoring rights abuses by Vietnam against ethnic minority populations; called for US to press Vietnam to annul national security legislation that criminalizes peaceful assembly, expression, association, and certain religions. Zimbabwe: Urged US to maintain pressure on Zimbabwe by extending sanctions on officials responsible for human rights abuses and ensuring that perpetrators are held accountable following any power-sharing agreement in the country.
Tom Lantos Block Burmese JADE (Junta's Anti-Democratic Efforts) Act of 2008
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Treaties and Legislation "Global Online Freedom Act (H.R. 4780) "Child Soldiers Prevention Act (S. 1175 and H.R. 3028) Treaties and Legislation cont. Child Soldiers Accountability Act (S. 2135) International Violence Against Women Act (S. 2279) Sexual Violence in Sudan, Chad, CAR resolution (H.Res. 726) Burma Sanctions bills (S. 2257; H.R. 3890) Colombia Free Trade Agreement ratification Policies/Issues Afghanistan: Advocated for greater support for security in Afghanistan, particularly for women; advocated for US to support vetting of Afghan officials potentially involved in war crimes; advocated for allowing access by the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission to detainees in US custody. Azerbaijan: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the deteriorating human rights situation in Azerbaijan, especially in the area of media freedoms; urged US to use its leverage with the Azerbaijani government to secure the release of wrongfully imprisoned journalists. Bangladesh: Urged US to raise with Bangladesh concerns about the abuse of emergency laws leading to widespread arbitrary detentions and torture in custody. Burma: Called for increased US pressure for democratic change in Burma and extended sanctions in Burma; advocated for US pressure on other countries to support the inclusion of Burma on the agenda of the UN Security Council. Cambodia: Urged US to press the Cambodian government to fulfill its promise to release land activists wrongfully imprisoned in 2007. China: Advocated for US to press China to fulfill human rights commitments related to the Olympics; urged US to raise concerns about ongoing pre-Olympics crackdown against dissidents and human rights defenders as well as lack of rule of law and citizens inability to seek legal redress for injustice. Colombia: Urged effective enforcement of human rights conditions on US military and demobilization aid to Colombia; urged delay of free trade agreement until more progress is made against paramilitary violence. Ethiopia: Urged US to call for the release of political detainees and deny assistance to abusive military units. Georgia: Urged US to press the Georgian government to undertake a thorough investigation into the police crackdown on demonstrators on November 7, 2007, and to undertake reforms in the penitentiary system and the criminal justice system. Global: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the Voluntary Principles for Security and Human Rights in the extractive industries; advocated for a cut-off of certain categories of US military aid to countries that recruit and use child soldiers in violation of international law or support non-state armed groups that recruit children. India: Urged US to push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in India-administered Kashmir. Indonesia: Supported the continued prohibition by the US on International Military Education and Training (IMET) and Foreign Military Financing (FMF) to Indonesia given continued abuses by the Indonesian military; urged US to raise the issue of abuses against child domestic workers with Indonesia and to press for amending the labor law to grant core labor rights to workers in the informal sector, including domestic workers; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about human rights abuses by the Indonesian military that are exacerbated by the lack of oversight over legal and illicit business practices. Iraq: Urged US to investigate allegations of torture and ill-treatment of detainees by Iraqi security forces; urged US to ensure that assistance to Iraq will not contribute to human rights violations; urged US military to prevent and prohibit mistreatment of Iraqis in US custody; urged US to accept a higher number of Iraqi refugees and to support other countries in the region who have Iraqi refugees. Israel/Palestinian Authority: Urged US to ensure that political agreements between the two parties be consistent with human rights norms; urged US to inform Israel that continued US military assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations and to inform the Palestinian Authority that any US security assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations by its security forces and by Palestinian armed groups. Jordan: Urged US to press Jordan to ensure that its counterterrorism measures comply with international human rights guarantees; urged US to support Iraqi refugees in Jordan; urged US to condition aid to Jordan on improvement in human rights standards. Kazakhstan: Urged US to condition Kazakhstans bid to chair the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to Kazakhstans progress in addressing human rights concerns such as media freedom and freedom of assembly. Libya: Urged US to push for improvements in human rights practices in Libya. Malaysia: Urged US to raise concerns about human rights abuses in the application of the Internal Security Act. Morocco: Urged US to press the Moroccan government to increase monitoring of human rights in Western Sahara. Nepal: Urged US to encourage Nepal to end disappearances and torture; urged US to prioritize human rights, particularly the impunity of the Nepal Army. North Korea: Urged US to incorporate human rights concerns into security discussions. Pakistan: Urged US to condition military aid on democratic reform; urged US to advocate for womens rights issues in Pakistan; urged US to support free expression for journalists and human rights activists in Pakistan; urged US to push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in Pakistan administered Kashmir. Philippines: Urged US to condition military aid on progress in the prosecution of members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines who are implicated in human rights violations. Russia: Urged US to press Russia to amend their NGO law to conform to international standards. Saudi Arabia: Urged US to protest Saudi restrictions on the freedom of religion and the freedom of expression and association. Sri Lanka: Called on US to push for an international human rights monitoring mission in Sri Lanka to investigate abuses by all sides to the conflict; urged US to address with Sri Lanka issues of child recruitment by armed groups with Sri Lankan military complicity and by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam; urged US to condition aid to Sri Lanka on improvement in human rights standards. Sudan: Urged US to press for action in Darfur by asking the UN Security Council to call on the Sudanese government to end human rights abuses and hold violators accountable. Thailand: Urged US to protest Thai government restrictions on civil liberties and to protect Thai human rights defenders; sought US to press Thailand not to return Lao Hmong refugees to Laos and to find durable solutions for Burmese refugees in Thailand; sought US support to press for the resumption of UNHCR status determination process in Thailand; urged US to condemn rights abuses by all sides in the conflict in southern Thailand; urged US to demand full respect of human rights and accountability from Thai counterparts in bilateral drug suppression efforts. Uganda: Urged US to push for human rights improvements in northern Uganda and to press for an end to torture in Uganda. Uzbekistan: Urged US to impose targeted sanctions against selected Uzbek government officials responsible for the May 2005 massacre at Andijan and the ensuing crackdown on civil society, and overall to condition its relationship with the Uzbek government on its fulfillment of specific human rights benchmarks. Urged US to help ensure protection from forced return and secure urgent resettlement of Uzbek refugees in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia, and other countries where their safety was at risk. Vietnam: Advocated for continuation of Vietnams status as a Country of Particular Concern for its restrictions on religious freedom.
Tom Lantos Block Burmese JADE (Junta's Anti-Democratic Efforts) Act of 2008
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Treaties/Legislation "Global Online Freedom Act (H.R. 4780) "Child Soldiers Prevention Act (S. 1175 and H.R. 3028) Treaties/Legislation cont. Child Soldiers Accountability Act (S. 2135) International Violence Against Women Act (S. 2279) Sexual Violence in Sudan, Chad, CAR resolution (H.R. 726) Burma Sanctions bills (S. 2257 and H.R. 3890) William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (S. 3061 and H.R. 3887) Policies/Issues Algeria: Urged US to reveal whereabouts of two Algerians transferred from Guantanamo to Algeria. Azerbaijan: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the deteriorating human rights situation in Azerbaijan, especially in the area of media freedom; urged US to use its leverage with the Azerbaijani government to secure the release of wrongfully imprisoned journalists. Bangladesh: Urged US to raise with Bangladesh: full restoration of human rights; need for in 2008; prosecution of human rights violators in security forces; need for independent monitors at detention facilities. Urged US to limit assistance to abusive police and military forces to human rights education. Bhutan: Urged US to work with Nepal to ensure full protection of Bhutanese refugees who wish to be resettled in US. Bosnia: Urged US to continue commitment to justice in the Balkans by supporting local war crimes trials in Bosnias cantonal and district courts. Burma: Called for increased US pressure for democratic change in Burma and extended targeted sanctions in Burma; advocated for US pressure on other countries to support the inclusion of Burma on the agenda of the UN Security Council; urged US to support international humanitarian efforts in Burmathrough bilateral channels and Asean channelsfollowing Cyclone Nagris. Cambodia: Urged US to consider concerns about judicial independence before funding Khmer Rouge tribunal. China: Urged US to press China to fulfill human rights commitments related to the Olympics; urged US to raise concerns about ongoing pre-Olympics crackdown against dissidents and human rights defenders as well as lack of rule of law and citizens inability to seek legal redress for injustice; urged US to press China about widespread abuses of migrant construction workers in Beijing; urged US to press China to abolish its discriminatory urban household registration permit system, affecting migrant workers and their families. Colombia: Urged effective enforcement of human rights conditions on US military and demobilization aid to Colombia; urged delay of free trade agreement until more progress is made against paramilitary violence. Democratic Republic of the Congo: Urged US to support appointment of international special advisor on human rights for eastern DRC to underpin the Goma peace process. Ethiopia: Urged US to press Ethiopia to investigate and hold accountable individuals responsible for human rights abuses in Ethiopia (including Ogaden) and Somalia. Georgia: Urged US to press Georgia to undertake a thorough investigation into the police crackdown on demonstrators on November 7, 2007, and to undertake reforms in the penitentiary system and the criminal justice system. Global: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the Voluntary Principles for Security and Human Rights in the extractive industries; advocated for a cut-off of certain categories of US military aid to countries that recruit and use child soldiers in violation of international law or support non-state armed groups that recruit children. Urged US to enact the Protection Against Transmission of HIV for Women and Youth Act of 2007 to remove abstinence-until-marriage earmark for PEPFAR programs and ensure that HIV prevention programs are based on scientific evidence, good public health practice, and human rights principles; urged US to produce a report on womens inheritance rights and impact of PEPFAR. India: Urged US to push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in India-administered Kashmir, in Punjab in the 1980s, and in Gujarat after the 2002 riots; urged US to continue to refuse an official invitation to Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi his role in 2002 communal violence; urged US to encourage India to adopt equal opportunity policies to protect the rights of Dalits and Tribals; urged US to call for the protection of rights of those likely to be displaced in West Bengal state due to government land acquisition for industry. Indonesia: Supported the continued prohibition by US on International Military Education and Training (IMET) and Foreign Military Financing (FMF) to Indonesia given ongoing Indonesian military abuses; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about abuses against child domestic workers and to press for amending labor law to grant core labor rights to workers in the informal sector, including domestic workers; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about human rights abuses by the Indonesian military exacerbated by the lack of oversight over legal and illicit business practices. Iraq: Urged US to investigate allegations of torture and ill-treatment of detainees by Iraqi security forces; urged US to ensure that assistance to Iraq will not contribute to human rights violations; urged US military to prevent and prohibit mistreatment of Iraqis in US custody; urged US to accept a higher number of Iraqi refugees and to support other countries in the region who have Iraqi refugees; urged US forces in Iraq to ensure that children taken into custody are treated as children, given prompt judicial review and access to independent monitors. Israel/Palestinian Authority: Urged US to ensure that political agreements between the two parties be consistent with human rights norms; urged US to inform Israel that continued US military assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations and to inform the Palestinian Authority that any US security assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations by its security forces and by Palestinian armed groups; urged US to call on Israel to end its ban preventing Palestinian students from leaving the Gaza Strip to study abroad, to reinstate Fulbright grants offered to Gaza students, to press Israel to reverse its strict closure policy towards the Gaza Strip, which is harming Gazas civilian population. Jordan: Urged US to condition funding for Jordan on the improvement of human rights standards relating to free assembly and association, torture in prisons, and misuse of administrative detention. Kazakhstan: Urged US to condition Kazakhstans bid to chair the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to Kazakhstans progress in addressing human rights concerns such as media freedom and freedom of assembly. Kenya: Urged US to oppose any attempt to grant amnesty to those responsible for violence after Kenyas elections in early 2008. Libya: Urged US to push for improvements in human rights practices in Libya. Malaysia: Urged US to press Malaysia to rescind the Internal Security Act and dismantle abusive volunteer corps. Morocco: Urged US to press Morocco to increase monitoring of human rights in Western Sahara. Nepal: Urged US to encourage Nepal to end disappearances and torture; urged US to prioritize human rights, particularly the impunity of the Nepal Army; urged US to press Nepal for accountability by all parties to the conflict after the Constituent Assembly elections and support human rights training of security forces; urged US to support better conditions for vulnerable groups such as Dalits, Madhesis, women and children. North Korea: Urged US to incorporate human rights concerns into security discussions. Pakistan: Urged US to: press for full restoration of judiciary; condition military aid on democratic reform; advocate for womens rights in Pakistan; support free expression for journalists and human rights activists in Pakistan; and push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Philippines: Urged US to condition military aid on progress in the prosecution of members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines who are implicated in human rights violations. Russia: Urged US to press Russia to amend their NGO law to conform to international standards. Saudi Arabia: Urged US to protest Saudi restrictions on the freedom of religion and the freedom of expression and association. Sierra Leone: Urged US to continue its financial support of the Special Court for Sierra Leone and to quickly disburse FY 2008 funds granted to the court. Sri Lanka: Called on US to push for an international human rights monitoring mission in Sri Lanka to investigate abuses by all sides to the conflict; urged US to address with Sri Lanka issues of child recruitment by armed groups with Sri Lankan military complicity and by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam; urged US to condition aid to Sri Lanka on improvement in human rights standards. Sudan: Urged US to press for action in Darfur by asking the UN Security Council to call on the Sudanese government to end human rights abuses and hold violators accountable; urged US to work toward the effective deployment of international peacekeepers into the Darfur region. Thailand: Urged US to condemn rights abuses by all sides in the conflict in southern Thailand; urged US to press for full respect of human rights and accountability from Thailand in bilateral drug suppression efforts; urged US to oppose Thailand using extrajudicial killings in the war on drugs; urged US to press Thailand not to return Lao Hmong refugees to Laos and to find durable solutions for Burmese refugees in Thailand; sought US support to press for the resumption of UNHCR status determination process in Thailand; urged US to protest Thai government restrictions on civil liberties and to protect Thai rights defenders; urged US to encourage Thailand to support international humanitarian efforts in Burma in aftermath of Cyclone Nagris. Uganda: Urged US to push for human rights improvements in northern Uganda and to press for an end to torture in Uganda; urged US to push for accountability for the Lords Resistance Armys atrocities and to support UN Security Council statement in light of renewed abuses. Uzbekistan: Urged US to impose targeted sanctions against selected Uzbek government officials responsible for the May 2005 massacre at Andijan and the ensuing crackdown on civil society, and overall to condition its relationship with the Uzbek government on its fulfillment of specific human rights benchmarks. Urged US to help ensure protection from forced return and secure urgent resettlement of Uzbek refugees in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia, and other countries where their safety was at risk. Vietnam: Advocated for continuation of Vietnams status as a Country of Particular Concern for its restrictions on religious freedom; called on US to press Vietnam to account for whereabouts of labor activist Le Tri Tue; urged US to continue monitoring rights abuses by Vietnam against ethnic minority populations; called for US to press Vietnam to annul national security legislation that criminalizes peaceful assembly, expression, association, and certain religions.
Tom Lantos Block Burmese JADE (Junta's Anti-Democratic Efforts) Act of 2008
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Treaties/Legislation "Global Online Freedom Act (H.R. 4780) "Child Soldiers Prevention Act (S. 1175 and H.R. 3028) Treaties/Legislation cont. Child Soldiers Accountability Act (S. 2135) International Violence Against Women Act (S. 2279) Sexual Violence in Sudan, Chad, CAR resolution (H.R. 726) Burma Sanctions bills (S. 2257 and H.R. 3890) William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (S. 3061 and H.R. 3887) Policies/Issues Algeria: Urged US to reveal whereabouts of two Algerians transferred from Guantanamo to Algeria. Azerbaijan: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the deteriorating human rights situation in Azerbaijan, especially in the area of media freedom; urged US to use its leverage with the Azerbaijani government to secure the release of wrongfully imprisoned journalists. Bangladesh: Urged US to raise with Bangladesh: full restoration of human rights; need for in 2008; prosecution of human rights violators in security forces; need for independent monitors at detention facilities. Urged US to limit assistance to abusive police and military forces to human rights education. Bhutan: Urged US to work with Nepal to ensure full protection of Bhutanese refugees who wish to be resettled in US. Bosnia: Urged US to continue commitment to justice in the Balkans by supporting local war crimes trials in Bosnias cantonal and district courts. Burma: Called for increased US pressure for democratic change in Burma and extended targeted sanctions in Burma; advocated for US pressure on other countries to support the inclusion of Burma on the agenda of the UN Security Council; urged US to support international humanitarian efforts in Burmathrough bilateral channels and Asean channelsfollowing Cyclone Nagris. Cambodia: Urged US to consider concerns about judicial independence before funding Khmer Rouge tribunal. China: Urged US to press China to fulfill human rights commitments related to the Olympics; urged US to raise concerns about ongoing pre-Olympics crackdown against dissidents and human rights defenders as well as lack of rule of law and citizens inability to seek legal redress for injustice; urged US to press China about widespread abuses of migrant construction workers in Beijing; urged US to press China to abolish its discriminatory urban household registration permit system, affecting migrant workers and their families. Colombia: Urged effective enforcement of human rights conditions on US military and demobilization aid to Colombia; urged delay of free trade agreement until more progress is made against paramilitary violence. Democratic Republic of the Congo: Urged US to support appointment of international special advisor on human rights for eastern DRC to underpin the Goma peace process. Ethiopia: Urged US to press Ethiopia to investigate and hold accountable individuals responsible for human rights abuses in Ethiopia (including Ogaden) and Somalia. Georgia: Urged US to press Georgia to undertake a thorough investigation into the police crackdown on demonstrators on November 7, 2007, and to undertake reforms in the penitentiary system and the criminal justice system. Global: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the Voluntary Principles for Security and Human Rights in the extractive industries; advocated for a cut-off of certain categories of US military aid to countries that recruit and use child soldiers in violation of international law or support non-state armed groups that recruit children. Urged US to enact the Protection Against Transmission of HIV for Women and Youth Act of 2007 to remove abstinence-until-marriage earmark for PEPFAR programs and ensure that HIV prevention programs are based on scientific evidence, good public health practice, and human rights principles; urged US to produce a report on womens inheritance rights and impact of PEPFAR. India: Urged US to push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in India-administered Kashmir, in Punjab in the 1980s, and in Gujarat after the 2002 riots; urged US to continue to refuse an official invitation to Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi his role in 2002 communal violence; urged US to encourage India to adopt equal opportunity policies to protect the rights of Dalits and Tribals; urged US to call for the protection of rights of those likely to be displaced in West Bengal state due to government land acquisition for industry. Indonesia: Supported the continued prohibition by US on International Military Education and Training (IMET) and Foreign Military Financing (FMF) to Indonesia given ongoing Indonesian military abuses; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about abuses against child domestic workers and to press for amending labor law to grant core labor rights to workers in the informal sector, including domestic workers; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about human rights abuses by the Indonesian military exacerbated by the lack of oversight over legal and illicit business practices. Iraq: Urged US to investigate allegations of torture and ill-treatment of detainees by Iraqi security forces; urged US to ensure that assistance to Iraq will not contribute to human rights violations; urged US military to prevent and prohibit mistreatment of Iraqis in US custody; urged US to accept a higher number of Iraqi refugees and to support other countries in the region who have Iraqi refugees; urged US forces in Iraq to ensure that children taken into custody are treated as children, given prompt judicial review and access to independent monitors. Israel/Palestinian Authority: Urged US to ensure that political agreements between the two parties be consistent with human rights norms; urged US to inform Israel that continued US military assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations and to inform the Palestinian Authority that any US security assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations by its security forces and by Palestinian armed groups; urged US to call on Israel to end its ban preventing Palestinian students from leaving the Gaza Strip to study abroad, to reinstate Fulbright grants offered to Gaza students, to press Israel to reverse its strict closure policy towards the Gaza Strip, which is harming Gazas civilian population. Jordan: Urged US to condition funding for Jordan on the improvement of human rights standards relating to free assembly and association, torture in prisons, and misuse of administrative detention. Kazakhstan: Urged US to condition Kazakhstans bid to chair the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to Kazakhstans progress in addressing human rights concerns such as media freedom and freedom of assembly. Kenya: Urged US to oppose any attempt to grant amnesty to those responsible for violence after Kenyas elections in early 2008. Libya: Urged US to push for improvements in human rights practices in Libya. Malaysia: Urged US to press Malaysia to rescind the Internal Security Act and dismantle abusive volunteer corps. Morocco: Urged US to press Morocco to increase monitoring of human rights in Western Sahara. Nepal: Urged US to encourage Nepal to end disappearances and torture; urged US to prioritize human rights, particularly the impunity of the Nepal Army; urged US to press Nepal for accountability by all parties to the conflict after the Constituent Assembly elections and support human rights training of security forces; urged US to support better conditions for vulnerable groups such as Dalits, Madhesis, women and children. North Korea: Urged US to incorporate human rights concerns into security discussions. Pakistan: Urged US to: press for full restoration of judiciary; condition military aid on democratic reform; advocate for womens rights in Pakistan; support free expression for journalists and human rights activists in Pakistan; and push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Philippines: Urged US to condition military aid on progress in the prosecution of members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines who are implicated in human rights violations. Russia: Urged US to press Russia to amend their NGO law to conform to international standards. Saudi Arabia: Urged US to protest Saudi restrictions on the freedom of religion and the freedom of expression and association. Sierra Leone: Urged US to continue its financial support of the Special Court for Sierra Leone and to quickly disburse FY 2008 funds granted to the court. Sri Lanka: Called on US to push for an international human rights monitoring mission in Sri Lanka to investigate abuses by all sides to the conflict; urged US to address with Sri Lanka issues of child recruitment by armed groups with Sri Lankan military complicity and by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam; urged US to condition aid to Sri Lanka on improvement in human rights standards. Sudan: Urged US to press for action in Darfur by asking the UN Security Council to call on the Sudanese government to end human rights abuses and hold violators accountable; urged US to work toward the effective deployment of international peacekeepers into the Darfur region. Thailand: Urged US to condemn rights abuses by all sides in the conflict in southern Thailand; urged US to press for full respect of human rights and accountability from Thailand in bilateral drug suppression efforts; urged US to oppose Thailand using extrajudicial killings in the war on drugs; urged US to press Thailand not to return Lao Hmong refugees to Laos and to find durable solutions for Burmese refugees in Thailand; sought US support to press for the resumption of UNHCR status determination process in Thailand; urged US to protest Thai government restrictions on civil liberties and to protect Thai rights defenders; urged US to encourage Thailand to support international humanitarian efforts in Burma in aftermath of Cyclone Nagris. Uganda: Urged US to push for human rights improvements in northern Uganda and to press for an end to torture in Uganda; urged US to push for accountability for the Lords Resistance Armys atrocities and to support UN Security Council statement in light of renewed abuses. Uzbekistan: Urged US to impose targeted sanctions against selected Uzbek government officials responsible for the May 2005 massacre at Andijan and the ensuing crackdown on civil society, and overall to condition its relationship with the Uzbek government on its fulfillment of specific human rights benchmarks. Urged US to help ensure protection from forced return and secure urgent resettlement of Uzbek refugees in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia, and other countries where their safety was at risk. Vietnam: Advocated for continuation of Vietnams status as a Country of Particular Concern for its restrictions on religious freedom; called on US to press Vietnam to account for whereabouts of labor activist Le Tri Tue; urged US to continue monitoring rights abuses by Vietnam against ethnic minority populations; called for US to press Vietnam to annul national security legislation that criminalizes peaceful assembly, expression, association, and certain religions.
Legislation/Treaties "Department of Defense Authorization Bill: amendments on detainee status, interrogation and rendition (S. 1548) "Material support legislation (H.R. 2764) Legislation/Treaties cont. Habeas Restoration Bills (H.R. 2826 and S. 185) Close Guantanamo legislation (S. 1469 and S. 1249) National Security with Justice Legislation (S. 1876) Taping of Interrogations (H.R. 4951) Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (H.R. 2740) Extraordinary Rendition Legislation (S. 1876) Intelligence Authorization Act (H.R. 2082) Gang Abatement and Suppression Act (S. 456) Gang Prevention, Intervention, and Suppression Act (H.R. 3547) Youth PROMISE Act (H.R. 3846) Juvenile Crime Reduction Act (H.R. 3411) Prison Abuse Remedies Act of 2007 (H.R. 4109) Juvenile Justice Accountability and Improvement Act of 2007 (H.R. 4300) Policies/Issues Detention of and access to courts for persons held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies of terrorist suspects Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism Use of military commissions, combatant status review tribunals, and applicable fair trial procedures Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances Applicability and definition of fair trial/humane treatment standards in the Geneva Conventions Death penalty: advocacy in favor of abolition and against expansion. Access to courts for vulnerable populations: advocated against restrictions on court access for immigrants, criminal defendants, prisoners and enemy combatant detainees Material witness warrants: advocated in favor of legislation to ensure that suspects are not detained as material witnesses Vulnerable refugees and material support restrictions: protecting victims of terrorism from being defined as supporters of terrorism and barred entry into US Accountability for private security and military contractors Gangs: advocacy against life without parole penalties for youth, an overly broad gang definition, and an increase in the disproportionate incarceration of racial and ethnic minorities; advocacy in favor of increased prevention and intervention services for youth Juvenile life without parole: advocacy in favor of requiring the opportunity for parole for all juvenile offenders Mental health: advocacy to increase training and the provision of mental health services to benefit court-involved youth suffering from mental health illness Prison litigation reform: amend current legislation to preserve the rule of law in US prisons and jails, and better protect prisoners from rape, assault, denials of religious freedom, and other constitutional violations
Juvenile Justice Accountability and Improvement Act of 2007
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Legislation/Treaties "Department of Defense Authorization Bill: amendments on detainee status, interrogation and rendition (S. 1548) "Material support legislation (H.R. 2764) Legislation/Treaties cont. Habeas Restoration Bills (H.R. 2826 and S. 185) Close Guantanamo legislation (S. 1469 and S. 1249) National Security with Justice Legislation (S. 1876) Taping of Interrogations (H.R. 4951) Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (H.R. 2740) Extraordinary Rendition Legislation (S. 1876) Intelligence Authorization Act (H.R. 2082) Gang Abatement and Suppression Act (S. 456) Gang Prevention, Intervention, and Suppression Act (H.R. 3547) Youth PROMISE Act (H.R. 3846) Juvenile Crime Reduction Act (H.R. 3411) Prison Abuse Remedies Act of 2007 (H.R. 4109) Juvenile Justice Accountability and Improvement Act of 2007 (H.R. 4300) Policies/Issues Detention of and access to courts for persons held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies of terrorist suspects Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism Use of military commissions, combatant status review tribunals, and applicable fair trial procedures Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances Applicability and definition of fair trial/humane treatment standards in the Geneva Conventions Death penalty: advocacy in favor of abolition and against expansion. Access to courts for vulnerable populations: advocated against restrictions on court access for immigrants, criminal defendants, prisoners and enemy combatant detainees Material witness warrants: advocated in favor of legislation to ensure that suspects are not detained as material witnesses Vulnerable refugees and material support restrictions: protecting victims of terrorism from being defined as supporters of terrorism and barred entry into US Accountability for private security and military contractors Gangs: advocacy against life without parole penalties for youth, an overly broad gang definition, and an increase in the disproportionate incarceration of racial and ethnic minorities; advocacy in favor of increased prevention and intervention services for youth Juvenile life without parole: advocacy in favor of requiring the opportunity for parole for all juvenile offenders Mental health: advocacy to increase training and the provision of mental health services to benefit court-involved youth suffering from mental health illness Prison litigation reform: amend current legislation to preserve the rule of law in US prisons and jails, and better protect prisoners from rape, assault, denials of religious freedom, and other constitutional violations
Detainee Interrogation Recording Act of 2007
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Legislation/Treaties " Department of Defense Authorization Bill: amendments on detainee status,interrogation and rendition (S. 1548) " Material support legislation (H.R. 2764) "National Security with Justice Act (S. 1876) Detainee Interrogation Recording Act (H.R. 4660) Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Expansion and Enforcement Act (H.R. 2740) Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act (S. 3155) Youth PROMISE Act (H.R. 3846) Detainee Basic Medical Care Act (H.R. 5950) Policies/Issues Detention of and access to courts for alleged enemy combatants held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies of terrorist suspects Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism Use of military commissions, combatant status review tribunals, and applicable fair trial procedures Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances Applicability and definition of fair trial/humane treatment standards in the Geneva Conventions Death penalty: advocacy in favor of abolition and against expansion Access to courts for vulnerable populations: advocated against restrictions on court access for immigrants, criminal defendants, prisoners and enemy combatant detainees Vulnerable refugees and material support restrictions: protecting victims of terrorism from being defined as supporters of terrorism and barred entry into US Accountability for private security and military contractors Juvenile justice: deinstitutionalization of status offenders, juveniles in adult prisons, ethnic and racial disparities, and conditions of confinement Prison reduction and support for age-appropriate youth crime prevention and intervention programs Improve medical care for detained immigrants; establish reporting procedures for deaths in detention
To enact title 51, United States Code, "National and Commercial Space Programs", as positive law.
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Treaties/Legislation "Global Online Freedom Act (H.R. 4780) "Child Soldiers Prevention Act (S. 1175 and H.R. 3028) Treaties/Legislation cont. Child Soldiers Accountability Act (S. 2135) International Violence Against Women Act (S. 2279) Sexual Violence in Sudan, Chad, CAR resolution (H.R. 726) Burma Sanctions bills (S. 2257 and H.R. 3890) William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (S. 3061 and H.R. 3887) Policies/Issues Algeria: Urged US to reveal whereabouts of two Algerians transferred from Guantanamo to Algeria. Azerbaijan: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the deteriorating human rights situation in Azerbaijan, especially in the area of media freedom; urged US to use its leverage with the Azerbaijani government to secure the release of wrongfully imprisoned journalists. Bangladesh: Urged US to raise with Bangladesh: full restoration of human rights; need for in 2008; prosecution of human rights violators in security forces; need for independent monitors at detention facilities. Urged US to limit assistance to abusive police and military forces to human rights education. Bhutan: Urged US to work with Nepal to ensure full protection of Bhutanese refugees who wish to be resettled in US. Bosnia: Urged US to continue commitment to justice in the Balkans by supporting local war crimes trials in Bosnias cantonal and district courts. Burma: Called for increased US pressure for democratic change in Burma and extended targeted sanctions in Burma; advocated for US pressure on other countries to support the inclusion of Burma on the agenda of the UN Security Council; urged US to support international humanitarian efforts in Burmathrough bilateral channels and Asean channelsfollowing Cyclone Nagris. Cambodia: Urged US to consider concerns about judicial independence before funding Khmer Rouge tribunal. China: Urged US to press China to fulfill human rights commitments related to the Olympics; urged US to raise concerns about ongoing pre-Olympics crackdown against dissidents and human rights defenders as well as lack of rule of law and citizens inability to seek legal redress for injustice; urged US to press China about widespread abuses of migrant construction workers in Beijing; urged US to press China to abolish its discriminatory urban household registration permit system, affecting migrant workers and their families. Colombia: Urged effective enforcement of human rights conditions on US military and demobilization aid to Colombia; urged delay of free trade agreement until more progress is made against paramilitary violence. Democratic Republic of the Congo: Urged US to support appointment of international special advisor on human rights for eastern DRC to underpin the Goma peace process. Ethiopia: Urged US to press Ethiopia to investigate and hold accountable individuals responsible for human rights abuses in Ethiopia (including Ogaden) and Somalia. Georgia: Urged US to press Georgia to undertake a thorough investigation into the police crackdown on demonstrators on November 7, 2007, and to undertake reforms in the penitentiary system and the criminal justice system. Global: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the Voluntary Principles for Security and Human Rights in the extractive industries; advocated for a cut-off of certain categories of US military aid to countries that recruit and use child soldiers in violation of international law or support non-state armed groups that recruit children. Urged US to enact the Protection Against Transmission of HIV for Women and Youth Act of 2007 to remove abstinence-until-marriage earmark for PEPFAR programs and ensure that HIV prevention programs are based on scientific evidence, good public health practice, and human rights principles; urged US to produce a report on womens inheritance rights and impact of PEPFAR. India: Urged US to push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in India-administered Kashmir, in Punjab in the 1980s, and in Gujarat after the 2002 riots; urged US to continue to refuse an official invitation to Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi his role in 2002 communal violence; urged US to encourage India to adopt equal opportunity policies to protect the rights of Dalits and Tribals; urged US to call for the protection of rights of those likely to be displaced in West Bengal state due to government land acquisition for industry. Indonesia: Supported the continued prohibition by US on International Military Education and Training (IMET) and Foreign Military Financing (FMF) to Indonesia given ongoing Indonesian military abuses; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about abuses against child domestic workers and to press for amending labor law to grant core labor rights to workers in the informal sector, including domestic workers; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about human rights abuses by the Indonesian military exacerbated by the lack of oversight over legal and illicit business practices. Iraq: Urged US to investigate allegations of torture and ill-treatment of detainees by Iraqi security forces; urged US to ensure that assistance to Iraq will not contribute to human rights violations; urged US military to prevent and prohibit mistreatment of Iraqis in US custody; urged US to accept a higher number of Iraqi refugees and to support other countries in the region who have Iraqi refugees; urged US forces in Iraq to ensure that children taken into custody are treated as children, given prompt judicial review and access to independent monitors. Israel/Palestinian Authority: Urged US to ensure that political agreements between the two parties be consistent with human rights norms; urged US to inform Israel that continued US military assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations and to inform the Palestinian Authority that any US security assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations by its security forces and by Palestinian armed groups; urged US to call on Israel to end its ban preventing Palestinian students from leaving the Gaza Strip to study abroad, to reinstate Fulbright grants offered to Gaza students, to press Israel to reverse its strict closure policy towards the Gaza Strip, which is harming Gazas civilian population. Jordan: Urged US to condition funding for Jordan on the improvement of human rights standards relating to free assembly and association, torture in prisons, and misuse of administrative detention. Kazakhstan: Urged US to condition Kazakhstans bid to chair the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to Kazakhstans progress in addressing human rights concerns such as media freedom and freedom of assembly. Kenya: Urged US to oppose any attempt to grant amnesty to those responsible for violence after Kenyas elections in early 2008. Libya: Urged US to push for improvements in human rights practices in Libya. Malaysia: Urged US to press Malaysia to rescind the Internal Security Act and dismantle abusive volunteer corps. Morocco: Urged US to press Morocco to increase monitoring of human rights in Western Sahara. Nepal: Urged US to encourage Nepal to end disappearances and torture; urged US to prioritize human rights, particularly the impunity of the Nepal Army; urged US to press Nepal for accountability by all parties to the conflict after the Constituent Assembly elections and support human rights training of security forces; urged US to support better conditions for vulnerable groups such as Dalits, Madhesis, women and children. North Korea: Urged US to incorporate human rights concerns into security discussions. Pakistan: Urged US to: press for full restoration of judiciary; condition military aid on democratic reform; advocate for womens rights in Pakistan; support free expression for journalists and human rights activists in Pakistan; and push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Philippines: Urged US to condition military aid on progress in the prosecution of members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines who are implicated in human rights violations. Russia: Urged US to press Russia to amend their NGO law to conform to international standards. Saudi Arabia: Urged US to protest Saudi restrictions on the freedom of religion and the freedom of expression and association. Sierra Leone: Urged US to continue its financial support of the Special Court for Sierra Leone and to quickly disburse FY 2008 funds granted to the court. Sri Lanka: Called on US to push for an international human rights monitoring mission in Sri Lanka to investigate abuses by all sides to the conflict; urged US to address with Sri Lanka issues of child recruitment by armed groups with Sri Lankan military complicity and by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam; urged US to condition aid to Sri Lanka on improvement in human rights standards. Sudan: Urged US to press for action in Darfur by asking the UN Security Council to call on the Sudanese government to end human rights abuses and hold violators accountable; urged US to work toward the effective deployment of international peacekeepers into the Darfur region. Thailand: Urged US to condemn rights abuses by all sides in the conflict in southern Thailand; urged US to press for full respect of human rights and accountability from Thailand in bilateral drug suppression efforts; urged US to oppose Thailand using extrajudicial killings in the war on drugs; urged US to press Thailand not to return Lao Hmong refugees to Laos and to find durable solutions for Burmese refugees in Thailand; sought US support to press for the resumption of UNHCR status determination process in Thailand; urged US to protest Thai government restrictions on civil liberties and to protect Thai rights defenders; urged US to encourage Thailand to support international humanitarian efforts in Burma in aftermath of Cyclone Nagris. Uganda: Urged US to push for human rights improvements in northern Uganda and to press for an end to torture in Uganda; urged US to push for accountability for the Lords Resistance Armys atrocities and to support UN Security Council statement in light of renewed abuses. Uzbekistan: Urged US to impose targeted sanctions against selected Uzbek government officials responsible for the May 2005 massacre at Andijan and the ensuing crackdown on civil society, and overall to condition its relationship with the Uzbek government on its fulfillment of specific human rights benchmarks. Urged US to help ensure protection from forced return and secure urgent resettlement of Uzbek refugees in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia, and other countries where their safety was at risk. Vietnam: Advocated for continuation of Vietnams status as a Country of Particular Concern for its restrictions on religious freedom; called on US to press Vietnam to account for whereabouts of labor activist Le Tri Tue; urged US to continue monitoring rights abuses by Vietnam against ethnic minority populations; called for US to press Vietnam to annul national security legislation that criminalizes peaceful assembly, expression, association, and certain religions.
To enact title 51, United States Code, "National and Commercial Space Programs", as positive law.
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Treaties and Legislation "Global Online Freedom Act (H.R. 4780) "Child Soldiers Prevention Act (S. 1175 and H.R. 3028) Treaties and Legislation cont. Child Soldiers Accountability Act (S. 2135) International Violence Against Women Act (S. 2279) Sexual Violence in Sudan, Chad, CAR resolution (H.Res. 726) Burma Sanctions bills (S. 2257; H.R. 3890) Colombia Free Trade Agreement ratification Policies/Issues Afghanistan: Advocated for greater support for security in Afghanistan, particularly for women; advocated for US to support vetting of Afghan officials potentially involved in war crimes; advocated for allowing access by the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission to detainees in US custody. Azerbaijan: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the deteriorating human rights situation in Azerbaijan, especially in the area of media freedoms; urged US to use its leverage with the Azerbaijani government to secure the release of wrongfully imprisoned journalists. Bangladesh: Urged US to raise with Bangladesh concerns about the abuse of emergency laws leading to widespread arbitrary detentions and torture in custody. Burma: Called for increased US pressure for democratic change in Burma and extended sanctions in Burma; advocated for US pressure on other countries to support the inclusion of Burma on the agenda of the UN Security Council. Cambodia: Urged US to press the Cambodian government to fulfill its promise to release land activists wrongfully imprisoned in 2007. China: Advocated for US to press China to fulfill human rights commitments related to the Olympics; urged US to raise concerns about ongoing pre-Olympics crackdown against dissidents and human rights defenders as well as lack of rule of law and citizens inability to seek legal redress for injustice. Colombia: Urged effective enforcement of human rights conditions on US military and demobilization aid to Colombia; urged delay of free trade agreement until more progress is made against paramilitary violence. Ethiopia: Urged US to call for the release of political detainees and deny assistance to abusive military units. Georgia: Urged US to press the Georgian government to undertake a thorough investigation into the police crackdown on demonstrators on November 7, 2007, and to undertake reforms in the penitentiary system and the criminal justice system. Global: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the Voluntary Principles for Security and Human Rights in the extractive industries; advocated for a cut-off of certain categories of US military aid to countries that recruit and use child soldiers in violation of international law or support non-state armed groups that recruit children. India: Urged US to push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in India-administered Kashmir. Indonesia: Supported the continued prohibition by the US on International Military Education and Training (IMET) and Foreign Military Financing (FMF) to Indonesia given continued abuses by the Indonesian military; urged US to raise the issue of abuses against child domestic workers with Indonesia and to press for amending the labor law to grant core labor rights to workers in the informal sector, including domestic workers; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about human rights abuses by the Indonesian military that are exacerbated by the lack of oversight over legal and illicit business practices. Iraq: Urged US to investigate allegations of torture and ill-treatment of detainees by Iraqi security forces; urged US to ensure that assistance to Iraq will not contribute to human rights violations; urged US military to prevent and prohibit mistreatment of Iraqis in US custody; urged US to accept a higher number of Iraqi refugees and to support other countries in the region who have Iraqi refugees. Israel/Palestinian Authority: Urged US to ensure that political agreements between the two parties be consistent with human rights norms; urged US to inform Israel that continued US military assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations and to inform the Palestinian Authority that any US security assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations by its security forces and by Palestinian armed groups. Jordan: Urged US to press Jordan to ensure that its counterterrorism measures comply with international human rights guarantees; urged US to support Iraqi refugees in Jordan; urged US to condition aid to Jordan on improvement in human rights standards. Kazakhstan: Urged US to condition Kazakhstans bid to chair the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to Kazakhstans progress in addressing human rights concerns such as media freedom and freedom of assembly. Libya: Urged US to push for improvements in human rights practices in Libya. Malaysia: Urged US to raise concerns about human rights abuses in the application of the Internal Security Act. Morocco: Urged US to press the Moroccan government to increase monitoring of human rights in Western Sahara. Nepal: Urged US to encourage Nepal to end disappearances and torture; urged US to prioritize human rights, particularly the impunity of the Nepal Army. North Korea: Urged US to incorporate human rights concerns into security discussions. Pakistan: Urged US to condition military aid on democratic reform; urged US to advocate for womens rights issues in Pakistan; urged US to support free expression for journalists and human rights activists in Pakistan; urged US to push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in Pakistan administered Kashmir. Philippines: Urged US to condition military aid on progress in the prosecution of members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines who are implicated in human rights violations. Russia: Urged US to press Russia to amend their NGO law to conform to international standards. Saudi Arabia: Urged US to protest Saudi restrictions on the freedom of religion and the freedom of expression and association. Sri Lanka: Called on US to push for an international human rights monitoring mission in Sri Lanka to investigate abuses by all sides to the conflict; urged US to address with Sri Lanka issues of child recruitment by armed groups with Sri Lankan military complicity and by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam; urged US to condition aid to Sri Lanka on improvement in human rights standards. Sudan: Urged US to press for action in Darfur by asking the UN Security Council to call on the Sudanese government to end human rights abuses and hold violators accountable. Thailand: Urged US to protest Thai government restrictions on civil liberties and to protect Thai human rights defenders; sought US to press Thailand not to return Lao Hmong refugees to Laos and to find durable solutions for Burmese refugees in Thailand; sought US support to press for the resumption of UNHCR status determination process in Thailand; urged US to condemn rights abuses by all sides in the conflict in southern Thailand; urged US to demand full respect of human rights and accountability from Thai counterparts in bilateral drug suppression efforts. Uganda: Urged US to push for human rights improvements in northern Uganda and to press for an end to torture in Uganda. Uzbekistan: Urged US to impose targeted sanctions against selected Uzbek government officials responsible for the May 2005 massacre at Andijan and the ensuing crackdown on civil society, and overall to condition its relationship with the Uzbek government on its fulfillment of specific human rights benchmarks. Urged US to help ensure protection from forced return and secure urgent resettlement of Uzbek refugees in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia, and other countries where their safety was at risk. Vietnam: Advocated for continuation of Vietnams status as a Country of Particular Concern for its restrictions on religious freedom.
To enact title 51, United States Code, "National and Commercial Space Programs", as positive law.
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Treaties/Legislation "Global Online Freedom Act (H.R. 4780) "Child Soldiers Prevention Act (S. 1175 and H.R. 3028) Treaties/Legislation cont. Child Soldiers Accountability Act (S. 2135) International Violence Against Women Act (S. 2279) Sexual Violence in Sudan, Chad, CAR resolution (H.R. 726) Burma Sanctions bills (S. 2257 and H.R. 3890) William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (S. 3061 and H.R. 3887) Policies/Issues Algeria: Urged US to reveal whereabouts of two Algerians transferred from Guantanamo to Algeria. Azerbaijan: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the deteriorating human rights situation in Azerbaijan, especially in the area of media freedom; urged US to use its leverage with the Azerbaijani government to secure the release of wrongfully imprisoned journalists. Bangladesh: Urged US to raise with Bangladesh: full restoration of human rights; need for in 2008; prosecution of human rights violators in security forces; need for independent monitors at detention facilities. Urged US to limit assistance to abusive police and military forces to human rights education. Bhutan: Urged US to work with Nepal to ensure full protection of Bhutanese refugees who wish to be resettled in US. Bosnia: Urged US to continue commitment to justice in the Balkans by supporting local war crimes trials in Bosnias cantonal and district courts. Burma: Called for increased US pressure for democratic change in Burma and extended targeted sanctions in Burma; advocated for US pressure on other countries to support the inclusion of Burma on the agenda of the UN Security Council; urged US to support international humanitarian efforts in Burmathrough bilateral channels and Asean channelsfollowing Cyclone Nagris. Cambodia: Urged US to consider concerns about judicial independence before funding Khmer Rouge tribunal. China: Urged US to press China to fulfill human rights commitments related to the Olympics; urged US to raise concerns about ongoing pre-Olympics crackdown against dissidents and human rights defenders as well as lack of rule of law and citizens inability to seek legal redress for injustice; urged US to press China about widespread abuses of migrant construction workers in Beijing; urged US to press China to abolish its discriminatory urban household registration permit system, affecting migrant workers and their families. Colombia: Urged effective enforcement of human rights conditions on US military and demobilization aid to Colombia; urged delay of free trade agreement until more progress is made against paramilitary violence. Democratic Republic of the Congo: Urged US to support appointment of international special advisor on human rights for eastern DRC to underpin the Goma peace process. Ethiopia: Urged US to press Ethiopia to investigate and hold accountable individuals responsible for human rights abuses in Ethiopia (including Ogaden) and Somalia. Georgia: Urged US to press Georgia to undertake a thorough investigation into the police crackdown on demonstrators on November 7, 2007, and to undertake reforms in the penitentiary system and the criminal justice system. Global: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the Voluntary Principles for Security and Human Rights in the extractive industries; advocated for a cut-off of certain categories of US military aid to countries that recruit and use child soldiers in violation of international law or support non-state armed groups that recruit children. Urged US to enact the Protection Against Transmission of HIV for Women and Youth Act of 2007 to remove abstinence-until-marriage earmark for PEPFAR programs and ensure that HIV prevention programs are based on scientific evidence, good public health practice, and human rights principles; urged US to produce a report on womens inheritance rights and impact of PEPFAR. India: Urged US to push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in India-administered Kashmir, in Punjab in the 1980s, and in Gujarat after the 2002 riots; urged US to continue to refuse an official invitation to Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi his role in 2002 communal violence; urged US to encourage India to adopt equal opportunity policies to protect the rights of Dalits and Tribals; urged US to call for the protection of rights of those likely to be displaced in West Bengal state due to government land acquisition for industry. Indonesia: Supported the continued prohibition by US on International Military Education and Training (IMET) and Foreign Military Financing (FMF) to Indonesia given ongoing Indonesian military abuses; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about abuses against child domestic workers and to press for amending labor law to grant core labor rights to workers in the informal sector, including domestic workers; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about human rights abuses by the Indonesian military exacerbated by the lack of oversight over legal and illicit business practices. Iraq: Urged US to investigate allegations of torture and ill-treatment of detainees by Iraqi security forces; urged US to ensure that assistance to Iraq will not contribute to human rights violations; urged US military to prevent and prohibit mistreatment of Iraqis in US custody; urged US to accept a higher number of Iraqi refugees and to support other countries in the region who have Iraqi refugees; urged US forces in Iraq to ensure that children taken into custody are treated as children, given prompt judicial review and access to independent monitors. Israel/Palestinian Authority: Urged US to ensure that political agreements between the two parties be consistent with human rights norms; urged US to inform Israel that continued US military assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations and to inform the Palestinian Authority that any US security assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations by its security forces and by Palestinian armed groups; urged US to call on Israel to end its ban preventing Palestinian students from leaving the Gaza Strip to study abroad, to reinstate Fulbright grants offered to Gaza students, to press Israel to reverse its strict closure policy towards the Gaza Strip, which is harming Gazas civilian population. Jordan: Urged US to condition funding for Jordan on the improvement of human rights standards relating to free assembly and association, torture in prisons, and misuse of administrative detention. Kazakhstan: Urged US to condition Kazakhstans bid to chair the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to Kazakhstans progress in addressing human rights concerns such as media freedom and freedom of assembly. Kenya: Urged US to oppose any attempt to grant amnesty to those responsible for violence after Kenyas elections in early 2008. Libya: Urged US to push for improvements in human rights practices in Libya. Malaysia: Urged US to press Malaysia to rescind the Internal Security Act and dismantle abusive volunteer corps. Morocco: Urged US to press Morocco to increase monitoring of human rights in Western Sahara. Nepal: Urged US to encourage Nepal to end disappearances and torture; urged US to prioritize human rights, particularly the impunity of the Nepal Army; urged US to press Nepal for accountability by all parties to the conflict after the Constituent Assembly elections and support human rights training of security forces; urged US to support better conditions for vulnerable groups such as Dalits, Madhesis, women and children. North Korea: Urged US to incorporate human rights concerns into security discussions. Pakistan: Urged US to: press for full restoration of judiciary; condition military aid on democratic reform; advocate for womens rights in Pakistan; support free expression for journalists and human rights activists in Pakistan; and push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Philippines: Urged US to condition military aid on progress in the prosecution of members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines who are implicated in human rights violations. Russia: Urged US to press Russia to amend their NGO law to conform to international standards. Saudi Arabia: Urged US to protest Saudi restrictions on the freedom of religion and the freedom of expression and association. Sierra Leone: Urged US to continue its financial support of the Special Court for Sierra Leone and to quickly disburse FY 2008 funds granted to the court. Sri Lanka: Called on US to push for an international human rights monitoring mission in Sri Lanka to investigate abuses by all sides to the conflict; urged US to address with Sri Lanka issues of child recruitment by armed groups with Sri Lankan military complicity and by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam; urged US to condition aid to Sri Lanka on improvement in human rights standards. Sudan: Urged US to press for action in Darfur by asking the UN Security Council to call on the Sudanese government to end human rights abuses and hold violators accountable; urged US to work toward the effective deployment of international peacekeepers into the Darfur region. Thailand: Urged US to condemn rights abuses by all sides in the conflict in southern Thailand; urged US to press for full respect of human rights and accountability from Thailand in bilateral drug suppression efforts; urged US to oppose Thailand using extrajudicial killings in the war on drugs; urged US to press Thailand not to return Lao Hmong refugees to Laos and to find durable solutions for Burmese refugees in Thailand; sought US support to press for the resumption of UNHCR status determination process in Thailand; urged US to protest Thai government restrictions on civil liberties and to protect Thai rights defenders; urged US to encourage Thailand to support international humanitarian efforts in Burma in aftermath of Cyclone Nagris. Uganda: Urged US to push for human rights improvements in northern Uganda and to press for an end to torture in Uganda; urged US to push for accountability for the Lords Resistance Armys atrocities and to support UN Security Council statement in light of renewed abuses. Uzbekistan: Urged US to impose targeted sanctions against selected Uzbek government officials responsible for the May 2005 massacre at Andijan and the ensuing crackdown on civil society, and overall to condition its relationship with the Uzbek government on its fulfillment of specific human rights benchmarks. Urged US to help ensure protection from forced return and secure urgent resettlement of Uzbek refugees in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia, and other countries where their safety was at risk. Vietnam: Advocated for continuation of Vietnams status as a Country of Particular Concern for its restrictions on religious freedom; called on US to press Vietnam to account for whereabouts of labor activist Le Tri Tue; urged US to continue monitoring rights abuses by Vietnam against ethnic minority populations; called for US to press Vietnam to annul national security legislation that criminalizes peaceful assembly, expression, association, and certain religions.
To enact title 51, United States Code, "National and Commercial Space Programs", as positive law.
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Treaties and Legislation "Global Online Freedom Act (H.R. 4780) "Child Soldier Prevention Act (S. 1175 and H.R. 3028) "Child Soldiers Accountability Act (S. 2135) International Violence Against Women Act (S. 2279) International Violence Against Women Act (S. 2279) Sexual Violence in Sudan, Chad, CAR resolution (H.R. 726) William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (S. 3061 and H.R. 3887) Vietnam Human Rights Act (S. 3678) Protection Against Transmission of HIV for Women and Youth Act (H.R. 1713) Policies/Issues Algeria: Urged US to reveal whereabouts of two Algerians transferred from Guantanamo to Algeria. Proposed that US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice press the Algerian government on the well-being and status of Guantanamo detainees returned to Algeria. Angola: Urged US to press Angola to improve its election procedures following the flawed parliamentary elections in September 2008. Azerbaijan: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the deteriorating human rights situation in Azerbaijan, especially media freedom; urged US to press Azerbaijan to secure the release of wrongfully imprisoned journalists. Bangladesh: Urged US to limit cooperation with the abusive Rapid Action Battalion to human rights training. Bhutan: Urged US to work with Nepal to ensure full protection of Bhutanese refugees who wish to be resettled in US. Bosnia: Urged US to continue commitment to justice in the Balkans by supporting local war crimes trials in Bosnias cantonal and district courts. Burma: Called for increased US pressure for democratic change in Burma and extended targeted sanctions in Burma; urged US to press other countries to support inclusion of Burma on UN Security Council agenda; urged US to support international humanitarian efforts in Burmathrough bilateral channels and Asean channelsfollowing Cyclone Nagris. Cambodia: Urged US to consider concerns about judicial independence before funding Khmer Rouge tribunal. Chad: Urged US to press Chad for an end to enforced disappearances and clarify the fate of opposition leaders arbitrarily detained in early 2008. China: Urged US to press China to fulfill human rights commitments related to Olympics; urged US to raise concerns about ongoing crackdown against dissidents and human rights defenders as well as lack of rule of law and citizens inability to seek legal redress for injustice; urged US to press China about widespread abuses of migrant construction workers in Beijing; urged US to press China to abolish its discriminatory urban household registration permit system, affecting migrant workers and their families; urged US to expand its human rights monitoring capabilities in China; urged US to press for diplomatic and press access to Tibetan areas; urged US to press China to permanently extend Olympics-related temporary regulations on foreign media freedom. Colombia: Urged effective enforcement of human rights conditions on US military and demobilization aid to Colombia; urged delay of free trade agreement until more progress is made against paramilitary violence. Urged US to prosecute extradited paramilitary leaders for human rights violations. Democratic Republic of the Congo: Urged US to support appointment of international special advisor on human rights for eastern DRC to underpin the Goma peace process. Ethiopia: Urged US to press Ethiopia to investigate and hold accountable individuals responsible for human rights and humanitarian law abuses in Ethiopia (including Ogaden) and Somalia; and urged a strong US response to a new draft Ethiopian law aimed at restricting the activities of civil society organizations. Georgia: Urged US to press Georgia to undertake a thorough investigation into the police crackdown on demonstrators on November 7, 2007, and to undertake reforms in the penitentiary system and the criminal justice system. Urged US to press Georgia and Russia to respect international humanitarian law; to ensure accountability for human rights and international humanitarian law violations during and in the aftermath of the August 2008 conflict over South Ossetia; to lend support to a robust international monitoring presence with a strong civilian protection mandate; and to work to promote the right to return for IDPs wishing to do so. Global: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the Voluntary Principles for Security and Human Rights in the extractive industries; advocated for a cut-off of certain categories of US military aid to countries that recruit and use child soldiers in violation of international law or support non-state armed groups that recruit children. Urged US to produce a report on womens inheritance rights and impact of PEPFAR. Urged US to support stronger language on the juvenile death penalty in UN General Assemblys annual child rights resolution. India: Urged US to push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in India-administered Kashmir, in Punjab in the 1980s, and in Gujarat after the 2002 riots; urged US to continue to refuse an official invitation to Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi his role in 2002 communal violence; urged US to encourage India to adopt equal opportunity policies to protect the rights of Dalits and Tribals; urged US to call for the protection of rights of those likely to be displaced in West Bengal state due to government land acquisition for industry. Indonesia: Supported the continued prohibition by US on International Military Education and Training (IMET) and Foreign Military Financing (FMF) to Indonesia given ongoing Indonesian military abuses; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about abuses against child domestic workers and to press for amending labor law to grant core labor rights to workers in the informal sector, including domestic workers; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about human rights abuses by the Indonesian military exacerbated by the lack of oversight over legal and illicit business practices. Iraq: Urged US to investigate allegations of torture and ill-treatment of detainees by Iraqi security forces; urged US to ensure that assistance to Iraq will not contribute to human rights violations; urged the US to admit substantially more refugees from Iraq and increase financial support to Syria, Jordan, and other countries that have borne the brunt of the refugee crisis. Urged the US to release detainees in Iraq that are unlikely to be charged, and transfer others against whom there is evidence for criminal proceedings to Iraqi courts with the safeguard that no one should be transferred if they are at risk of abuse; urged US forces in Iraq to ensure that children taken into custody are treated as children, given prompt judicial review and access to independent monitors. Israel/Palestinian Authority: Urged US to ensure that political agreements between the two parties be consistent with human rights norms; urged US to inform Israel that continued US military assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations and to inform the Palestinian Authority that any US security assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations by its security forces and by Palestinian armed groups; urged US to press Israel to reverse its strict closure policy towards the Gaza Strip, which is harming Gazas civilian population. Urged the US to avoid being financially complicit in the expansion of illegal new settlement construction and security measures by Israel in the West Bank. Jordan: Urged US to condition funding for Jordan on the improvement of human rights standards relating to free assembly and association, torture in prisons, and misuse of administrative detention. Kazakhstan: Urged US to press Kazakhstan to fulfill the reform pledges it made in exchange for the chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in 2010, and overall to use its relationship with Kazakhstan to advance progress in human rights in areas of key concern such as media freedom and freedom of assembly. Kenya: Urged US to oppose any attempt to grant amnesty to those responsible for violence after Kenyas elections in early 2008; and to suspend bilateral military training until there is a full, independent inquiry into human rights abuses in the Mount Elgon region of the country (in which a US-trained unit has been heavily implicated). Libya: Urged US to push for improvements in human rights practices in Libya. Urged US to condition further improvements in the US-Libya relationship on steps by Libyan authorities to end the incarceration of political prisoners, abolish laws that imprison peaceful critics, promote freedom of expression and assembly, and stop the use of torture. Malaysia: Urged US to press Malaysia to rescind the Internal Security Act and dismantle abusive volunteer corps, and investigate human trafficking along the countrys borders. Morocco: Urged US to press Morocco to increase monitoring of human rights in Western Sahara. Nepal: Urged US to encourage Nepal to end disappearances and torture; urged US to prioritize human rights, particularly the impunity of the Nepal Army; urged US to press Nepal for accountability by all parties to the conflict and support human rights training of security forces; urged US to support better conditions for vulnerable groups such as Dalits, Madhesis, women and children; urged US to press Nepal government not to violate rights of Tibetans in Nepal, including repealing threats to deport them. Nigeria: Urged US to press the Nigerian government to tackle government corruption and mismanagement and bring to account those responsible. North Korea: Urged US to incorporate human rights concerns into security discussions. Pakistan: Urged US to: press for full restoration of judiciary; condition military aid on democratic reform; advocate for womens rights in Pakistan; support free expression for journalists and human rights activists in Pakistan; and push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Philippines: Urged US to condition military aid on progress in the prosecution of members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines who are implicated in human rights violations, urged US to more carefully vet members of the AFP and Philippine National Police who participate in US-funded programs. Russia: Urged US to press Russia to amend its NGO law to conform to international standards. Urged US to press Russia to end violence by S. Ossetian militia; to press Russia and Georgia to respect international humanitarian law; to ensure accountability for human rights and international humanitarian law violations during and in the aftermath of the August 2008 conflict over South Ossetia; to lend support to a robust international monitoring presence with a strong civilian protection mandate; and to work to promote the right to return for IDPs wishing to do so. Rwanda: Urged US not to support the reappointment of war crimes suspect Karake Karenzi as deputy commander of the Rwandan contingent to UNAMID (Darfur); and to press for due process for all crimes committed in Rwanda during and following the 1994 genocide. Saudi Arabia: Urged US to protest Saudi restrictions on the freedom of religion and the freedom of expression and association. Urged US to press Saudi Arabia to improve judiciary, penal code, and respect for due process in criminal justice system. Sierra Leone: Urged US to continue its financial support of the Special Court for Sierra Leone and to quickly disburse FY 2008 funds granted to the court. Sri Lanka: Urged US to push for an international human rights monitoring mission in Sri Lanka to investigate abuses by all sides to the conflict; urged US to address with Sri Lanka issues of child recruitment by armed groups with Sri Lankan military complicity and by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam; urged US to condition aid to Sri Lanka on improvement in human rights standards. Somalia: urged US to focus concerns on needs of the civilian population; promote creation of a Commission of Inquiry into human rights abuses by all parties to the conflict. Sudan: Urged US to press for action in Darfur by asking the UN Security Council to call on the Sudanese government to end human rights abuses and hold violators accountable; urged US to work toward the effective deployment of international peacekeepers into the Darfur region; and urged US to veto any attempts to secure a Security Council deferral of ICC indictments against Sudanese President Bashir. Thailand: Urged US to condemn rights abuses by all sides in the conflict in southern Thailand; urged US to press for full respect of human rights and accountability from Thailand in bilateral drug suppression efforts; urged US to oppose Thailand using extrajudicial killings in the war on drugs; urged US to press Thailand not to return Lao Hmong refugees to Laos and to find durable solutions for Burmese refugees in Thailand; sought US support to press for the resumption of UNHCR status determination process in Thailand; urged US to protest Thai government restrictions on civil liberties and to protect Thai rights defenders. Tunisia: Urged US to press the Tunisia to end its harassment and imprisonment of human rights activists. Turkmenistan: Urged US to link deepening of relations with Turkmenistan to concrete improvements in human rights. Uganda: Urged US to push for human rights improvements in northern Uganda and to press for an end to torture and the continued government use of secret detention centers; urged US to push for accountability for the Lords Resistance Armys atrocities and to support UN Security Council statement on LRA abuses. Uzbekistan: Urged US to formulate and pursue a clear human rights policy vis-a-vis the Uzbek government, including by operationalizing the targeted sanctions sanctions in the form of a visa ban on Uzbek government officials responsible for the May 2005 massacre at Andijan and the ensuing crackdown on civil society, imposed in June 2008 following the Uzbek governments failure to meet the specific human rights benchmarks articulated in the foreign operations bill. Vietnam: Advocated for continuation of Vietnams status as a Country of Particular Concern for its restrictions on religious freedom; called on US to press Vietnam to account for whereabouts of labor activist Le Tri Tue; urged US to continue monitoring rights abuses by Vietnam against ethnic minority populations; called for US to press Vietnam to annul national security legislation that criminalizes peaceful assembly, expression, association, and certain religions. Zimbabwe: Urged US to maintain pressure on Zimbabwe by extending sanctions on officials responsible for human rights abuses and ensuring that perpetrators are held accountable following any power-sharing agreement in the country.
To extend the duty suspension on Titanium Mononitride.
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Legislation/Treaties "Department of Defense Authorization Bill: amendments on detainee status, interrogation and rendition (S. 1548) "Material support legislation (H.R. 2764) Legislation/Treaties cont. Habeas Restoration Bills (H.R. 2826 and S. 185) Close Guantanamo legislation (S. 1469 and S. 1249) National Security with Justice Legislation (S. 1876) Taping of Interrogations (H.R. 4951) Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (H.R. 2740) Extraordinary Rendition Legislation (S. 1876) Intelligence Authorization Act (H.R. 2082) Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act (S. 3155) Policies/Issues Detention of and access to courts for alleged enemy combatants held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies of terrorist suspects Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism Use of military commissions, combatant status review tribunals, and applicable fair trial procedures Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances Applicability and definition of fair trial/humane treatment standards in the Geneva Conventions Death penalty: advocacy in favor of abolition and against expansion. Access to courts for vulnerable populations: advocated against restrictions on court access for immigrants, criminal defendants, prisoners and enemy combatant detainees Material witness warrants: advocated in favor of legislation to ensure that suspects are not detained as material witnesses Vulnerable refugees and material support restrictions: protecting victims of terrorism from being defined as supporters of terrorism and barred entry into US Accountability for private security and military contractors Juvenile justice: deinstitutionalization of status offenders, juveniles in adult prisons, ethnic and racial disparities, and conditions of confinement.
To extend the duty suspension on Titanium Mononitride.
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Legislation/Treaties "Department of Defense Authorization Bill: amendments on detainee status, interrogation and rendition (S. 1548) "Material support legislation (H.R. 2764) Legislation/Treaties cont. Habeas Restoration Bills (H.R. 2826 and S. 185) Close Guantanamo legislation (S. 1469 and S. 1249) National Security with Justice Legislation (S. 1876) Taping of Interrogations (H.R. 4951) Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (H.R. 2740) Extraordinary Rendition Legislation (S. 1876) Intelligence Authorization Act (H.R. 2082) Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act (S. 3155) Policies/Issues Detention of and access to courts for alleged enemy combatants held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies of terrorist suspects Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism Use of military commissions, combatant status review tribunals, and applicable fair trial procedures Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances Applicability and definition of fair trial/humane treatment standards in the Geneva Conventions Death penalty: advocacy in favor of abolition and against expansion. Access to courts for vulnerable populations: advocated against restrictions on court access for immigrants, criminal defendants, prisoners and enemy combatant detainees Material witness warrants: advocated in favor of legislation to ensure that suspects are not detained as material witnesses Vulnerable refugees and material support restrictions: protecting victims of terrorism from being defined as supporters of terrorism and barred entry into US Accountability for private security and military contractors Juvenile justice: deinstitutionalization of status offenders, juveniles in adult prisons, ethnic and racial disparities, and conditions of confinement.
To extend the duty suspension on Titanium Mononitride.
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Legislation/Treaties "Department of Defense Authorization Bill: amendments on detainee status, interrogation and rendition (S. 1548) "Material support legislation (H.R. 2764) Legislation/Treaties cont. Habeas Restoration Bills (H.R. 2826 and S. 185) Close Guantanamo legislation (S. 1469 and S. 1249) National Security with Justice Legislation (S. 1876) Taping of Interrogations (H.R. 4951) Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (H.R. 2740) Extraordinary Rendition Legislation (S. 1876) Intelligence Authorization Act (H.R. 2082) Gang Abatement and Suppression Act (S. 456) Gang Prevention, Intervention, and Suppression Act (H.R. 3547) Youth PROMISE Act (H.R. 3846) Juvenile Crime Reduction Act (H.R. 3411) Prison Abuse Remedies Act of 2007 (H.R. 4109) Juvenile Justice Accountability and Improvement Act of 2007 (H.R. 4300) Policies/Issues Detention of and access to courts for persons held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies of terrorist suspects Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism Use of military commissions, combatant status review tribunals, and applicable fair trial procedures Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances Applicability and definition of fair trial/humane treatment standards in the Geneva Conventions Death penalty: advocacy in favor of abolition and against expansion. Access to courts for vulnerable populations: advocated against restrictions on court access for immigrants, criminal defendants, prisoners and enemy combatant detainees Material witness warrants: advocated in favor of legislation to ensure that suspects are not detained as material witnesses Vulnerable refugees and material support restrictions: protecting victims of terrorism from being defined as supporters of terrorism and barred entry into US Accountability for private security and military contractors Gangs: advocacy against life without parole penalties for youth, an overly broad gang definition, and an increase in the disproportionate incarceration of racial and ethnic minorities; advocacy in favor of increased prevention and intervention services for youth Juvenile life without parole: advocacy in favor of requiring the opportunity for parole for all juvenile offenders Mental health: advocacy to increase training and the provision of mental health services to benefit court-involved youth suffering from mental health illness Prison litigation reform: amend current legislation to preserve the rule of law in US prisons and jails, and better protect prisoners from rape, assault, denials of religious freedom, and other constitutional violations
Detainee Basic Medical Care Act of 2008
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Legislation/Treaties " Department of Defense Authorization Bill: amendments on detainee status,interrogation and rendition (S. 1548) " Material support legislation (H.R. 2764) "National Security with Justice Act (S. 1876) Detainee Interrogation Recording Act (H.R. 4660) Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Expansion and Enforcement Act (H.R. 2740) Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act (S. 3155) Youth PROMISE Act (H.R. 3846) Detainee Basic Medical Care Act (H.R. 5950) Policies/Issues Detention of and access to courts for alleged enemy combatants held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies of terrorist suspects Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism Use of military commissions, combatant status review tribunals, and applicable fair trial procedures Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances Applicability and definition of fair trial/humane treatment standards in the Geneva Conventions Death penalty: advocacy in favor of abolition and against expansion Access to courts for vulnerable populations: advocated against restrictions on court access for immigrants, criminal defendants, prisoners and enemy combatant detainees Vulnerable refugees and material support restrictions: protecting victims of terrorism from being defined as supporters of terrorism and barred entry into US Accountability for private security and military contractors Juvenile justice: deinstitutionalization of status offenders, juveniles in adult prisons, ethnic and racial disparities, and conditions of confinement Prison reduction and support for age-appropriate youth crime prevention and intervention programs Improve medical care for detained immigrants; establish reporting procedures for deaths in detention
Windfall Elimination Provision Relief Act of 2007
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Treaties/Legislation "Global Online Freedom Act (H.R. 4780) "Child Soldiers Prevention Act (S. 1175 and H.R. 3028) Treaties/Legislation cont. Child Soldiers Accountability Act (S. 2135) International Violence Against Women Act (S. 2279) Sexual Violence in Sudan, Chad, CAR resolution (H.R. 726) Burma Sanctions bills (S. 2257 and H.R. 3890) William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (S. 3061 and H.R. 3887) Policies/Issues Algeria: Urged US to reveal whereabouts of two Algerians transferred from Guantanamo to Algeria. Azerbaijan: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the deteriorating human rights situation in Azerbaijan, especially in the area of media freedom; urged US to use its leverage with the Azerbaijani government to secure the release of wrongfully imprisoned journalists. Bangladesh: Urged US to raise with Bangladesh: full restoration of human rights; need for in 2008; prosecution of human rights violators in security forces; need for independent monitors at detention facilities. Urged US to limit assistance to abusive police and military forces to human rights education. Bhutan: Urged US to work with Nepal to ensure full protection of Bhutanese refugees who wish to be resettled in US. Bosnia: Urged US to continue commitment to justice in the Balkans by supporting local war crimes trials in Bosnias cantonal and district courts. Burma: Called for increased US pressure for democratic change in Burma and extended targeted sanctions in Burma; advocated for US pressure on other countries to support the inclusion of Burma on the agenda of the UN Security Council; urged US to support international humanitarian efforts in Burmathrough bilateral channels and Asean channelsfollowing Cyclone Nagris. Cambodia: Urged US to consider concerns about judicial independence before funding Khmer Rouge tribunal. China: Urged US to press China to fulfill human rights commitments related to the Olympics; urged US to raise concerns about ongoing pre-Olympics crackdown against dissidents and human rights defenders as well as lack of rule of law and citizens inability to seek legal redress for injustice; urged US to press China about widespread abuses of migrant construction workers in Beijing; urged US to press China to abolish its discriminatory urban household registration permit system, affecting migrant workers and their families. Colombia: Urged effective enforcement of human rights conditions on US military and demobilization aid to Colombia; urged delay of free trade agreement until more progress is made against paramilitary violence. Democratic Republic of the Congo: Urged US to support appointment of international special advisor on human rights for eastern DRC to underpin the Goma peace process. Ethiopia: Urged US to press Ethiopia to investigate and hold accountable individuals responsible for human rights abuses in Ethiopia (including Ogaden) and Somalia. Georgia: Urged US to press Georgia to undertake a thorough investigation into the police crackdown on demonstrators on November 7, 2007, and to undertake reforms in the penitentiary system and the criminal justice system. Global: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the Voluntary Principles for Security and Human Rights in the extractive industries; advocated for a cut-off of certain categories of US military aid to countries that recruit and use child soldiers in violation of international law or support non-state armed groups that recruit children. Urged US to enact the Protection Against Transmission of HIV for Women and Youth Act of 2007 to remove abstinence-until-marriage earmark for PEPFAR programs and ensure that HIV prevention programs are based on scientific evidence, good public health practice, and human rights principles; urged US to produce a report on womens inheritance rights and impact of PEPFAR. India: Urged US to push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in India-administered Kashmir, in Punjab in the 1980s, and in Gujarat after the 2002 riots; urged US to continue to refuse an official invitation to Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi his role in 2002 communal violence; urged US to encourage India to adopt equal opportunity policies to protect the rights of Dalits and Tribals; urged US to call for the protection of rights of those likely to be displaced in West Bengal state due to government land acquisition for industry. Indonesia: Supported the continued prohibition by US on International Military Education and Training (IMET) and Foreign Military Financing (FMF) to Indonesia given ongoing Indonesian military abuses; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about abuses against child domestic workers and to press for amending labor law to grant core labor rights to workers in the informal sector, including domestic workers; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about human rights abuses by the Indonesian military exacerbated by the lack of oversight over legal and illicit business practices. Iraq: Urged US to investigate allegations of torture and ill-treatment of detainees by Iraqi security forces; urged US to ensure that assistance to Iraq will not contribute to human rights violations; urged US military to prevent and prohibit mistreatment of Iraqis in US custody; urged US to accept a higher number of Iraqi refugees and to support other countries in the region who have Iraqi refugees; urged US forces in Iraq to ensure that children taken into custody are treated as children, given prompt judicial review and access to independent monitors. Israel/Palestinian Authority: Urged US to ensure that political agreements between the two parties be consistent with human rights norms; urged US to inform Israel that continued US military assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations and to inform the Palestinian Authority that any US security assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations by its security forces and by Palestinian armed groups; urged US to call on Israel to end its ban preventing Palestinian students from leaving the Gaza Strip to study abroad, to reinstate Fulbright grants offered to Gaza students, to press Israel to reverse its strict closure policy towards the Gaza Strip, which is harming Gazas civilian population. Jordan: Urged US to condition funding for Jordan on the improvement of human rights standards relating to free assembly and association, torture in prisons, and misuse of administrative detention. Kazakhstan: Urged US to condition Kazakhstans bid to chair the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to Kazakhstans progress in addressing human rights concerns such as media freedom and freedom of assembly. Kenya: Urged US to oppose any attempt to grant amnesty to those responsible for violence after Kenyas elections in early 2008. Libya: Urged US to push for improvements in human rights practices in Libya. Malaysia: Urged US to press Malaysia to rescind the Internal Security Act and dismantle abusive volunteer corps. Morocco: Urged US to press Morocco to increase monitoring of human rights in Western Sahara. Nepal: Urged US to encourage Nepal to end disappearances and torture; urged US to prioritize human rights, particularly the impunity of the Nepal Army; urged US to press Nepal for accountability by all parties to the conflict after the Constituent Assembly elections and support human rights training of security forces; urged US to support better conditions for vulnerable groups such as Dalits, Madhesis, women and children. North Korea: Urged US to incorporate human rights concerns into security discussions. Pakistan: Urged US to: press for full restoration of judiciary; condition military aid on democratic reform; advocate for womens rights in Pakistan; support free expression for journalists and human rights activists in Pakistan; and push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Philippines: Urged US to condition military aid on progress in the prosecution of members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines who are implicated in human rights violations. Russia: Urged US to press Russia to amend their NGO law to conform to international standards. Saudi Arabia: Urged US to protest Saudi restrictions on the freedom of religion and the freedom of expression and association. Sierra Leone: Urged US to continue its financial support of the Special Court for Sierra Leone and to quickly disburse FY 2008 funds granted to the court. Sri Lanka: Called on US to push for an international human rights monitoring mission in Sri Lanka to investigate abuses by all sides to the conflict; urged US to address with Sri Lanka issues of child recruitment by armed groups with Sri Lankan military complicity and by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam; urged US to condition aid to Sri Lanka on improvement in human rights standards. Sudan: Urged US to press for action in Darfur by asking the UN Security Council to call on the Sudanese government to end human rights abuses and hold violators accountable; urged US to work toward the effective deployment of international peacekeepers into the Darfur region. Thailand: Urged US to condemn rights abuses by all sides in the conflict in southern Thailand; urged US to press for full respect of human rights and accountability from Thailand in bilateral drug suppression efforts; urged US to oppose Thailand using extrajudicial killings in the war on drugs; urged US to press Thailand not to return Lao Hmong refugees to Laos and to find durable solutions for Burmese refugees in Thailand; sought US support to press for the resumption of UNHCR status determination process in Thailand; urged US to protest Thai government restrictions on civil liberties and to protect Thai rights defenders; urged US to encourage Thailand to support international humanitarian efforts in Burma in aftermath of Cyclone Nagris. Uganda: Urged US to push for human rights improvements in northern Uganda and to press for an end to torture in Uganda; urged US to push for accountability for the Lords Resistance Armys atrocities and to support UN Security Council statement in light of renewed abuses. Uzbekistan: Urged US to impose targeted sanctions against selected Uzbek government officials responsible for the May 2005 massacre at Andijan and the ensuing crackdown on civil society, and overall to condition its relationship with the Uzbek government on its fulfillment of specific human rights benchmarks. Urged US to help ensure protection from forced return and secure urgent resettlement of Uzbek refugees in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia, and other countries where their safety was at risk. Vietnam: Advocated for continuation of Vietnams status as a Country of Particular Concern for its restrictions on religious freedom; called on US to press Vietnam to account for whereabouts of labor activist Le Tri Tue; urged US to continue monitoring rights abuses by Vietnam against ethnic minority populations; called for US to press Vietnam to annul national security legislation that criminalizes peaceful assembly, expression, association, and certain religions.
Windfall Elimination Provision Relief Act of 2007
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Treaties/Legislation "Global Online Freedom Act (H.R. 4780) "Child Soldiers Prevention Act (S. 1175 and H.R. 3028) Treaties/Legislation cont. Child Soldiers Accountability Act (S. 2135) International Violence Against Women Act (S. 2279) Sexual Violence in Sudan, Chad, CAR resolution (H.R. 726) Burma Sanctions bills (S. 2257 and H.R. 3890) William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (S. 3061 and H.R. 3887) Policies/Issues Algeria: Urged US to reveal whereabouts of two Algerians transferred from Guantanamo to Algeria. Azerbaijan: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the deteriorating human rights situation in Azerbaijan, especially in the area of media freedom; urged US to use its leverage with the Azerbaijani government to secure the release of wrongfully imprisoned journalists. Bangladesh: Urged US to raise with Bangladesh: full restoration of human rights; need for in 2008; prosecution of human rights violators in security forces; need for independent monitors at detention facilities. Urged US to limit assistance to abusive police and military forces to human rights education. Bhutan: Urged US to work with Nepal to ensure full protection of Bhutanese refugees who wish to be resettled in US. Bosnia: Urged US to continue commitment to justice in the Balkans by supporting local war crimes trials in Bosnias cantonal and district courts. Burma: Called for increased US pressure for democratic change in Burma and extended targeted sanctions in Burma; advocated for US pressure on other countries to support the inclusion of Burma on the agenda of the UN Security Council; urged US to support international humanitarian efforts in Burmathrough bilateral channels and Asean channelsfollowing Cyclone Nagris. Cambodia: Urged US to consider concerns about judicial independence before funding Khmer Rouge tribunal. China: Urged US to press China to fulfill human rights commitments related to the Olympics; urged US to raise concerns about ongoing pre-Olympics crackdown against dissidents and human rights defenders as well as lack of rule of law and citizens inability to seek legal redress for injustice; urged US to press China about widespread abuses of migrant construction workers in Beijing; urged US to press China to abolish its discriminatory urban household registration permit system, affecting migrant workers and their families. Colombia: Urged effective enforcement of human rights conditions on US military and demobilization aid to Colombia; urged delay of free trade agreement until more progress is made against paramilitary violence. Democratic Republic of the Congo: Urged US to support appointment of international special advisor on human rights for eastern DRC to underpin the Goma peace process. Ethiopia: Urged US to press Ethiopia to investigate and hold accountable individuals responsible for human rights abuses in Ethiopia (including Ogaden) and Somalia. Georgia: Urged US to press Georgia to undertake a thorough investigation into the police crackdown on demonstrators on November 7, 2007, and to undertake reforms in the penitentiary system and the criminal justice system. Global: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the Voluntary Principles for Security and Human Rights in the extractive industries; advocated for a cut-off of certain categories of US military aid to countries that recruit and use child soldiers in violation of international law or support non-state armed groups that recruit children. Urged US to enact the Protection Against Transmission of HIV for Women and Youth Act of 2007 to remove abstinence-until-marriage earmark for PEPFAR programs and ensure that HIV prevention programs are based on scientific evidence, good public health practice, and human rights principles; urged US to produce a report on womens inheritance rights and impact of PEPFAR. India: Urged US to push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in India-administered Kashmir, in Punjab in the 1980s, and in Gujarat after the 2002 riots; urged US to continue to refuse an official invitation to Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi his role in 2002 communal violence; urged US to encourage India to adopt equal opportunity policies to protect the rights of Dalits and Tribals; urged US to call for the protection of rights of those likely to be displaced in West Bengal state due to government land acquisition for industry. Indonesia: Supported the continued prohibition by US on International Military Education and Training (IMET) and Foreign Military Financing (FMF) to Indonesia given ongoing Indonesian military abuses; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about abuses against child domestic workers and to press for amending labor law to grant core labor rights to workers in the informal sector, including domestic workers; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about human rights abuses by the Indonesian military exacerbated by the lack of oversight over legal and illicit business practices. Iraq: Urged US to investigate allegations of torture and ill-treatment of detainees by Iraqi security forces; urged US to ensure that assistance to Iraq will not contribute to human rights violations; urged US military to prevent and prohibit mistreatment of Iraqis in US custody; urged US to accept a higher number of Iraqi refugees and to support other countries in the region who have Iraqi refugees; urged US forces in Iraq to ensure that children taken into custody are treated as children, given prompt judicial review and access to independent monitors. Israel/Palestinian Authority: Urged US to ensure that political agreements between the two parties be consistent with human rights norms; urged US to inform Israel that continued US military assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations and to inform the Palestinian Authority that any US security assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations by its security forces and by Palestinian armed groups; urged US to call on Israel to end its ban preventing Palestinian students from leaving the Gaza Strip to study abroad, to reinstate Fulbright grants offered to Gaza students, to press Israel to reverse its strict closure policy towards the Gaza Strip, which is harming Gazas civilian population. Jordan: Urged US to condition funding for Jordan on the improvement of human rights standards relating to free assembly and association, torture in prisons, and misuse of administrative detention. Kazakhstan: Urged US to condition Kazakhstans bid to chair the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to Kazakhstans progress in addressing human rights concerns such as media freedom and freedom of assembly. Kenya: Urged US to oppose any attempt to grant amnesty to those responsible for violence after Kenyas elections in early 2008. Libya: Urged US to push for improvements in human rights practices in Libya. Malaysia: Urged US to press Malaysia to rescind the Internal Security Act and dismantle abusive volunteer corps. Morocco: Urged US to press Morocco to increase monitoring of human rights in Western Sahara. Nepal: Urged US to encourage Nepal to end disappearances and torture; urged US to prioritize human rights, particularly the impunity of the Nepal Army; urged US to press Nepal for accountability by all parties to the conflict after the Constituent Assembly elections and support human rights training of security forces; urged US to support better conditions for vulnerable groups such as Dalits, Madhesis, women and children. North Korea: Urged US to incorporate human rights concerns into security discussions. Pakistan: Urged US to: press for full restoration of judiciary; condition military aid on democratic reform; advocate for womens rights in Pakistan; support free expression for journalists and human rights activists in Pakistan; and push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Philippines: Urged US to condition military aid on progress in the prosecution of members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines who are implicated in human rights violations. Russia: Urged US to press Russia to amend their NGO law to conform to international standards. Saudi Arabia: Urged US to protest Saudi restrictions on the freedom of religion and the freedom of expression and association. Sierra Leone: Urged US to continue its financial support of the Special Court for Sierra Leone and to quickly disburse FY 2008 funds granted to the court. Sri Lanka: Called on US to push for an international human rights monitoring mission in Sri Lanka to investigate abuses by all sides to the conflict; urged US to address with Sri Lanka issues of child recruitment by armed groups with Sri Lankan military complicity and by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam; urged US to condition aid to Sri Lanka on improvement in human rights standards. Sudan: Urged US to press for action in Darfur by asking the UN Security Council to call on the Sudanese government to end human rights abuses and hold violators accountable; urged US to work toward the effective deployment of international peacekeepers into the Darfur region. Thailand: Urged US to condemn rights abuses by all sides in the conflict in southern Thailand; urged US to press for full respect of human rights and accountability from Thailand in bilateral drug suppression efforts; urged US to oppose Thailand using extrajudicial killings in the war on drugs; urged US to press Thailand not to return Lao Hmong refugees to Laos and to find durable solutions for Burmese refugees in Thailand; sought US support to press for the resumption of UNHCR status determination process in Thailand; urged US to protest Thai government restrictions on civil liberties and to protect Thai rights defenders; urged US to encourage Thailand to support international humanitarian efforts in Burma in aftermath of Cyclone Nagris. Uganda: Urged US to push for human rights improvements in northern Uganda and to press for an end to torture in Uganda; urged US to push for accountability for the Lords Resistance Armys atrocities and to support UN Security Council statement in light of renewed abuses. Uzbekistan: Urged US to impose targeted sanctions against selected Uzbek government officials responsible for the May 2005 massacre at Andijan and the ensuing crackdown on civil society, and overall to condition its relationship with the Uzbek government on its fulfillment of specific human rights benchmarks. Urged US to help ensure protection from forced return and secure urgent resettlement of Uzbek refugees in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia, and other countries where their safety was at risk. Vietnam: Advocated for continuation of Vietnams status as a Country of Particular Concern for its restrictions on religious freedom; called on US to press Vietnam to account for whereabouts of labor activist Le Tri Tue; urged US to continue monitoring rights abuses by Vietnam against ethnic minority populations; called for US to press Vietnam to annul national security legislation that criminalizes peaceful assembly, expression, association, and certain religions.
Windfall Elimination Provision Relief Act of 2007
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Treaties and Legislation "Global Online Freedom Act (H.R. 4780) "Child Soldier Prevention Act (S. 1175 and H.R. 3028) "Child Soldiers Accountability Act (S. 2135) International Violence Against Women Act (S. 2279) International Violence Against Women Act (S. 2279) Sexual Violence in Sudan, Chad, CAR resolution (H.R. 726) William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (S. 3061 and H.R. 3887) Vietnam Human Rights Act (S. 3678) Protection Against Transmission of HIV for Women and Youth Act (H.R. 1713) Policies/Issues Algeria: Urged US to reveal whereabouts of two Algerians transferred from Guantanamo to Algeria. Proposed that US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice press the Algerian government on the well-being and status of Guantanamo detainees returned to Algeria. Angola: Urged US to press Angola to improve its election procedures following the flawed parliamentary elections in September 2008. Azerbaijan: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the deteriorating human rights situation in Azerbaijan, especially media freedom; urged US to press Azerbaijan to secure the release of wrongfully imprisoned journalists. Bangladesh: Urged US to limit cooperation with the abusive Rapid Action Battalion to human rights training. Bhutan: Urged US to work with Nepal to ensure full protection of Bhutanese refugees who wish to be resettled in US. Bosnia: Urged US to continue commitment to justice in the Balkans by supporting local war crimes trials in Bosnias cantonal and district courts. Burma: Called for increased US pressure for democratic change in Burma and extended targeted sanctions in Burma; urged US to press other countries to support inclusion of Burma on UN Security Council agenda; urged US to support international humanitarian efforts in Burmathrough bilateral channels and Asean channelsfollowing Cyclone Nagris. Cambodia: Urged US to consider concerns about judicial independence before funding Khmer Rouge tribunal. Chad: Urged US to press Chad for an end to enforced disappearances and clarify the fate of opposition leaders arbitrarily detained in early 2008. China: Urged US to press China to fulfill human rights commitments related to Olympics; urged US to raise concerns about ongoing crackdown against dissidents and human rights defenders as well as lack of rule of law and citizens inability to seek legal redress for injustice; urged US to press China about widespread abuses of migrant construction workers in Beijing; urged US to press China to abolish its discriminatory urban household registration permit system, affecting migrant workers and their families; urged US to expand its human rights monitoring capabilities in China; urged US to press for diplomatic and press access to Tibetan areas; urged US to press China to permanently extend Olympics-related temporary regulations on foreign media freedom. Colombia: Urged effective enforcement of human rights conditions on US military and demobilization aid to Colombia; urged delay of free trade agreement until more progress is made against paramilitary violence. Urged US to prosecute extradited paramilitary leaders for human rights violations. Democratic Republic of the Congo: Urged US to support appointment of international special advisor on human rights for eastern DRC to underpin the Goma peace process. Ethiopia: Urged US to press Ethiopia to investigate and hold accountable individuals responsible for human rights and humanitarian law abuses in Ethiopia (including Ogaden) and Somalia; and urged a strong US response to a new draft Ethiopian law aimed at restricting the activities of civil society organizations. Georgia: Urged US to press Georgia to undertake a thorough investigation into the police crackdown on demonstrators on November 7, 2007, and to undertake reforms in the penitentiary system and the criminal justice system. Urged US to press Georgia and Russia to respect international humanitarian law; to ensure accountability for human rights and international humanitarian law violations during and in the aftermath of the August 2008 conflict over South Ossetia; to lend support to a robust international monitoring presence with a strong civilian protection mandate; and to work to promote the right to return for IDPs wishing to do so. Global: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the Voluntary Principles for Security and Human Rights in the extractive industries; advocated for a cut-off of certain categories of US military aid to countries that recruit and use child soldiers in violation of international law or support non-state armed groups that recruit children. Urged US to produce a report on womens inheritance rights and impact of PEPFAR. Urged US to support stronger language on the juvenile death penalty in UN General Assemblys annual child rights resolution. India: Urged US to push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in India-administered Kashmir, in Punjab in the 1980s, and in Gujarat after the 2002 riots; urged US to continue to refuse an official invitation to Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi his role in 2002 communal violence; urged US to encourage India to adopt equal opportunity policies to protect the rights of Dalits and Tribals; urged US to call for the protection of rights of those likely to be displaced in West Bengal state due to government land acquisition for industry. Indonesia: Supported the continued prohibition by US on International Military Education and Training (IMET) and Foreign Military Financing (FMF) to Indonesia given ongoing Indonesian military abuses; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about abuses against child domestic workers and to press for amending labor law to grant core labor rights to workers in the informal sector, including domestic workers; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about human rights abuses by the Indonesian military exacerbated by the lack of oversight over legal and illicit business practices. Iraq: Urged US to investigate allegations of torture and ill-treatment of detainees by Iraqi security forces; urged US to ensure that assistance to Iraq will not contribute to human rights violations; urged the US to admit substantially more refugees from Iraq and increase financial support to Syria, Jordan, and other countries that have borne the brunt of the refugee crisis. Urged the US to release detainees in Iraq that are unlikely to be charged, and transfer others against whom there is evidence for criminal proceedings to Iraqi courts with the safeguard that no one should be transferred if they are at risk of abuse; urged US forces in Iraq to ensure that children taken into custody are treated as children, given prompt judicial review and access to independent monitors. Israel/Palestinian Authority: Urged US to ensure that political agreements between the two parties be consistent with human rights norms; urged US to inform Israel that continued US military assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations and to inform the Palestinian Authority that any US security assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations by its security forces and by Palestinian armed groups; urged US to press Israel to reverse its strict closure policy towards the Gaza Strip, which is harming Gazas civilian population. Urged the US to avoid being financially complicit in the expansion of illegal new settlement construction and security measures by Israel in the West Bank. Jordan: Urged US to condition funding for Jordan on the improvement of human rights standards relating to free assembly and association, torture in prisons, and misuse of administrative detention. Kazakhstan: Urged US to press Kazakhstan to fulfill the reform pledges it made in exchange for the chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in 2010, and overall to use its relationship with Kazakhstan to advance progress in human rights in areas of key concern such as media freedom and freedom of assembly. Kenya: Urged US to oppose any attempt to grant amnesty to those responsible for violence after Kenyas elections in early 2008; and to suspend bilateral military training until there is a full, independent inquiry into human rights abuses in the Mount Elgon region of the country (in which a US-trained unit has been heavily implicated). Libya: Urged US to push for improvements in human rights practices in Libya. Urged US to condition further improvements in the US-Libya relationship on steps by Libyan authorities to end the incarceration of political prisoners, abolish laws that imprison peaceful critics, promote freedom of expression and assembly, and stop the use of torture. Malaysia: Urged US to press Malaysia to rescind the Internal Security Act and dismantle abusive volunteer corps, and investigate human trafficking along the countrys borders. Morocco: Urged US to press Morocco to increase monitoring of human rights in Western Sahara. Nepal: Urged US to encourage Nepal to end disappearances and torture; urged US to prioritize human rights, particularly the impunity of the Nepal Army; urged US to press Nepal for accountability by all parties to the conflict and support human rights training of security forces; urged US to support better conditions for vulnerable groups such as Dalits, Madhesis, women and children; urged US to press Nepal government not to violate rights of Tibetans in Nepal, including repealing threats to deport them. Nigeria: Urged US to press the Nigerian government to tackle government corruption and mismanagement and bring to account those responsible. North Korea: Urged US to incorporate human rights concerns into security discussions. Pakistan: Urged US to: press for full restoration of judiciary; condition military aid on democratic reform; advocate for womens rights in Pakistan; support free expression for journalists and human rights activists in Pakistan; and push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Philippines: Urged US to condition military aid on progress in the prosecution of members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines who are implicated in human rights violations, urged US to more carefully vet members of the AFP and Philippine National Police who participate in US-funded programs. Russia: Urged US to press Russia to amend its NGO law to conform to international standards. Urged US to press Russia to end violence by S. Ossetian militia; to press Russia and Georgia to respect international humanitarian law; to ensure accountability for human rights and international humanitarian law violations during and in the aftermath of the August 2008 conflict over South Ossetia; to lend support to a robust international monitoring presence with a strong civilian protection mandate; and to work to promote the right to return for IDPs wishing to do so. Rwanda: Urged US not to support the reappointment of war crimes suspect Karake Karenzi as deputy commander of the Rwandan contingent to UNAMID (Darfur); and to press for due process for all crimes committed in Rwanda during and following the 1994 genocide. Saudi Arabia: Urged US to protest Saudi restrictions on the freedom of religion and the freedom of expression and association. Urged US to press Saudi Arabia to improve judiciary, penal code, and respect for due process in criminal justice system. Sierra Leone: Urged US to continue its financial support of the Special Court for Sierra Leone and to quickly disburse FY 2008 funds granted to the court. Sri Lanka: Urged US to push for an international human rights monitoring mission in Sri Lanka to investigate abuses by all sides to the conflict; urged US to address with Sri Lanka issues of child recruitment by armed groups with Sri Lankan military complicity and by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam; urged US to condition aid to Sri Lanka on improvement in human rights standards. Somalia: urged US to focus concerns on needs of the civilian population; promote creation of a Commission of Inquiry into human rights abuses by all parties to the conflict. Sudan: Urged US to press for action in Darfur by asking the UN Security Council to call on the Sudanese government to end human rights abuses and hold violators accountable; urged US to work toward the effective deployment of international peacekeepers into the Darfur region; and urged US to veto any attempts to secure a Security Council deferral of ICC indictments against Sudanese President Bashir. Thailand: Urged US to condemn rights abuses by all sides in the conflict in southern Thailand; urged US to press for full respect of human rights and accountability from Thailand in bilateral drug suppression efforts; urged US to oppose Thailand using extrajudicial killings in the war on drugs; urged US to press Thailand not to return Lao Hmong refugees to Laos and to find durable solutions for Burmese refugees in Thailand; sought US support to press for the resumption of UNHCR status determination process in Thailand; urged US to protest Thai government restrictions on civil liberties and to protect Thai rights defenders. Tunisia: Urged US to press the Tunisia to end its harassment and imprisonment of human rights activists. Turkmenistan: Urged US to link deepening of relations with Turkmenistan to concrete improvements in human rights. Uganda: Urged US to push for human rights improvements in northern Uganda and to press for an end to torture and the continued government use of secret detention centers; urged US to push for accountability for the Lords Resistance Armys atrocities and to support UN Security Council statement on LRA abuses. Uzbekistan: Urged US to formulate and pursue a clear human rights policy vis-a-vis the Uzbek government, including by operationalizing the targeted sanctions sanctions in the form of a visa ban on Uzbek government officials responsible for the May 2005 massacre at Andijan and the ensuing crackdown on civil society, imposed in June 2008 following the Uzbek governments failure to meet the specific human rights benchmarks articulated in the foreign operations bill. Vietnam: Advocated for continuation of Vietnams status as a Country of Particular Concern for its restrictions on religious freedom; called on US to press Vietnam to account for whereabouts of labor activist Le Tri Tue; urged US to continue monitoring rights abuses by Vietnam against ethnic minority populations; called for US to press Vietnam to annul national security legislation that criminalizes peaceful assembly, expression, association, and certain religions. Zimbabwe: Urged US to maintain pressure on Zimbabwe by extending sanctions on officials responsible for human rights abuses and ensuring that perpetrators are held accountable following any power-sharing agreement in the country.
Calling on the President of the United States and the international community to take immediate steps to respond to and prevent acts of rape and sexual violence against women and girls in Darfur, Sudan, eastern Chad and the Central African Republic.
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Treaties and Legislation "Global Online Freedom Act (H.R. 4780) "Child Soldiers Prevention Act (S. 1175 and H.R. 3028) Treaties and Legislation cont. Child Soldiers Accountability Act (S. 2135) International Violence Against Women Act (S. 2279) Sexual Violence in Sudan, Chad, CAR resolution (H.Res. 726) Burma Sanctions bills (S. 2257; H.R. 3890) Colombia Free Trade Agreement ratification Policies/Issues Afghanistan: Advocated for greater support for security in Afghanistan, particularly for women; advocated for US to support vetting of Afghan officials potentially involved in war crimes; advocated for allowing access by the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission to detainees in US custody. Azerbaijan: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the deteriorating human rights situation in Azerbaijan, especially in the area of media freedoms; urged US to use its leverage with the Azerbaijani government to secure the release of wrongfully imprisoned journalists. Bangladesh: Urged US to raise with Bangladesh concerns about the abuse of emergency laws leading to widespread arbitrary detentions and torture in custody. Burma: Called for increased US pressure for democratic change in Burma and extended sanctions in Burma; advocated for US pressure on other countries to support the inclusion of Burma on the agenda of the UN Security Council. Cambodia: Urged US to press the Cambodian government to fulfill its promise to release land activists wrongfully imprisoned in 2007. China: Advocated for US to press China to fulfill human rights commitments related to the Olympics; urged US to raise concerns about ongoing pre-Olympics crackdown against dissidents and human rights defenders as well as lack of rule of law and citizens inability to seek legal redress for injustice. Colombia: Urged effective enforcement of human rights conditions on US military and demobilization aid to Colombia; urged delay of free trade agreement until more progress is made against paramilitary violence. Ethiopia: Urged US to call for the release of political detainees and deny assistance to abusive military units. Georgia: Urged US to press the Georgian government to undertake a thorough investigation into the police crackdown on demonstrators on November 7, 2007, and to undertake reforms in the penitentiary system and the criminal justice system. Global: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the Voluntary Principles for Security and Human Rights in the extractive industries; advocated for a cut-off of certain categories of US military aid to countries that recruit and use child soldiers in violation of international law or support non-state armed groups that recruit children. India: Urged US to push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in India-administered Kashmir. Indonesia: Supported the continued prohibition by the US on International Military Education and Training (IMET) and Foreign Military Financing (FMF) to Indonesia given continued abuses by the Indonesian military; urged US to raise the issue of abuses against child domestic workers with Indonesia and to press for amending the labor law to grant core labor rights to workers in the informal sector, including domestic workers; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about human rights abuses by the Indonesian military that are exacerbated by the lack of oversight over legal and illicit business practices. Iraq: Urged US to investigate allegations of torture and ill-treatment of detainees by Iraqi security forces; urged US to ensure that assistance to Iraq will not contribute to human rights violations; urged US military to prevent and prohibit mistreatment of Iraqis in US custody; urged US to accept a higher number of Iraqi refugees and to support other countries in the region who have Iraqi refugees. Israel/Palestinian Authority: Urged US to ensure that political agreements between the two parties be consistent with human rights norms; urged US to inform Israel that continued US military assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations and to inform the Palestinian Authority that any US security assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations by its security forces and by Palestinian armed groups. Jordan: Urged US to press Jordan to ensure that its counterterrorism measures comply with international human rights guarantees; urged US to support Iraqi refugees in Jordan; urged US to condition aid to Jordan on improvement in human rights standards. Kazakhstan: Urged US to condition Kazakhstans bid to chair the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to Kazakhstans progress in addressing human rights concerns such as media freedom and freedom of assembly. Libya: Urged US to push for improvements in human rights practices in Libya. Malaysia: Urged US to raise concerns about human rights abuses in the application of the Internal Security Act. Morocco: Urged US to press the Moroccan government to increase monitoring of human rights in Western Sahara. Nepal: Urged US to encourage Nepal to end disappearances and torture; urged US to prioritize human rights, particularly the impunity of the Nepal Army. North Korea: Urged US to incorporate human rights concerns into security discussions. Pakistan: Urged US to condition military aid on democratic reform; urged US to advocate for womens rights issues in Pakistan; urged US to support free expression for journalists and human rights activists in Pakistan; urged US to push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in Pakistan administered Kashmir. Philippines: Urged US to condition military aid on progress in the prosecution of members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines who are implicated in human rights violations. Russia: Urged US to press Russia to amend their NGO law to conform to international standards. Saudi Arabia: Urged US to protest Saudi restrictions on the freedom of religion and the freedom of expression and association. Sri Lanka: Called on US to push for an international human rights monitoring mission in Sri Lanka to investigate abuses by all sides to the conflict; urged US to address with Sri Lanka issues of child recruitment by armed groups with Sri Lankan military complicity and by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam; urged US to condition aid to Sri Lanka on improvement in human rights standards. Sudan: Urged US to press for action in Darfur by asking the UN Security Council to call on the Sudanese government to end human rights abuses and hold violators accountable. Thailand: Urged US to protest Thai government restrictions on civil liberties and to protect Thai human rights defenders; sought US to press Thailand not to return Lao Hmong refugees to Laos and to find durable solutions for Burmese refugees in Thailand; sought US support to press for the resumption of UNHCR status determination process in Thailand; urged US to condemn rights abuses by all sides in the conflict in southern Thailand; urged US to demand full respect of human rights and accountability from Thai counterparts in bilateral drug suppression efforts. Uganda: Urged US to push for human rights improvements in northern Uganda and to press for an end to torture in Uganda. Uzbekistan: Urged US to impose targeted sanctions against selected Uzbek government officials responsible for the May 2005 massacre at Andijan and the ensuing crackdown on civil society, and overall to condition its relationship with the Uzbek government on its fulfillment of specific human rights benchmarks. Urged US to help ensure protection from forced return and secure urgent resettlement of Uzbek refugees in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia, and other countries where their safety was at risk. Vietnam: Advocated for continuation of Vietnams status as a Country of Particular Concern for its restrictions on religious freedom.
Treaties and Legislation "Global Online Freedom Act (H.R. 4780) "Child Soldier Prevention Act (S. 1175 and H.R. 3028) "Child Soldiers Accountability Act (S. 2135) International Violence Against Women Act (S. 2279) International Violence Against Women Act (S. 2279) Sexual Violence in Sudan, Chad, CAR resolution (H.R. 726) William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (S. 3061 and H.R. 3887) Vietnam Human Rights Act (S. 3678) Protection Against Transmission of HIV for Women and Youth Act (H.R. 1713) Policies/Issues Algeria: Urged US to reveal whereabouts of two Algerians transferred from Guantanamo to Algeria. Proposed that US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice press the Algerian government on the well-being and status of Guantanamo detainees returned to Algeria. Angola: Urged US to press Angola to improve its election procedures following the flawed parliamentary elections in September 2008. Azerbaijan: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the deteriorating human rights situation in Azerbaijan, especially media freedom; urged US to press Azerbaijan to secure the release of wrongfully imprisoned journalists. Bangladesh: Urged US to limit cooperation with the abusive Rapid Action Battalion to human rights training. Bhutan: Urged US to work with Nepal to ensure full protection of Bhutanese refugees who wish to be resettled in US. Bosnia: Urged US to continue commitment to justice in the Balkans by supporting local war crimes trials in Bosnias cantonal and district courts. Burma: Called for increased US pressure for democratic change in Burma and extended targeted sanctions in Burma; urged US to press other countries to support inclusion of Burma on UN Security Council agenda; urged US to support international humanitarian efforts in Burmathrough bilateral channels and Asean channelsfollowing Cyclone Nagris. Cambodia: Urged US to consider concerns about judicial independence before funding Khmer Rouge tribunal. Chad: Urged US to press Chad for an end to enforced disappearances and clarify the fate of opposition leaders arbitrarily detained in early 2008. China: Urged US to press China to fulfill human rights commitments related to Olympics; urged US to raise concerns about ongoing crackdown against dissidents and human rights defenders as well as lack of rule of law and citizens inability to seek legal redress for injustice; urged US to press China about widespread abuses of migrant construction workers in Beijing; urged US to press China to abolish its discriminatory urban household registration permit system, affecting migrant workers and their families; urged US to expand its human rights monitoring capabilities in China; urged US to press for diplomatic and press access to Tibetan areas; urged US to press China to permanently extend Olympics-related temporary regulations on foreign media freedom. Colombia: Urged effective enforcement of human rights conditions on US military and demobilization aid to Colombia; urged delay of free trade agreement until more progress is made against paramilitary violence. Urged US to prosecute extradited paramilitary leaders for human rights violations. Democratic Republic of the Congo: Urged US to support appointment of international special advisor on human rights for eastern DRC to underpin the Goma peace process. Ethiopia: Urged US to press Ethiopia to investigate and hold accountable individuals responsible for human rights and humanitarian law abuses in Ethiopia (including Ogaden) and Somalia; and urged a strong US response to a new draft Ethiopian law aimed at restricting the activities of civil society organizations. Georgia: Urged US to press Georgia to undertake a thorough investigation into the police crackdown on demonstrators on November 7, 2007, and to undertake reforms in the penitentiary system and the criminal justice system. Urged US to press Georgia and Russia to respect international humanitarian law; to ensure accountability for human rights and international humanitarian law violations during and in the aftermath of the August 2008 conflict over South Ossetia; to lend support to a robust international monitoring presence with a strong civilian protection mandate; and to work to promote the right to return for IDPs wishing to do so. Global: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the Voluntary Principles for Security and Human Rights in the extractive industries; advocated for a cut-off of certain categories of US military aid to countries that recruit and use child soldiers in violation of international law or support non-state armed groups that recruit children. Urged US to produce a report on womens inheritance rights and impact of PEPFAR. Urged US to support stronger language on the juvenile death penalty in UN General Assemblys annual child rights resolution. India: Urged US to push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in India-administered Kashmir, in Punjab in the 1980s, and in Gujarat after the 2002 riots; urged US to continue to refuse an official invitation to Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi his role in 2002 communal violence; urged US to encourage India to adopt equal opportunity policies to protect the rights of Dalits and Tribals; urged US to call for the protection of rights of those likely to be displaced in West Bengal state due to government land acquisition for industry. Indonesia: Supported the continued prohibition by US on International Military Education and Training (IMET) and Foreign Military Financing (FMF) to Indonesia given ongoing Indonesian military abuses; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about abuses against child domestic workers and to press for amending labor law to grant core labor rights to workers in the informal sector, including domestic workers; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about human rights abuses by the Indonesian military exacerbated by the lack of oversight over legal and illicit business practices. Iraq: Urged US to investigate allegations of torture and ill-treatment of detainees by Iraqi security forces; urged US to ensure that assistance to Iraq will not contribute to human rights violations; urged the US to admit substantially more refugees from Iraq and increase financial support to Syria, Jordan, and other countries that have borne the brunt of the refugee crisis. Urged the US to release detainees in Iraq that are unlikely to be charged, and transfer others against whom there is evidence for criminal proceedings to Iraqi courts with the safeguard that no one should be transferred if they are at risk of abuse; urged US forces in Iraq to ensure that children taken into custody are treated as children, given prompt judicial review and access to independent monitors. Israel/Palestinian Authority: Urged US to ensure that political agreements between the two parties be consistent with human rights norms; urged US to inform Israel that continued US military assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations and to inform the Palestinian Authority that any US security assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations by its security forces and by Palestinian armed groups; urged US to press Israel to reverse its strict closure policy towards the Gaza Strip, which is harming Gazas civilian population. Urged the US to avoid being financially complicit in the expansion of illegal new settlement construction and security measures by Israel in the West Bank. Jordan: Urged US to condition funding for Jordan on the improvement of human rights standards relating to free assembly and association, torture in prisons, and misuse of administrative detention. Kazakhstan: Urged US to press Kazakhstan to fulfill the reform pledges it made in exchange for the chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in 2010, and overall to use its relationship with Kazakhstan to advance progress in human rights in areas of key concern such as media freedom and freedom of assembly. Kenya: Urged US to oppose any attempt to grant amnesty to those responsible for violence after Kenyas elections in early 2008; and to suspend bilateral military training until there is a full, independent inquiry into human rights abuses in the Mount Elgon region of the country (in which a US-trained unit has been heavily implicated). Libya: Urged US to push for improvements in human rights practices in Libya. Urged US to condition further improvements in the US-Libya relationship on steps by Libyan authorities to end the incarceration of political prisoners, abolish laws that imprison peaceful critics, promote freedom of expression and assembly, and stop the use of torture. Malaysia: Urged US to press Malaysia to rescind the Internal Security Act and dismantle abusive volunteer corps, and investigate human trafficking along the countrys borders. Morocco: Urged US to press Morocco to increase monitoring of human rights in Western Sahara. Nepal: Urged US to encourage Nepal to end disappearances and torture; urged US to prioritize human rights, particularly the impunity of the Nepal Army; urged US to press Nepal for accountability by all parties to the conflict and support human rights training of security forces; urged US to support better conditions for vulnerable groups such as Dalits, Madhesis, women and children; urged US to press Nepal government not to violate rights of Tibetans in Nepal, including repealing threats to deport them. Nigeria: Urged US to press the Nigerian government to tackle government corruption and mismanagement and bring to account those responsible. North Korea: Urged US to incorporate human rights concerns into security discussions. Pakistan: Urged US to: press for full restoration of judiciary; condition military aid on democratic reform; advocate for womens rights in Pakistan; support free expression for journalists and human rights activists in Pakistan; and push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Philippines: Urged US to condition military aid on progress in the prosecution of members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines who are implicated in human rights violations, urged US to more carefully vet members of the AFP and Philippine National Police who participate in US-funded programs. Russia: Urged US to press Russia to amend its NGO law to conform to international standards. Urged US to press Russia to end violence by S. Ossetian militia; to press Russia and Georgia to respect international humanitarian law; to ensure accountability for human rights and international humanitarian law violations during and in the aftermath of the August 2008 conflict over South Ossetia; to lend support to a robust international monitoring presence with a strong civilian protection mandate; and to work to promote the right to return for IDPs wishing to do so. Rwanda: Urged US not to support the reappointment of war crimes suspect Karake Karenzi as deputy commander of the Rwandan contingent to UNAMID (Darfur); and to press for due process for all crimes committed in Rwanda during and following the 1994 genocide. Saudi Arabia: Urged US to protest Saudi restrictions on the freedom of religion and the freedom of expression and association. Urged US to press Saudi Arabia to improve judiciary, penal code, and respect for due process in criminal justice system. Sierra Leone: Urged US to continue its financial support of the Special Court for Sierra Leone and to quickly disburse FY 2008 funds granted to the court. Sri Lanka: Urged US to push for an international human rights monitoring mission in Sri Lanka to investigate abuses by all sides to the conflict; urged US to address with Sri Lanka issues of child recruitment by armed groups with Sri Lankan military complicity and by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam; urged US to condition aid to Sri Lanka on improvement in human rights standards. Somalia: urged US to focus concerns on needs of the civilian population; promote creation of a Commission of Inquiry into human rights abuses by all parties to the conflict. Sudan: Urged US to press for action in Darfur by asking the UN Security Council to call on the Sudanese government to end human rights abuses and hold violators accountable; urged US to work toward the effective deployment of international peacekeepers into the Darfur region; and urged US to veto any attempts to secure a Security Council deferral of ICC indictments against Sudanese President Bashir. Thailand: Urged US to condemn rights abuses by all sides in the conflict in southern Thailand; urged US to press for full respect of human rights and accountability from Thailand in bilateral drug suppression efforts; urged US to oppose Thailand using extrajudicial killings in the war on drugs; urged US to press Thailand not to return Lao Hmong refugees to Laos and to find durable solutions for Burmese refugees in Thailand; sought US support to press for the resumption of UNHCR status determination process in Thailand; urged US to protest Thai government restrictions on civil liberties and to protect Thai rights defenders. Tunisia: Urged US to press the Tunisia to end its harassment and imprisonment of human rights activists. Turkmenistan: Urged US to link deepening of relations with Turkmenistan to concrete improvements in human rights. Uganda: Urged US to push for human rights improvements in northern Uganda and to press for an end to torture and the continued government use of secret detention centers; urged US to push for accountability for the Lords Resistance Armys atrocities and to support UN Security Council statement on LRA abuses. Uzbekistan: Urged US to formulate and pursue a clear human rights policy vis-a-vis the Uzbek government, including by operationalizing the targeted sanctions sanctions in the form of a visa ban on Uzbek government officials responsible for the May 2005 massacre at Andijan and the ensuing crackdown on civil society, imposed in June 2008 following the Uzbek governments failure to meet the specific human rights benchmarks articulated in the foreign operations bill. Vietnam: Advocated for continuation of Vietnams status as a Country of Particular Concern for its restrictions on religious freedom; called on US to press Vietnam to account for whereabouts of labor activist Le Tri Tue; urged US to continue monitoring rights abuses by Vietnam against ethnic minority populations; called for US to press Vietnam to annul national security legislation that criminalizes peaceful assembly, expression, association, and certain religions. Zimbabwe: Urged US to maintain pressure on Zimbabwe by extending sanctions on officials responsible for human rights abuses and ensuring that perpetrators are held accountable following any power-sharing agreement in the country.
Treaties and Legislation "Global Online Freedom Act (H.R. 4780) "Child Soldiers Prevention Act (S. 1175 and H.R. 3028) Treaties and Legislation cont. Child Soldiers Accountability Act (S. 2135) International Violence Against Women Act (S. 2279) Sexual Violence in Sudan, Chad, CAR resolution (H.Res. 726) Burma Sanctions bills (S. 2257; H.R. 3890) Colombia Free Trade Agreement ratification Policies/Issues Afghanistan: Advocated for greater support for security in Afghanistan, particularly for women; advocated for US to support vetting of Afghan officials potentially involved in war crimes; advocated for allowing access by the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission to detainees in US custody. Azerbaijan: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the deteriorating human rights situation in Azerbaijan, especially in the area of media freedoms; urged US to use its leverage with the Azerbaijani government to secure the release of wrongfully imprisoned journalists. Bangladesh: Urged US to raise with Bangladesh concerns about the abuse of emergency laws leading to widespread arbitrary detentions and torture in custody. Burma: Called for increased US pressure for democratic change in Burma and extended sanctions in Burma; advocated for US pressure on other countries to support the inclusion of Burma on the agenda of the UN Security Council. Cambodia: Urged US to press the Cambodian government to fulfill its promise to release land activists wrongfully imprisoned in 2007. China: Advocated for US to press China to fulfill human rights commitments related to the Olympics; urged US to raise concerns about ongoing pre-Olympics crackdown against dissidents and human rights defenders as well as lack of rule of law and citizens inability to seek legal redress for injustice. Colombia: Urged effective enforcement of human rights conditions on US military and demobilization aid to Colombia; urged delay of free trade agreement until more progress is made against paramilitary violence. Ethiopia: Urged US to call for the release of political detainees and deny assistance to abusive military units. Georgia: Urged US to press the Georgian government to undertake a thorough investigation into the police crackdown on demonstrators on November 7, 2007, and to undertake reforms in the penitentiary system and the criminal justice system. Global: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the Voluntary Principles for Security and Human Rights in the extractive industries; advocated for a cut-off of certain categories of US military aid to countries that recruit and use child soldiers in violation of international law or support non-state armed groups that recruit children. India: Urged US to push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in India-administered Kashmir. Indonesia: Supported the continued prohibition by the US on International Military Education and Training (IMET) and Foreign Military Financing (FMF) to Indonesia given continued abuses by the Indonesian military; urged US to raise the issue of abuses against child domestic workers with Indonesia and to press for amending the labor law to grant core labor rights to workers in the informal sector, including domestic workers; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about human rights abuses by the Indonesian military that are exacerbated by the lack of oversight over legal and illicit business practices. Iraq: Urged US to investigate allegations of torture and ill-treatment of detainees by Iraqi security forces; urged US to ensure that assistance to Iraq will not contribute to human rights violations; urged US military to prevent and prohibit mistreatment of Iraqis in US custody; urged US to accept a higher number of Iraqi refugees and to support other countries in the region who have Iraqi refugees. Israel/Palestinian Authority: Urged US to ensure that political agreements between the two parties be consistent with human rights norms; urged US to inform Israel that continued US military assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations and to inform the Palestinian Authority that any US security assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations by its security forces and by Palestinian armed groups. Jordan: Urged US to press Jordan to ensure that its counterterrorism measures comply with international human rights guarantees; urged US to support Iraqi refugees in Jordan; urged US to condition aid to Jordan on improvement in human rights standards. Kazakhstan: Urged US to condition Kazakhstans bid to chair the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to Kazakhstans progress in addressing human rights concerns such as media freedom and freedom of assembly. Libya: Urged US to push for improvements in human rights practices in Libya. Malaysia: Urged US to raise concerns about human rights abuses in the application of the Internal Security Act. Morocco: Urged US to press the Moroccan government to increase monitoring of human rights in Western Sahara. Nepal: Urged US to encourage Nepal to end disappearances and torture; urged US to prioritize human rights, particularly the impunity of the Nepal Army. North Korea: Urged US to incorporate human rights concerns into security discussions. Pakistan: Urged US to condition military aid on democratic reform; urged US to advocate for womens rights issues in Pakistan; urged US to support free expression for journalists and human rights activists in Pakistan; urged US to push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in Pakistan administered Kashmir. Philippines: Urged US to condition military aid on progress in the prosecution of members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines who are implicated in human rights violations. Russia: Urged US to press Russia to amend their NGO law to conform to international standards. Saudi Arabia: Urged US to protest Saudi restrictions on the freedom of religion and the freedom of expression and association. Sri Lanka: Called on US to push for an international human rights monitoring mission in Sri Lanka to investigate abuses by all sides to the conflict; urged US to address with Sri Lanka issues of child recruitment by armed groups with Sri Lankan military complicity and by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam; urged US to condition aid to Sri Lanka on improvement in human rights standards. Sudan: Urged US to press for action in Darfur by asking the UN Security Council to call on the Sudanese government to end human rights abuses and hold violators accountable. Thailand: Urged US to protest Thai government restrictions on civil liberties and to protect Thai human rights defenders; sought US to press Thailand not to return Lao Hmong refugees to Laos and to find durable solutions for Burmese refugees in Thailand; sought US support to press for the resumption of UNHCR status determination process in Thailand; urged US to condemn rights abuses by all sides in the conflict in southern Thailand; urged US to demand full respect of human rights and accountability from Thai counterparts in bilateral drug suppression efforts. Uganda: Urged US to push for human rights improvements in northern Uganda and to press for an end to torture in Uganda. Uzbekistan: Urged US to impose targeted sanctions against selected Uzbek government officials responsible for the May 2005 massacre at Andijan and the ensuing crackdown on civil society, and overall to condition its relationship with the Uzbek government on its fulfillment of specific human rights benchmarks. Urged US to help ensure protection from forced return and secure urgent resettlement of Uzbek refugees in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia, and other countries where their safety was at risk. Vietnam: Advocated for continuation of Vietnams status as a Country of Particular Concern for its restrictions on religious freedom.
Treaties/Legislation "Global Online Freedom Act (H.R. 4780) "Child Soldiers Prevention Act (S. 1175 and H.R. 3028) Treaties/Legislation cont. Child Soldiers Accountability Act (S. 2135) International Violence Against Women Act (S. 2279) Sexual Violence in Sudan, Chad, CAR resolution (H.R. 726) Burma Sanctions bills (S. 2257 and H.R. 3890) William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (S. 3061 and H.R. 3887) Policies/Issues Algeria: Urged US to reveal whereabouts of two Algerians transferred from Guantanamo to Algeria. Azerbaijan: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the deteriorating human rights situation in Azerbaijan, especially in the area of media freedom; urged US to use its leverage with the Azerbaijani government to secure the release of wrongfully imprisoned journalists. Bangladesh: Urged US to raise with Bangladesh: full restoration of human rights; need for in 2008; prosecution of human rights violators in security forces; need for independent monitors at detention facilities. Urged US to limit assistance to abusive police and military forces to human rights education. Bhutan: Urged US to work with Nepal to ensure full protection of Bhutanese refugees who wish to be resettled in US. Bosnia: Urged US to continue commitment to justice in the Balkans by supporting local war crimes trials in Bosnias cantonal and district courts. Burma: Called for increased US pressure for democratic change in Burma and extended targeted sanctions in Burma; advocated for US pressure on other countries to support the inclusion of Burma on the agenda of the UN Security Council; urged US to support international humanitarian efforts in Burmathrough bilateral channels and Asean channelsfollowing Cyclone Nagris. Cambodia: Urged US to consider concerns about judicial independence before funding Khmer Rouge tribunal. China: Urged US to press China to fulfill human rights commitments related to the Olympics; urged US to raise concerns about ongoing pre-Olympics crackdown against dissidents and human rights defenders as well as lack of rule of law and citizens inability to seek legal redress for injustice; urged US to press China about widespread abuses of migrant construction workers in Beijing; urged US to press China to abolish its discriminatory urban household registration permit system, affecting migrant workers and their families. Colombia: Urged effective enforcement of human rights conditions on US military and demobilization aid to Colombia; urged delay of free trade agreement until more progress is made against paramilitary violence. Democratic Republic of the Congo: Urged US to support appointment of international special advisor on human rights for eastern DRC to underpin the Goma peace process. Ethiopia: Urged US to press Ethiopia to investigate and hold accountable individuals responsible for human rights abuses in Ethiopia (including Ogaden) and Somalia. Georgia: Urged US to press Georgia to undertake a thorough investigation into the police crackdown on demonstrators on November 7, 2007, and to undertake reforms in the penitentiary system and the criminal justice system. Global: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the Voluntary Principles for Security and Human Rights in the extractive industries; advocated for a cut-off of certain categories of US military aid to countries that recruit and use child soldiers in violation of international law or support non-state armed groups that recruit children. Urged US to enact the Protection Against Transmission of HIV for Women and Youth Act of 2007 to remove abstinence-until-marriage earmark for PEPFAR programs and ensure that HIV prevention programs are based on scientific evidence, good public health practice, and human rights principles; urged US to produce a report on womens inheritance rights and impact of PEPFAR. India: Urged US to push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in India-administered Kashmir, in Punjab in the 1980s, and in Gujarat after the 2002 riots; urged US to continue to refuse an official invitation to Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi his role in 2002 communal violence; urged US to encourage India to adopt equal opportunity policies to protect the rights of Dalits and Tribals; urged US to call for the protection of rights of those likely to be displaced in West Bengal state due to government land acquisition for industry. Indonesia: Supported the continued prohibition by US on International Military Education and Training (IMET) and Foreign Military Financing (FMF) to Indonesia given ongoing Indonesian military abuses; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about abuses against child domestic workers and to press for amending labor law to grant core labor rights to workers in the informal sector, including domestic workers; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about human rights abuses by the Indonesian military exacerbated by the lack of oversight over legal and illicit business practices. Iraq: Urged US to investigate allegations of torture and ill-treatment of detainees by Iraqi security forces; urged US to ensure that assistance to Iraq will not contribute to human rights violations; urged US military to prevent and prohibit mistreatment of Iraqis in US custody; urged US to accept a higher number of Iraqi refugees and to support other countries in the region who have Iraqi refugees; urged US forces in Iraq to ensure that children taken into custody are treated as children, given prompt judicial review and access to independent monitors. Israel/Palestinian Authority: Urged US to ensure that political agreements between the two parties be consistent with human rights norms; urged US to inform Israel that continued US military assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations and to inform the Palestinian Authority that any US security assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations by its security forces and by Palestinian armed groups; urged US to call on Israel to end its ban preventing Palestinian students from leaving the Gaza Strip to study abroad, to reinstate Fulbright grants offered to Gaza students, to press Israel to reverse its strict closure policy towards the Gaza Strip, which is harming Gazas civilian population. Jordan: Urged US to condition funding for Jordan on the improvement of human rights standards relating to free assembly and association, torture in prisons, and misuse of administrative detention. Kazakhstan: Urged US to condition Kazakhstans bid to chair the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to Kazakhstans progress in addressing human rights concerns such as media freedom and freedom of assembly. Kenya: Urged US to oppose any attempt to grant amnesty to those responsible for violence after Kenyas elections in early 2008. Libya: Urged US to push for improvements in human rights practices in Libya. Malaysia: Urged US to press Malaysia to rescind the Internal Security Act and dismantle abusive volunteer corps. Morocco: Urged US to press Morocco to increase monitoring of human rights in Western Sahara. Nepal: Urged US to encourage Nepal to end disappearances and torture; urged US to prioritize human rights, particularly the impunity of the Nepal Army; urged US to press Nepal for accountability by all parties to the conflict after the Constituent Assembly elections and support human rights training of security forces; urged US to support better conditions for vulnerable groups such as Dalits, Madhesis, women and children. North Korea: Urged US to incorporate human rights concerns into security discussions. Pakistan: Urged US to: press for full restoration of judiciary; condition military aid on democratic reform; advocate for womens rights in Pakistan; support free expression for journalists and human rights activists in Pakistan; and push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Philippines: Urged US to condition military aid on progress in the prosecution of members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines who are implicated in human rights violations. Russia: Urged US to press Russia to amend their NGO law to conform to international standards. Saudi Arabia: Urged US to protest Saudi restrictions on the freedom of religion and the freedom of expression and association. Sierra Leone: Urged US to continue its financial support of the Special Court for Sierra Leone and to quickly disburse FY 2008 funds granted to the court. Sri Lanka: Called on US to push for an international human rights monitoring mission in Sri Lanka to investigate abuses by all sides to the conflict; urged US to address with Sri Lanka issues of child recruitment by armed groups with Sri Lankan military complicity and by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam; urged US to condition aid to Sri Lanka on improvement in human rights standards. Sudan: Urged US to press for action in Darfur by asking the UN Security Council to call on the Sudanese government to end human rights abuses and hold violators accountable; urged US to work toward the effective deployment of international peacekeepers into the Darfur region. Thailand: Urged US to condemn rights abuses by all sides in the conflict in southern Thailand; urged US to press for full respect of human rights and accountability from Thailand in bilateral drug suppression efforts; urged US to oppose Thailand using extrajudicial killings in the war on drugs; urged US to press Thailand not to return Lao Hmong refugees to Laos and to find durable solutions for Burmese refugees in Thailand; sought US support to press for the resumption of UNHCR status determination process in Thailand; urged US to protest Thai government restrictions on civil liberties and to protect Thai rights defenders; urged US to encourage Thailand to support international humanitarian efforts in Burma in aftermath of Cyclone Nagris. Uganda: Urged US to push for human rights improvements in northern Uganda and to press for an end to torture in Uganda; urged US to push for accountability for the Lords Resistance Armys atrocities and to support UN Security Council statement in light of renewed abuses. Uzbekistan: Urged US to impose targeted sanctions against selected Uzbek government officials responsible for the May 2005 massacre at Andijan and the ensuing crackdown on civil society, and overall to condition its relationship with the Uzbek government on its fulfillment of specific human rights benchmarks. Urged US to help ensure protection from forced return and secure urgent resettlement of Uzbek refugees in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia, and other countries where their safety was at risk. Vietnam: Advocated for continuation of Vietnams status as a Country of Particular Concern for its restrictions on religious freedom; called on US to press Vietnam to account for whereabouts of labor activist Le Tri Tue; urged US to continue monitoring rights abuses by Vietnam against ethnic minority populations; called for US to press Vietnam to annul national security legislation that criminalizes peaceful assembly, expression, association, and certain religions.
Treaties/Legislation "Global Online Freedom Act (H.R. 4780) "Child Soldiers Prevention Act (S. 1175 and H.R. 3028) Treaties/Legislation cont. Child Soldiers Accountability Act (S. 2135) International Violence Against Women Act (S. 2279) Sexual Violence in Sudan, Chad, CAR resolution (H.R. 726) Burma Sanctions bills (S. 2257 and H.R. 3890) William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (S. 3061 and H.R. 3887) Policies/Issues Algeria: Urged US to reveal whereabouts of two Algerians transferred from Guantanamo to Algeria. Azerbaijan: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the deteriorating human rights situation in Azerbaijan, especially in the area of media freedom; urged US to use its leverage with the Azerbaijani government to secure the release of wrongfully imprisoned journalists. Bangladesh: Urged US to raise with Bangladesh: full restoration of human rights; need for in 2008; prosecution of human rights violators in security forces; need for independent monitors at detention facilities. Urged US to limit assistance to abusive police and military forces to human rights education. Bhutan: Urged US to work with Nepal to ensure full protection of Bhutanese refugees who wish to be resettled in US. Bosnia: Urged US to continue commitment to justice in the Balkans by supporting local war crimes trials in Bosnias cantonal and district courts. Burma: Called for increased US pressure for democratic change in Burma and extended targeted sanctions in Burma; advocated for US pressure on other countries to support the inclusion of Burma on the agenda of the UN Security Council; urged US to support international humanitarian efforts in Burmathrough bilateral channels and Asean channelsfollowing Cyclone Nagris. Cambodia: Urged US to consider concerns about judicial independence before funding Khmer Rouge tribunal. China: Urged US to press China to fulfill human rights commitments related to the Olympics; urged US to raise concerns about ongoing pre-Olympics crackdown against dissidents and human rights defenders as well as lack of rule of law and citizens inability to seek legal redress for injustice; urged US to press China about widespread abuses of migrant construction workers in Beijing; urged US to press China to abolish its discriminatory urban household registration permit system, affecting migrant workers and their families. Colombia: Urged effective enforcement of human rights conditions on US military and demobilization aid to Colombia; urged delay of free trade agreement until more progress is made against paramilitary violence. Democratic Republic of the Congo: Urged US to support appointment of international special advisor on human rights for eastern DRC to underpin the Goma peace process. Ethiopia: Urged US to press Ethiopia to investigate and hold accountable individuals responsible for human rights abuses in Ethiopia (including Ogaden) and Somalia. Georgia: Urged US to press Georgia to undertake a thorough investigation into the police crackdown on demonstrators on November 7, 2007, and to undertake reforms in the penitentiary system and the criminal justice system. Global: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the Voluntary Principles for Security and Human Rights in the extractive industries; advocated for a cut-off of certain categories of US military aid to countries that recruit and use child soldiers in violation of international law or support non-state armed groups that recruit children. Urged US to enact the Protection Against Transmission of HIV for Women and Youth Act of 2007 to remove abstinence-until-marriage earmark for PEPFAR programs and ensure that HIV prevention programs are based on scientific evidence, good public health practice, and human rights principles; urged US to produce a report on womens inheritance rights and impact of PEPFAR. India: Urged US to push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in India-administered Kashmir, in Punjab in the 1980s, and in Gujarat after the 2002 riots; urged US to continue to refuse an official invitation to Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi his role in 2002 communal violence; urged US to encourage India to adopt equal opportunity policies to protect the rights of Dalits and Tribals; urged US to call for the protection of rights of those likely to be displaced in West Bengal state due to government land acquisition for industry. Indonesia: Supported the continued prohibition by US on International Military Education and Training (IMET) and Foreign Military Financing (FMF) to Indonesia given ongoing Indonesian military abuses; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about abuses against child domestic workers and to press for amending labor law to grant core labor rights to workers in the informal sector, including domestic workers; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about human rights abuses by the Indonesian military exacerbated by the lack of oversight over legal and illicit business practices. Iraq: Urged US to investigate allegations of torture and ill-treatment of detainees by Iraqi security forces; urged US to ensure that assistance to Iraq will not contribute to human rights violations; urged US military to prevent and prohibit mistreatment of Iraqis in US custody; urged US to accept a higher number of Iraqi refugees and to support other countries in the region who have Iraqi refugees; urged US forces in Iraq to ensure that children taken into custody are treated as children, given prompt judicial review and access to independent monitors. Israel/Palestinian Authority: Urged US to ensure that political agreements between the two parties be consistent with human rights norms; urged US to inform Israel that continued US military assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations and to inform the Palestinian Authority that any US security assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations by its security forces and by Palestinian armed groups; urged US to call on Israel to end its ban preventing Palestinian students from leaving the Gaza Strip to study abroad, to reinstate Fulbright grants offered to Gaza students, to press Israel to reverse its strict closure policy towards the Gaza Strip, which is harming Gazas civilian population. Jordan: Urged US to condition funding for Jordan on the improvement of human rights standards relating to free assembly and association, torture in prisons, and misuse of administrative detention. Kazakhstan: Urged US to condition Kazakhstans bid to chair the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to Kazakhstans progress in addressing human rights concerns such as media freedom and freedom of assembly. Kenya: Urged US to oppose any attempt to grant amnesty to those responsible for violence after Kenyas elections in early 2008. Libya: Urged US to push for improvements in human rights practices in Libya. Malaysia: Urged US to press Malaysia to rescind the Internal Security Act and dismantle abusive volunteer corps. Morocco: Urged US to press Morocco to increase monitoring of human rights in Western Sahara. Nepal: Urged US to encourage Nepal to end disappearances and torture; urged US to prioritize human rights, particularly the impunity of the Nepal Army; urged US to press Nepal for accountability by all parties to the conflict after the Constituent Assembly elections and support human rights training of security forces; urged US to support better conditions for vulnerable groups such as Dalits, Madhesis, women and children. North Korea: Urged US to incorporate human rights concerns into security discussions. Pakistan: Urged US to: press for full restoration of judiciary; condition military aid on democratic reform; advocate for womens rights in Pakistan; support free expression for journalists and human rights activists in Pakistan; and push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Philippines: Urged US to condition military aid on progress in the prosecution of members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines who are implicated in human rights violations. Russia: Urged US to press Russia to amend their NGO law to conform to international standards. Saudi Arabia: Urged US to protest Saudi restrictions on the freedom of religion and the freedom of expression and association. Sierra Leone: Urged US to continue its financial support of the Special Court for Sierra Leone and to quickly disburse FY 2008 funds granted to the court. Sri Lanka: Called on US to push for an international human rights monitoring mission in Sri Lanka to investigate abuses by all sides to the conflict; urged US to address with Sri Lanka issues of child recruitment by armed groups with Sri Lankan military complicity and by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam; urged US to condition aid to Sri Lanka on improvement in human rights standards. Sudan: Urged US to press for action in Darfur by asking the UN Security Council to call on the Sudanese government to end human rights abuses and hold violators accountable; urged US to work toward the effective deployment of international peacekeepers into the Darfur region. Thailand: Urged US to condemn rights abuses by all sides in the conflict in southern Thailand; urged US to press for full respect of human rights and accountability from Thailand in bilateral drug suppression efforts; urged US to oppose Thailand using extrajudicial killings in the war on drugs; urged US to press Thailand not to return Lao Hmong refugees to Laos and to find durable solutions for Burmese refugees in Thailand; sought US support to press for the resumption of UNHCR status determination process in Thailand; urged US to protest Thai government restrictions on civil liberties and to protect Thai rights defenders; urged US to encourage Thailand to support international humanitarian efforts in Burma in aftermath of Cyclone Nagris. Uganda: Urged US to push for human rights improvements in northern Uganda and to press for an end to torture in Uganda; urged US to push for accountability for the Lords Resistance Armys atrocities and to support UN Security Council statement in light of renewed abuses. Uzbekistan: Urged US to impose targeted sanctions against selected Uzbek government officials responsible for the May 2005 massacre at Andijan and the ensuing crackdown on civil society, and overall to condition its relationship with the Uzbek government on its fulfillment of specific human rights benchmarks. Urged US to help ensure protection from forced return and secure urgent resettlement of Uzbek refugees in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia, and other countries where their safety was at risk. Vietnam: Advocated for continuation of Vietnams status as a Country of Particular Concern for its restrictions on religious freedom; called on US to press Vietnam to account for whereabouts of labor activist Le Tri Tue; urged US to continue monitoring rights abuses by Vietnam against ethnic minority populations; called for US to press Vietnam to annul national security legislation that criminalizes peaceful assembly, expression, association, and certain religions.
A bill to require the President to close the Department of Defense detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and for other purposes.
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Legislation/Treaties "Department of Defense Authorization Bill: amendments on detainee status, interrogation and rendition (S. 1548) "Material support legislation (H.R. 2764) Legislation/Treaties cont. Habeas Restoration Bills (H.R. 2826 and S. 185) Close Guantanamo legislation (S. 1469 and S. 1249) National Security with Justice Legislation (S. 1876) Taping of Interrogations (H.R. 4951) Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (H.R. 2740) Extraordinary Rendition Legislation (S. 1876) Intelligence Authorization Act (H.R. 2082) Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act (S. 3155) Policies/Issues Detention of and access to courts for alleged enemy combatants held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies of terrorist suspects Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism Use of military commissions, combatant status review tribunals, and applicable fair trial procedures Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances Applicability and definition of fair trial/humane treatment standards in the Geneva Conventions Death penalty: advocacy in favor of abolition and against expansion. Access to courts for vulnerable populations: advocated against restrictions on court access for immigrants, criminal defendants, prisoners and enemy combatant detainees Material witness warrants: advocated in favor of legislation to ensure that suspects are not detained as material witnesses Vulnerable refugees and material support restrictions: protecting victims of terrorism from being defined as supporters of terrorism and barred entry into US Accountability for private security and military contractors Juvenile justice: deinstitutionalization of status offenders, juveniles in adult prisons, ethnic and racial disparities, and conditions of confinement.
A bill to require the President to close the Department of Defense detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and for other purposes.
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Treaties/Legislation "Department of Defense Authorization Bill (S. 1548) "Guantanamo closure bills (S. 1469 and S. 1249) Policies/Issues Detention of and access to courts for alleged enemy combatants held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies of terrorism suspects Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism Use of military commissions and combatant status review tribunals Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances Terrorism-related bars on admission jeopardizing resettlement and asylum status of vulnerable refugees Admission of Iraqi refugees into the US Accountability for private security and military contractors
A bill to require the President to close the Department of Defense detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and for other purposes.
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Treaties/Legislation "Department of Defense Authorization Bill (S. 1548) "Guantanamo closure bills (S. 1469 and S. 1249) Treaties/Legislations cont. Intelligence Authorization Act (H.R. 2082) Policies/Issues Detention of and access to courts for alleged enemy combatants held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies of terrorism suspects Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism Use of military commissions and combatant status review tribunals Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances Terrorism-related bars on admission jeopardizing resettlement and asylum status of vulnerable refugees Admission of Iraqi refugees into the US Accountability for private security and military contractors
A bill to require the President to close the Department of Defense detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and for other purposes.
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Treaties/Legislation "Extraordinary rendition legislation (S. 1876) "Guantanamo closure bills (S. 1469 and S. 1249) Treaties/Legislation cont. Habeas restoration bills (H.R. 2826 and S. 185) Material support legislation (H.R. 2764) Intelligence Authorization Act (H.R. 2082) Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (H.R. 2740) Policies/Issues Detention of and access to courts for persons held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies of terrorism suspects Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism Use of military commissions and combatant status review tribunals Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances Terrorism-related bars on admission jeopardizing resettlement and asylum status of vulnerable refugees Admission of Iraqi refugees into the US Accountability for private security and military contractors
A bill to require the President to close the Department of Defense detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and for other purposes.
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Legislation/Treaties "Department of Defense Authorization Bill: amendments on detainee status, interrogation and rendition (S. 1548) "Material support legislation (H.R. 2764) Legislation/Treaties cont. Habeas Restoration Bills (H.R. 2826 and S. 185) Close Guantanamo legislation (S. 1469 and S. 1249) National Security with Justice Legislation (S. 1876) Taping of Interrogations (H.R. 4951) Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (H.R. 2740) Extraordinary Rendition Legislation (S. 1876) Intelligence Authorization Act (H.R. 2082) Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act (S. 3155) Policies/Issues Detention of and access to courts for alleged enemy combatants held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies of terrorist suspects Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism Use of military commissions, combatant status review tribunals, and applicable fair trial procedures Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances Applicability and definition of fair trial/humane treatment standards in the Geneva Conventions Death penalty: advocacy in favor of abolition and against expansion. Access to courts for vulnerable populations: advocated against restrictions on court access for immigrants, criminal defendants, prisoners and enemy combatant detainees Material witness warrants: advocated in favor of legislation to ensure that suspects are not detained as material witnesses Vulnerable refugees and material support restrictions: protecting victims of terrorism from being defined as supporters of terrorism and barred entry into US Accountability for private security and military contractors Juvenile justice: deinstitutionalization of status offenders, juveniles in adult prisons, ethnic and racial disparities, and conditions of confinement.
A bill to require the President to close the Department of Defense detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and for other purposes.
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Treaties/Legislation "Department of Defense Authorization Bill (S. 1548) "Guantanamo closure bills (S. 1469 and S. 1249) Treaties/Legislations cont. Intelligence Authorization Act (H.R. 2082) Policies/Issues Detention of and access to courts for alleged enemy combatants held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies of terrorism suspects Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism Use of military commissions and combatant status review tribunals Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances Terrorism-related bars on admission jeopardizing resettlement and asylum status of vulnerable refugees Admission of Iraqi refugees into the US Accountability for private security and military contractors
A bill to require the President to close the Department of Defense detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and for other purposes.
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Legislation/Treaties "Department of Defense Authorization Bill: amendments on detainee status, interrogation and rendition (S. 1548) "Material support legislation (H.R. 2764) Legislation/Treaties cont. Habeas Restoration Bills (H.R. 2826 and S. 185) Close Guantanamo legislation (S. 1469 and S. 1249) National Security with Justice Legislation (S. 1876) Taping of Interrogations (H.R. 4951) Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (H.R. 2740) Extraordinary Rendition Legislation (S. 1876) Intelligence Authorization Act (H.R. 2082) Gang Abatement and Suppression Act (S. 456) Gang Prevention, Intervention, and Suppression Act (H.R. 3547) Youth PROMISE Act (H.R. 3846) Juvenile Crime Reduction Act (H.R. 3411) Prison Abuse Remedies Act of 2007 (H.R. 4109) Juvenile Justice Accountability and Improvement Act of 2007 (H.R. 4300) Policies/Issues Detention of and access to courts for persons held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies of terrorist suspects Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism Use of military commissions, combatant status review tribunals, and applicable fair trial procedures Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances Applicability and definition of fair trial/humane treatment standards in the Geneva Conventions Death penalty: advocacy in favor of abolition and against expansion. Access to courts for vulnerable populations: advocated against restrictions on court access for immigrants, criminal defendants, prisoners and enemy combatant detainees Material witness warrants: advocated in favor of legislation to ensure that suspects are not detained as material witnesses Vulnerable refugees and material support restrictions: protecting victims of terrorism from being defined as supporters of terrorism and barred entry into US Accountability for private security and military contractors Gangs: advocacy against life without parole penalties for youth, an overly broad gang definition, and an increase in the disproportionate incarceration of racial and ethnic minorities; advocacy in favor of increased prevention and intervention services for youth Juvenile life without parole: advocacy in favor of requiring the opportunity for parole for all juvenile offenders Mental health: advocacy to increase training and the provision of mental health services to benefit court-involved youth suffering from mental health illness Prison litigation reform: amend current legislation to preserve the rule of law in US prisons and jails, and better protect prisoners from rape, assault, denials of religious freedom, and other constitutional violations
Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility Closure Act of 2007
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Legislation/Treaties "Department of Defense Authorization Bill: amendments on detainee status, interrogation and rendition (S. 1548) "Material support legislation (H.R. 2764) Legislation/Treaties cont. Habeas Restoration Bills (H.R. 2826 and S. 185) Close Guantanamo legislation (S. 1469 and S. 1249) National Security with Justice Legislation (S. 1876) Taping of Interrogations (H.R. 4951) Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (H.R. 2740) Extraordinary Rendition Legislation (S. 1876) Intelligence Authorization Act (H.R. 2082) Gang Abatement and Suppression Act (S. 456) Gang Prevention, Intervention, and Suppression Act (H.R. 3547) Youth PROMISE Act (H.R. 3846) Juvenile Crime Reduction Act (H.R. 3411) Prison Abuse Remedies Act of 2007 (H.R. 4109) Juvenile Justice Accountability and Improvement Act of 2007 (H.R. 4300) Policies/Issues Detention of and access to courts for persons held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies of terrorist suspects Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism Use of military commissions, combatant status review tribunals, and applicable fair trial procedures Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances Applicability and definition of fair trial/humane treatment standards in the Geneva Conventions Death penalty: advocacy in favor of abolition and against expansion. Access to courts for vulnerable populations: advocated against restrictions on court access for immigrants, criminal defendants, prisoners and enemy combatant detainees Material witness warrants: advocated in favor of legislation to ensure that suspects are not detained as material witnesses Vulnerable refugees and material support restrictions: protecting victims of terrorism from being defined as supporters of terrorism and barred entry into US Accountability for private security and military contractors Gangs: advocacy against life without parole penalties for youth, an overly broad gang definition, and an increase in the disproportionate incarceration of racial and ethnic minorities; advocacy in favor of increased prevention and intervention services for youth Juvenile life without parole: advocacy in favor of requiring the opportunity for parole for all juvenile offenders Mental health: advocacy to increase training and the provision of mental health services to benefit court-involved youth suffering from mental health illness Prison litigation reform: amend current legislation to preserve the rule of law in US prisons and jails, and better protect prisoners from rape, assault, denials of religious freedom, and other constitutional violations
Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility Closure Act of 2007
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Legislation/Treaties "Department of Defense Authorization Bill: amendments on detainee status, interrogation and rendition (S. 1548) "Material support legislation (H.R. 2764) Legislation/Treaties cont. Habeas Restoration Bills (H.R. 2826 and S. 185) Close Guantanamo legislation (S. 1469 and S. 1249) National Security with Justice Legislation (S. 1876) Taping of Interrogations (H.R. 4951) Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (H.R. 2740) Extraordinary Rendition Legislation (S. 1876) Intelligence Authorization Act (H.R. 2082) Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act (S. 3155) Policies/Issues Detention of and access to courts for alleged enemy combatants held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies of terrorist suspects Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism Use of military commissions, combatant status review tribunals, and applicable fair trial procedures Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances Applicability and definition of fair trial/humane treatment standards in the Geneva Conventions Death penalty: advocacy in favor of abolition and against expansion. Access to courts for vulnerable populations: advocated against restrictions on court access for immigrants, criminal defendants, prisoners and enemy combatant detainees Material witness warrants: advocated in favor of legislation to ensure that suspects are not detained as material witnesses Vulnerable refugees and material support restrictions: protecting victims of terrorism from being defined as supporters of terrorism and barred entry into US Accountability for private security and military contractors Juvenile justice: deinstitutionalization of status offenders, juveniles in adult prisons, ethnic and racial disparities, and conditions of confinement.
Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility Closure Act of 2007
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Treaties/Legislation "Department of Defense Authorization Bill (S. 1548) "Guantanamo closure bills (S. 1469 and S. 1249) Policies/Issues Detention of and access to courts for alleged enemy combatants held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies of terrorism suspects Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism Use of military commissions and combatant status review tribunals Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances Terrorism-related bars on admission jeopardizing resettlement and asylum status of vulnerable refugees Admission of Iraqi refugees into the US Accountability for private security and military contractors
Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility Closure Act of 2007
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Treaties/Legislation "Department of Defense Authorization Bill (S. 1548) "Guantanamo closure bills (S. 1469 and S. 1249) Treaties/Legislations cont. Intelligence Authorization Act (H.R. 2082) Policies/Issues Detention of and access to courts for alleged enemy combatants held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies of terrorism suspects Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism Use of military commissions and combatant status review tribunals Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances Terrorism-related bars on admission jeopardizing resettlement and asylum status of vulnerable refugees Admission of Iraqi refugees into the US Accountability for private security and military contractors
Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility Closure Act of 2007
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Treaties/Legislation "Extraordinary rendition legislation (S. 1876) "Guantanamo closure bills (S. 1469 and S. 1249) Treaties/Legislation cont. Habeas restoration bills (H.R. 2826 and S. 185) Material support legislation (H.R. 2764) Intelligence Authorization Act (H.R. 2082) Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (H.R. 2740) Policies/Issues Detention of and access to courts for persons held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies of terrorism suspects Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism Use of military commissions and combatant status review tribunals Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances Terrorism-related bars on admission jeopardizing resettlement and asylum status of vulnerable refugees Admission of Iraqi refugees into the US Accountability for private security and military contractors
Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility Closure Act of 2007
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Treaties/Legislation "Department of Defense Authorization Bill (S. 1548) "Guantanamo closure bills (S. 1469 and S. 1249) Treaties/Legislations cont. Intelligence Authorization Act (H.R. 2082) Policies/Issues Detention of and access to courts for alleged enemy combatants held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies of terrorism suspects Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism Use of military commissions and combatant status review tribunals Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances Terrorism-related bars on admission jeopardizing resettlement and asylum status of vulnerable refugees Admission of Iraqi refugees into the US Accountability for private security and military contractors
Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility Closure Act of 2007
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Legislation/Treaties "Department of Defense Authorization Bill: amendments on detainee status, interrogation and rendition (S. 1548) "Material support legislation (H.R. 2764) Legislation/Treaties cont. Habeas Restoration Bills (H.R. 2826 and S. 185) Close Guantanamo legislation (S. 1469 and S. 1249) National Security with Justice Legislation (S. 1876) Taping of Interrogations (H.R. 4951) Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (H.R. 2740) Extraordinary Rendition Legislation (S. 1876) Intelligence Authorization Act (H.R. 2082) Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act (S. 3155) Policies/Issues Detention of and access to courts for alleged enemy combatants held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies of terrorist suspects Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism Use of military commissions, combatant status review tribunals, and applicable fair trial procedures Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances Applicability and definition of fair trial/humane treatment standards in the Geneva Conventions Death penalty: advocacy in favor of abolition and against expansion. Access to courts for vulnerable populations: advocated against restrictions on court access for immigrants, criminal defendants, prisoners and enemy combatant detainees Material witness warrants: advocated in favor of legislation to ensure that suspects are not detained as material witnesses Vulnerable refugees and material support restrictions: protecting victims of terrorism from being defined as supporters of terrorism and barred entry into US Accountability for private security and military contractors Juvenile justice: deinstitutionalization of status offenders, juveniles in adult prisons, ethnic and racial disparities, and conditions of confinement.
Department of Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Legislation/Treaties " Department of Defense Authorization Bill: amendments on detainee status,interrogation and rendition (S. 1548) " Material support legislation (H.R. 2764) "National Security with Justice Act (S. 1876) Detainee Interrogation Recording Act (H.R. 4660) Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Expansion and Enforcement Act (H.R. 2740) Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act (S. 3155) Youth PROMISE Act (H.R. 3846) Detainee Basic Medical Care Act (H.R. 5950) Policies/Issues Detention of and access to courts for alleged enemy combatants held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies of terrorist suspects Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism Use of military commissions, combatant status review tribunals, and applicable fair trial procedures Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances Applicability and definition of fair trial/humane treatment standards in the Geneva Conventions Death penalty: advocacy in favor of abolition and against expansion Access to courts for vulnerable populations: advocated against restrictions on court access for immigrants, criminal defendants, prisoners and enemy combatant detainees Vulnerable refugees and material support restrictions: protecting victims of terrorism from being defined as supporters of terrorism and barred entry into US Accountability for private security and military contractors Juvenile justice: deinstitutionalization of status offenders, juveniles in adult prisons, ethnic and racial disparities, and conditions of confinement Prison reduction and support for age-appropriate youth crime prevention and intervention programs Improve medical care for detained immigrants; establish reporting procedures for deaths in detention
Department of Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Treaties/Legislation "Department of Defense Authorization Bill (S. 1548) "Guantanamo closure bills (S. 1469 and S. 1249) Treaties/Legislations cont. Intelligence Authorization Act (H.R. 2082) Policies/Issues Detention of and access to courts for alleged enemy combatants held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies of terrorism suspects Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism Use of military commissions and combatant status review tribunals Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances Terrorism-related bars on admission jeopardizing resettlement and asylum status of vulnerable refugees Admission of Iraqi refugees into the US Accountability for private security and military contractors
Department of Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Legislation/Treaties "Department of Defense Authorization Bill: amendments on detainee status, interrogation and rendition (S. 1548) "Material support legislation (H.R. 2764) Legislation/Treaties cont. Habeas Restoration Bills (H.R. 2826 and S. 185) Close Guantanamo legislation (S. 1469 and S. 1249) National Security with Justice Legislation (S. 1876) Taping of Interrogations (H.R. 4951) Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (H.R. 2740) Extraordinary Rendition Legislation (S. 1876) Intelligence Authorization Act (H.R. 2082) Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act (S. 3155) Policies/Issues Detention of and access to courts for alleged enemy combatants held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies of terrorist suspects Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism Use of military commissions, combatant status review tribunals, and applicable fair trial procedures Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances Applicability and definition of fair trial/humane treatment standards in the Geneva Conventions Death penalty: advocacy in favor of abolition and against expansion. Access to courts for vulnerable populations: advocated against restrictions on court access for immigrants, criminal defendants, prisoners and enemy combatant detainees Material witness warrants: advocated in favor of legislation to ensure that suspects are not detained as material witnesses Vulnerable refugees and material support restrictions: protecting victims of terrorism from being defined as supporters of terrorism and barred entry into US Accountability for private security and military contractors Juvenile justice: deinstitutionalization of status offenders, juveniles in adult prisons, ethnic and racial disparities, and conditions of confinement.
Department of Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Treaties/Legislation "Department of Defense Authorization Bill (S. 1548) "Guantanamo closure bills (S. 1469 and S. 1249) Treaties/Legislations cont. Intelligence Authorization Act (H.R. 2082) Policies/Issues Detention of and access to courts for alleged enemy combatants held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies of terrorism suspects Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism Use of military commissions and combatant status review tribunals Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances Terrorism-related bars on admission jeopardizing resettlement and asylum status of vulnerable refugees Admission of Iraqi refugees into the US Accountability for private security and military contractors
Department of Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Treaties/Legislation "Department of Defense Authorization Bill (S. 1548) "Guantanamo closure bills (S. 1469 and S. 1249) Policies/Issues Detention of and access to courts for alleged enemy combatants held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies of terrorism suspects Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism Use of military commissions and combatant status review tribunals Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances Terrorism-related bars on admission jeopardizing resettlement and asylum status of vulnerable refugees Admission of Iraqi refugees into the US Accountability for private security and military contractors
Department of Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Legislation/Treaties "Department of Defense Authorization Bill: amendments on detainee status, interrogation and rendition (S. 1548) "Material support legislation (H.R. 2764) Legislation/Treaties cont. Habeas Restoration Bills (H.R. 2826 and S. 185) Close Guantanamo legislation (S. 1469 and S. 1249) National Security with Justice Legislation (S. 1876) Taping of Interrogations (H.R. 4951) Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (H.R. 2740) Extraordinary Rendition Legislation (S. 1876) Intelligence Authorization Act (H.R. 2082) Gang Abatement and Suppression Act (S. 456) Gang Prevention, Intervention, and Suppression Act (H.R. 3547) Youth PROMISE Act (H.R. 3846) Juvenile Crime Reduction Act (H.R. 3411) Prison Abuse Remedies Act of 2007 (H.R. 4109) Juvenile Justice Accountability and Improvement Act of 2007 (H.R. 4300) Policies/Issues Detention of and access to courts for persons held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies of terrorist suspects Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism Use of military commissions, combatant status review tribunals, and applicable fair trial procedures Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances Applicability and definition of fair trial/humane treatment standards in the Geneva Conventions Death penalty: advocacy in favor of abolition and against expansion. Access to courts for vulnerable populations: advocated against restrictions on court access for immigrants, criminal defendants, prisoners and enemy combatant detainees Material witness warrants: advocated in favor of legislation to ensure that suspects are not detained as material witnesses Vulnerable refugees and material support restrictions: protecting victims of terrorism from being defined as supporters of terrorism and barred entry into US Accountability for private security and military contractors Gangs: advocacy against life without parole penalties for youth, an overly broad gang definition, and an increase in the disproportionate incarceration of racial and ethnic minorities; advocacy in favor of increased prevention and intervention services for youth Juvenile life without parole: advocacy in favor of requiring the opportunity for parole for all juvenile offenders Mental health: advocacy to increase training and the provision of mental health services to benefit court-involved youth suffering from mental health illness Prison litigation reform: amend current legislation to preserve the rule of law in US prisons and jails, and better protect prisoners from rape, assault, denials of religious freedom, and other constitutional violations
Department of Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Legislation/Treaties "Department of Defense Authorization Bill: amendments on detainee status, interrogation and rendition (S. 1548) "Material support legislation (H.R. 2764) Legislation/Treaties cont. Habeas Restoration Bills (H.R. 2826 and S. 185) Close Guantanamo legislation (S. 1469 and S. 1249) National Security with Justice Legislation (S. 1876) Taping of Interrogations (H.R. 4951) Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (H.R. 2740) Extraordinary Rendition Legislation (S. 1876) Intelligence Authorization Act (H.R. 2082) Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act (S. 3155) Policies/Issues Detention of and access to courts for alleged enemy combatants held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies of terrorist suspects Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism Use of military commissions, combatant status review tribunals, and applicable fair trial procedures Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances Applicability and definition of fair trial/humane treatment standards in the Geneva Conventions Death penalty: advocacy in favor of abolition and against expansion. Access to courts for vulnerable populations: advocated against restrictions on court access for immigrants, criminal defendants, prisoners and enemy combatant detainees Material witness warrants: advocated in favor of legislation to ensure that suspects are not detained as material witnesses Vulnerable refugees and material support restrictions: protecting victims of terrorism from being defined as supporters of terrorism and barred entry into US Accountability for private security and military contractors Juvenile justice: deinstitutionalization of status offenders, juveniles in adult prisons, ethnic and racial disparities, and conditions of confinement.
Legislation/Treaties "Department of Defense Authorization Bill: amendments on detainee status, interrogation and rendition (S. 1548) "Material support legislation (H.R. 2764) Legislation/Treaties cont. Habeas Restoration Bills (H.R. 2826 and S. 185) Close Guantanamo legislation (S. 1469 and S. 1249) National Security with Justice Legislation (S. 1876) Taping of Interrogations (H.R. 4951) Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (H.R. 2740) Extraordinary Rendition Legislation (S. 1876) Intelligence Authorization Act (H.R. 2082) Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act (S. 3155) Policies/Issues Detention of and access to courts for alleged enemy combatants held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies of terrorist suspects Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism Use of military commissions, combatant status review tribunals, and applicable fair trial procedures Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances Applicability and definition of fair trial/humane treatment standards in the Geneva Conventions Death penalty: advocacy in favor of abolition and against expansion. Access to courts for vulnerable populations: advocated against restrictions on court access for immigrants, criminal defendants, prisoners and enemy combatant detainees Material witness warrants: advocated in favor of legislation to ensure that suspects are not detained as material witnesses Vulnerable refugees and material support restrictions: protecting victims of terrorism from being defined as supporters of terrorism and barred entry into US Accountability for private security and military contractors Juvenile justice: deinstitutionalization of status offenders, juveniles in adult prisons, ethnic and racial disparities, and conditions of confinement.
Legislation/Treaties "Department of Defense Authorization Bill: amendments on detainee status, interrogation and rendition (S. 1548) "Material support legislation (H.R. 2764) Legislation/Treaties cont. Habeas Restoration Bills (H.R. 2826 and S. 185) Close Guantanamo legislation (S. 1469 and S. 1249) National Security with Justice Legislation (S. 1876) Taping of Interrogations (H.R. 4951) Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (H.R. 2740) Extraordinary Rendition Legislation (S. 1876) Intelligence Authorization Act (H.R. 2082) Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act (S. 3155) Policies/Issues Detention of and access to courts for alleged enemy combatants held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies of terrorist suspects Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism Use of military commissions, combatant status review tribunals, and applicable fair trial procedures Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances Applicability and definition of fair trial/humane treatment standards in the Geneva Conventions Death penalty: advocacy in favor of abolition and against expansion. Access to courts for vulnerable populations: advocated against restrictions on court access for immigrants, criminal defendants, prisoners and enemy combatant detainees Material witness warrants: advocated in favor of legislation to ensure that suspects are not detained as material witnesses Vulnerable refugees and material support restrictions: protecting victims of terrorism from being defined as supporters of terrorism and barred entry into US Accountability for private security and military contractors Juvenile justice: deinstitutionalization of status offenders, juveniles in adult prisons, ethnic and racial disparities, and conditions of confinement.
Treaties/Legislation "Extraordinary rendition legislation (S. 1876) "Guantanamo closure bills (S. 1469 and S. 1249) Treaties/Legislation cont. Habeas restoration bills (H.R. 2826 and S. 185) Material support legislation (H.R. 2764) Intelligence Authorization Act (H.R. 2082) Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (H.R. 2740) Policies/Issues Detention of and access to courts for persons held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies of terrorism suspects Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism Use of military commissions and combatant status review tribunals Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances Terrorism-related bars on admission jeopardizing resettlement and asylum status of vulnerable refugees Admission of Iraqi refugees into the US Accountability for private security and military contractors
Legislation/Treaties "Department of Defense Authorization Bill: amendments on detainee status, interrogation and rendition (S. 1548) "Material support legislation (H.R. 2764) Legislation/Treaties cont. Habeas Restoration Bills (H.R. 2826 and S. 185) Close Guantanamo legislation (S. 1469 and S. 1249) National Security with Justice Legislation (S. 1876) Taping of Interrogations (H.R. 4951) Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (H.R. 2740) Extraordinary Rendition Legislation (S. 1876) Intelligence Authorization Act (H.R. 2082) Gang Abatement and Suppression Act (S. 456) Gang Prevention, Intervention, and Suppression Act (H.R. 3547) Youth PROMISE Act (H.R. 3846) Juvenile Crime Reduction Act (H.R. 3411) Prison Abuse Remedies Act of 2007 (H.R. 4109) Juvenile Justice Accountability and Improvement Act of 2007 (H.R. 4300) Policies/Issues Detention of and access to courts for persons held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies of terrorist suspects Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism Use of military commissions, combatant status review tribunals, and applicable fair trial procedures Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances Applicability and definition of fair trial/humane treatment standards in the Geneva Conventions Death penalty: advocacy in favor of abolition and against expansion. Access to courts for vulnerable populations: advocated against restrictions on court access for immigrants, criminal defendants, prisoners and enemy combatant detainees Material witness warrants: advocated in favor of legislation to ensure that suspects are not detained as material witnesses Vulnerable refugees and material support restrictions: protecting victims of terrorism from being defined as supporters of terrorism and barred entry into US Accountability for private security and military contractors Gangs: advocacy against life without parole penalties for youth, an overly broad gang definition, and an increase in the disproportionate incarceration of racial and ethnic minorities; advocacy in favor of increased prevention and intervention services for youth Juvenile life without parole: advocacy in favor of requiring the opportunity for parole for all juvenile offenders Mental health: advocacy to increase training and the provision of mental health services to benefit court-involved youth suffering from mental health illness Prison litigation reform: amend current legislation to preserve the rule of law in US prisons and jails, and better protect prisoners from rape, assault, denials of religious freedom, and other constitutional violations
National Security with Justice Act of 2007
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Legislation/Treaties "Department of Defense Authorization Bill: amendments on detainee status, interrogation and rendition (S. 1548) "Material support legislation (H.R. 2764) Legislation/Treaties cont. Habeas Restoration Bills (H.R. 2826 and S. 185) Close Guantanamo legislation (S. 1469 and S. 1249) National Security with Justice Legislation (S. 1876) Taping of Interrogations (H.R. 4951) Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (H.R. 2740) Extraordinary Rendition Legislation (S. 1876) Intelligence Authorization Act (H.R. 2082) Gang Abatement and Suppression Act (S. 456) Gang Prevention, Intervention, and Suppression Act (H.R. 3547) Youth PROMISE Act (H.R. 3846) Juvenile Crime Reduction Act (H.R. 3411) Prison Abuse Remedies Act of 2007 (H.R. 4109) Juvenile Justice Accountability and Improvement Act of 2007 (H.R. 4300) Policies/Issues Detention of and access to courts for persons held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies of terrorist suspects Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism Use of military commissions, combatant status review tribunals, and applicable fair trial procedures Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances Applicability and definition of fair trial/humane treatment standards in the Geneva Conventions Death penalty: advocacy in favor of abolition and against expansion. Access to courts for vulnerable populations: advocated against restrictions on court access for immigrants, criminal defendants, prisoners and enemy combatant detainees Material witness warrants: advocated in favor of legislation to ensure that suspects are not detained as material witnesses Vulnerable refugees and material support restrictions: protecting victims of terrorism from being defined as supporters of terrorism and barred entry into US Accountability for private security and military contractors Gangs: advocacy against life without parole penalties for youth, an overly broad gang definition, and an increase in the disproportionate incarceration of racial and ethnic minorities; advocacy in favor of increased prevention and intervention services for youth Juvenile life without parole: advocacy in favor of requiring the opportunity for parole for all juvenile offenders Mental health: advocacy to increase training and the provision of mental health services to benefit court-involved youth suffering from mental health illness Prison litigation reform: amend current legislation to preserve the rule of law in US prisons and jails, and better protect prisoners from rape, assault, denials of religious freedom, and other constitutional violations
National Security with Justice Act of 2007
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Legislation/Treaties "Department of Defense Authorization Bill: amendments on detainee status, interrogation and rendition (S. 1548) "Material support legislation (H.R. 2764) Legislation/Treaties cont. Habeas Restoration Bills (H.R. 2826 and S. 185) Close Guantanamo legislation (S. 1469 and S. 1249) National Security with Justice Legislation (S. 1876) Taping of Interrogations (H.R. 4951) Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (H.R. 2740) Extraordinary Rendition Legislation (S. 1876) Intelligence Authorization Act (H.R. 2082) Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act (S. 3155) Policies/Issues Detention of and access to courts for alleged enemy combatants held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies of terrorist suspects Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism Use of military commissions, combatant status review tribunals, and applicable fair trial procedures Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances Applicability and definition of fair trial/humane treatment standards in the Geneva Conventions Death penalty: advocacy in favor of abolition and against expansion. Access to courts for vulnerable populations: advocated against restrictions on court access for immigrants, criminal defendants, prisoners and enemy combatant detainees Material witness warrants: advocated in favor of legislation to ensure that suspects are not detained as material witnesses Vulnerable refugees and material support restrictions: protecting victims of terrorism from being defined as supporters of terrorism and barred entry into US Accountability for private security and military contractors Juvenile justice: deinstitutionalization of status offenders, juveniles in adult prisons, ethnic and racial disparities, and conditions of confinement.
National Security with Justice Act of 2007
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Treaties/Legislation "Extraordinary rendition legislation (S. 1876) "Guantanamo closure bills (S. 1469 and S. 1249) Treaties/Legislation cont. Habeas restoration bills (H.R. 2826 and S. 185) Material support legislation (H.R. 2764) Intelligence Authorization Act (H.R. 2082) Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (H.R. 2740) Policies/Issues Detention of and access to courts for persons held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies of terrorism suspects Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism Use of military commissions and combatant status review tribunals Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances Terrorism-related bars on admission jeopardizing resettlement and asylum status of vulnerable refugees Admission of Iraqi refugees into the US Accountability for private security and military contractors
National Security with Justice Act of 2007
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Legislation/Treaties "Department of Defense Authorization Bill: amendments on detainee status, interrogation and rendition (S. 1548) "Material support legislation (H.R. 2764) Legislation/Treaties cont. Habeas Restoration Bills (H.R. 2826 and S. 185) Close Guantanamo legislation (S. 1469 and S. 1249) National Security with Justice Legislation (S. 1876) Taping of Interrogations (H.R. 4951) Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (H.R. 2740) Extraordinary Rendition Legislation (S. 1876) Intelligence Authorization Act (H.R. 2082) Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act (S. 3155) Policies/Issues Detention of and access to courts for alleged enemy combatants held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies of terrorist suspects Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism Use of military commissions, combatant status review tribunals, and applicable fair trial procedures Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances Applicability and definition of fair trial/humane treatment standards in the Geneva Conventions Death penalty: advocacy in favor of abolition and against expansion. Access to courts for vulnerable populations: advocated against restrictions on court access for immigrants, criminal defendants, prisoners and enemy combatant detainees Material witness warrants: advocated in favor of legislation to ensure that suspects are not detained as material witnesses Vulnerable refugees and material support restrictions: protecting victims of terrorism from being defined as supporters of terrorism and barred entry into US Accountability for private security and military contractors Juvenile justice: deinstitutionalization of status offenders, juveniles in adult prisons, ethnic and racial disparities, and conditions of confinement.
National Security with Justice Act of 2007
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Legislation/Treaties " Department of Defense Authorization Bill: amendments on detainee status,interrogation and rendition (S. 1548) " Material support legislation (H.R. 2764) "National Security with Justice Act (S. 1876) Detainee Interrogation Recording Act (H.R. 4660) Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Expansion and Enforcement Act (H.R. 2740) Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act (S. 3155) Youth PROMISE Act (H.R. 3846) Detainee Basic Medical Care Act (H.R. 5950) Policies/Issues Detention of and access to courts for alleged enemy combatants held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies of terrorist suspects Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism Use of military commissions, combatant status review tribunals, and applicable fair trial procedures Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances Applicability and definition of fair trial/humane treatment standards in the Geneva Conventions Death penalty: advocacy in favor of abolition and against expansion Access to courts for vulnerable populations: advocated against restrictions on court access for immigrants, criminal defendants, prisoners and enemy combatant detainees Vulnerable refugees and material support restrictions: protecting victims of terrorism from being defined as supporters of terrorism and barred entry into US Accountability for private security and military contractors Juvenile justice: deinstitutionalization of status offenders, juveniles in adult prisons, ethnic and racial disparities, and conditions of confinement Prison reduction and support for age-appropriate youth crime prevention and intervention programs Improve medical care for detained immigrants; establish reporting procedures for deaths in detention
Child Soldiers Accountability Act of 2008
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Treaties and Legislation "Global Online Freedom Act (H.R. 4780) "Child Soldier Prevention Act (S. 1175 and H.R. 3028) "Child Soldiers Accountability Act (S. 2135) International Violence Against Women Act (S. 2279) International Violence Against Women Act (S. 2279) Sexual Violence in Sudan, Chad, CAR resolution (H.R. 726) William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (S. 3061 and H.R. 3887) Vietnam Human Rights Act (S. 3678) Protection Against Transmission of HIV for Women and Youth Act (H.R. 1713) Policies/Issues Algeria: Urged US to reveal whereabouts of two Algerians transferred from Guantanamo to Algeria. Proposed that US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice press the Algerian government on the well-being and status of Guantanamo detainees returned to Algeria. Angola: Urged US to press Angola to improve its election procedures following the flawed parliamentary elections in September 2008. Azerbaijan: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the deteriorating human rights situation in Azerbaijan, especially media freedom; urged US to press Azerbaijan to secure the release of wrongfully imprisoned journalists. Bangladesh: Urged US to limit cooperation with the abusive Rapid Action Battalion to human rights training. Bhutan: Urged US to work with Nepal to ensure full protection of Bhutanese refugees who wish to be resettled in US. Bosnia: Urged US to continue commitment to justice in the Balkans by supporting local war crimes trials in Bosnias cantonal and district courts. Burma: Called for increased US pressure for democratic change in Burma and extended targeted sanctions in Burma; urged US to press other countries to support inclusion of Burma on UN Security Council agenda; urged US to support international humanitarian efforts in Burmathrough bilateral channels and Asean channelsfollowing Cyclone Nagris. Cambodia: Urged US to consider concerns about judicial independence before funding Khmer Rouge tribunal. Chad: Urged US to press Chad for an end to enforced disappearances and clarify the fate of opposition leaders arbitrarily detained in early 2008. China: Urged US to press China to fulfill human rights commitments related to Olympics; urged US to raise concerns about ongoing crackdown against dissidents and human rights defenders as well as lack of rule of law and citizens inability to seek legal redress for injustice; urged US to press China about widespread abuses of migrant construction workers in Beijing; urged US to press China to abolish its discriminatory urban household registration permit system, affecting migrant workers and their families; urged US to expand its human rights monitoring capabilities in China; urged US to press for diplomatic and press access to Tibetan areas; urged US to press China to permanently extend Olympics-related temporary regulations on foreign media freedom. Colombia: Urged effective enforcement of human rights conditions on US military and demobilization aid to Colombia; urged delay of free trade agreement until more progress is made against paramilitary violence. Urged US to prosecute extradited paramilitary leaders for human rights violations. Democratic Republic of the Congo: Urged US to support appointment of international special advisor on human rights for eastern DRC to underpin the Goma peace process. Ethiopia: Urged US to press Ethiopia to investigate and hold accountable individuals responsible for human rights and humanitarian law abuses in Ethiopia (including Ogaden) and Somalia; and urged a strong US response to a new draft Ethiopian law aimed at restricting the activities of civil society organizations. Georgia: Urged US to press Georgia to undertake a thorough investigation into the police crackdown on demonstrators on November 7, 2007, and to undertake reforms in the penitentiary system and the criminal justice system. Urged US to press Georgia and Russia to respect international humanitarian law; to ensure accountability for human rights and international humanitarian law violations during and in the aftermath of the August 2008 conflict over South Ossetia; to lend support to a robust international monitoring presence with a strong civilian protection mandate; and to work to promote the right to return for IDPs wishing to do so. Global: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the Voluntary Principles for Security and Human Rights in the extractive industries; advocated for a cut-off of certain categories of US military aid to countries that recruit and use child soldiers in violation of international law or support non-state armed groups that recruit children. Urged US to produce a report on womens inheritance rights and impact of PEPFAR. Urged US to support stronger language on the juvenile death penalty in UN General Assemblys annual child rights resolution. India: Urged US to push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in India-administered Kashmir, in Punjab in the 1980s, and in Gujarat after the 2002 riots; urged US to continue to refuse an official invitation to Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi his role in 2002 communal violence; urged US to encourage India to adopt equal opportunity policies to protect the rights of Dalits and Tribals; urged US to call for the protection of rights of those likely to be displaced in West Bengal state due to government land acquisition for industry. Indonesia: Supported the continued prohibition by US on International Military Education and Training (IMET) and Foreign Military Financing (FMF) to Indonesia given ongoing Indonesian military abuses; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about abuses against child domestic workers and to press for amending labor law to grant core labor rights to workers in the informal sector, including domestic workers; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about human rights abuses by the Indonesian military exacerbated by the lack of oversight over legal and illicit business practices. Iraq: Urged US to investigate allegations of torture and ill-treatment of detainees by Iraqi security forces; urged US to ensure that assistance to Iraq will not contribute to human rights violations; urged the US to admit substantially more refugees from Iraq and increase financial support to Syria, Jordan, and other countries that have borne the brunt of the refugee crisis. Urged the US to release detainees in Iraq that are unlikely to be charged, and transfer others against whom there is evidence for criminal proceedings to Iraqi courts with the safeguard that no one should be transferred if they are at risk of abuse; urged US forces in Iraq to ensure that children taken into custody are treated as children, given prompt judicial review and access to independent monitors. Israel/Palestinian Authority: Urged US to ensure that political agreements between the two parties be consistent with human rights norms; urged US to inform Israel that continued US military assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations and to inform the Palestinian Authority that any US security assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations by its security forces and by Palestinian armed groups; urged US to press Israel to reverse its strict closure policy towards the Gaza Strip, which is harming Gazas civilian population. Urged the US to avoid being financially complicit in the expansion of illegal new settlement construction and security measures by Israel in the West Bank. Jordan: Urged US to condition funding for Jordan on the improvement of human rights standards relating to free assembly and association, torture in prisons, and misuse of administrative detention. Kazakhstan: Urged US to press Kazakhstan to fulfill the reform pledges it made in exchange for the chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in 2010, and overall to use its relationship with Kazakhstan to advance progress in human rights in areas of key concern such as media freedom and freedom of assembly. Kenya: Urged US to oppose any attempt to grant amnesty to those responsible for violence after Kenyas elections in early 2008; and to suspend bilateral military training until there is a full, independent inquiry into human rights abuses in the Mount Elgon region of the country (in which a US-trained unit has been heavily implicated). Libya: Urged US to push for improvements in human rights practices in Libya. Urged US to condition further improvements in the US-Libya relationship on steps by Libyan authorities to end the incarceration of political prisoners, abolish laws that imprison peaceful critics, promote freedom of expression and assembly, and stop the use of torture. Malaysia: Urged US to press Malaysia to rescind the Internal Security Act and dismantle abusive volunteer corps, and investigate human trafficking along the countrys borders. Morocco: Urged US to press Morocco to increase monitoring of human rights in Western Sahara. Nepal: Urged US to encourage Nepal to end disappearances and torture; urged US to prioritize human rights, particularly the impunity of the Nepal Army; urged US to press Nepal for accountability by all parties to the conflict and support human rights training of security forces; urged US to support better conditions for vulnerable groups such as Dalits, Madhesis, women and children; urged US to press Nepal government not to violate rights of Tibetans in Nepal, including repealing threats to deport them. Nigeria: Urged US to press the Nigerian government to tackle government corruption and mismanagement and bring to account those responsible. North Korea: Urged US to incorporate human rights concerns into security discussions. Pakistan: Urged US to: press for full restoration of judiciary; condition military aid on democratic reform; advocate for womens rights in Pakistan; support free expression for journalists and human rights activists in Pakistan; and push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Philippines: Urged US to condition military aid on progress in the prosecution of members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines who are implicated in human rights violations, urged US to more carefully vet members of the AFP and Philippine National Police who participate in US-funded programs. Russia: Urged US to press Russia to amend its NGO law to conform to international standards. Urged US to press Russia to end violence by S. Ossetian militia; to press Russia and Georgia to respect international humanitarian law; to ensure accountability for human rights and international humanitarian law violations during and in the aftermath of the August 2008 conflict over South Ossetia; to lend support to a robust international monitoring presence with a strong civilian protection mandate; and to work to promote the right to return for IDPs wishing to do so. Rwanda: Urged US not to support the reappointment of war crimes suspect Karake Karenzi as deputy commander of the Rwandan contingent to UNAMID (Darfur); and to press for due process for all crimes committed in Rwanda during and following the 1994 genocide. Saudi Arabia: Urged US to protest Saudi restrictions on the freedom of religion and the freedom of expression and association. Urged US to press Saudi Arabia to improve judiciary, penal code, and respect for due process in criminal justice system. Sierra Leone: Urged US to continue its financial support of the Special Court for Sierra Leone and to quickly disburse FY 2008 funds granted to the court. Sri Lanka: Urged US to push for an international human rights monitoring mission in Sri Lanka to investigate abuses by all sides to the conflict; urged US to address with Sri Lanka issues of child recruitment by armed groups with Sri Lankan military complicity and by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam; urged US to condition aid to Sri Lanka on improvement in human rights standards. Somalia: urged US to focus concerns on needs of the civilian population; promote creation of a Commission of Inquiry into human rights abuses by all parties to the conflict. Sudan: Urged US to press for action in Darfur by asking the UN Security Council to call on the Sudanese government to end human rights abuses and hold violators accountable; urged US to work toward the effective deployment of international peacekeepers into the Darfur region; and urged US to veto any attempts to secure a Security Council deferral of ICC indictments against Sudanese President Bashir. Thailand: Urged US to condemn rights abuses by all sides in the conflict in southern Thailand; urged US to press for full respect of human rights and accountability from Thailand in bilateral drug suppression efforts; urged US to oppose Thailand using extrajudicial killings in the war on drugs; urged US to press Thailand not to return Lao Hmong refugees to Laos and to find durable solutions for Burmese refugees in Thailand; sought US support to press for the resumption of UNHCR status determination process in Thailand; urged US to protest Thai government restrictions on civil liberties and to protect Thai rights defenders. Tunisia: Urged US to press the Tunisia to end its harassment and imprisonment of human rights activists. Turkmenistan: Urged US to link deepening of relations with Turkmenistan to concrete improvements in human rights. Uganda: Urged US to push for human rights improvements in northern Uganda and to press for an end to torture and the continued government use of secret detention centers; urged US to push for accountability for the Lords Resistance Armys atrocities and to support UN Security Council statement on LRA abuses. Uzbekistan: Urged US to formulate and pursue a clear human rights policy vis-a-vis the Uzbek government, including by operationalizing the targeted sanctions sanctions in the form of a visa ban on Uzbek government officials responsible for the May 2005 massacre at Andijan and the ensuing crackdown on civil society, imposed in June 2008 following the Uzbek governments failure to meet the specific human rights benchmarks articulated in the foreign operations bill. Vietnam: Advocated for continuation of Vietnams status as a Country of Particular Concern for its restrictions on religious freedom; called on US to press Vietnam to account for whereabouts of labor activist Le Tri Tue; urged US to continue monitoring rights abuses by Vietnam against ethnic minority populations; called for US to press Vietnam to annul national security legislation that criminalizes peaceful assembly, expression, association, and certain religions. Zimbabwe: Urged US to maintain pressure on Zimbabwe by extending sanctions on officials responsible for human rights abuses and ensuring that perpetrators are held accountable following any power-sharing agreement in the country.
Child Soldiers Accountability Act of 2008
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Treaties/Legislation "Global Online Freedom Act (H.R. 4780) "Child Soldiers Prevention Act (S. 1175 and H.R. 3028) Treaties/Legislation cont. Child Soldiers Accountability Act (S. 2135) International Violence Against Women Act (S. 2279) Sexual Violence in Sudan, Chad, CAR resolution (H.R. 726) Burma Sanctions bills (S. 2257 and H.R. 3890) William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (S. 3061 and H.R. 3887) Policies/Issues Algeria: Urged US to reveal whereabouts of two Algerians transferred from Guantanamo to Algeria. Azerbaijan: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the deteriorating human rights situation in Azerbaijan, especially in the area of media freedom; urged US to use its leverage with the Azerbaijani government to secure the release of wrongfully imprisoned journalists. Bangladesh: Urged US to raise with Bangladesh: full restoration of human rights; need for in 2008; prosecution of human rights violators in security forces; need for independent monitors at detention facilities. Urged US to limit assistance to abusive police and military forces to human rights education. Bhutan: Urged US to work with Nepal to ensure full protection of Bhutanese refugees who wish to be resettled in US. Bosnia: Urged US to continue commitment to justice in the Balkans by supporting local war crimes trials in Bosnias cantonal and district courts. Burma: Called for increased US pressure for democratic change in Burma and extended targeted sanctions in Burma; advocated for US pressure on other countries to support the inclusion of Burma on the agenda of the UN Security Council; urged US to support international humanitarian efforts in Burmathrough bilateral channels and Asean channelsfollowing Cyclone Nagris. Cambodia: Urged US to consider concerns about judicial independence before funding Khmer Rouge tribunal. China: Urged US to press China to fulfill human rights commitments related to the Olympics; urged US to raise concerns about ongoing pre-Olympics crackdown against dissidents and human rights defenders as well as lack of rule of law and citizens inability to seek legal redress for injustice; urged US to press China about widespread abuses of migrant construction workers in Beijing; urged US to press China to abolish its discriminatory urban household registration permit system, affecting migrant workers and their families. Colombia: Urged effective enforcement of human rights conditions on US military and demobilization aid to Colombia; urged delay of free trade agreement until more progress is made against paramilitary violence. Democratic Republic of the Congo: Urged US to support appointment of international special advisor on human rights for eastern DRC to underpin the Goma peace process. Ethiopia: Urged US to press Ethiopia to investigate and hold accountable individuals responsible for human rights abuses in Ethiopia (including Ogaden) and Somalia. Georgia: Urged US to press Georgia to undertake a thorough investigation into the police crackdown on demonstrators on November 7, 2007, and to undertake reforms in the penitentiary system and the criminal justice system. Global: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the Voluntary Principles for Security and Human Rights in the extractive industries; advocated for a cut-off of certain categories of US military aid to countries that recruit and use child soldiers in violation of international law or support non-state armed groups that recruit children. Urged US to enact the Protection Against Transmission of HIV for Women and Youth Act of 2007 to remove abstinence-until-marriage earmark for PEPFAR programs and ensure that HIV prevention programs are based on scientific evidence, good public health practice, and human rights principles; urged US to produce a report on womens inheritance rights and impact of PEPFAR. India: Urged US to push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in India-administered Kashmir, in Punjab in the 1980s, and in Gujarat after the 2002 riots; urged US to continue to refuse an official invitation to Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi his role in 2002 communal violence; urged US to encourage India to adopt equal opportunity policies to protect the rights of Dalits and Tribals; urged US to call for the protection of rights of those likely to be displaced in West Bengal state due to government land acquisition for industry. Indonesia: Supported the continued prohibition by US on International Military Education and Training (IMET) and Foreign Military Financing (FMF) to Indonesia given ongoing Indonesian military abuses; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about abuses against child domestic workers and to press for amending labor law to grant core labor rights to workers in the informal sector, including domestic workers; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about human rights abuses by the Indonesian military exacerbated by the lack of oversight over legal and illicit business practices. Iraq: Urged US to investigate allegations of torture and ill-treatment of detainees by Iraqi security forces; urged US to ensure that assistance to Iraq will not contribute to human rights violations; urged US military to prevent and prohibit mistreatment of Iraqis in US custody; urged US to accept a higher number of Iraqi refugees and to support other countries in the region who have Iraqi refugees; urged US forces in Iraq to ensure that children taken into custody are treated as children, given prompt judicial review and access to independent monitors. Israel/Palestinian Authority: Urged US to ensure that political agreements between the two parties be consistent with human rights norms; urged US to inform Israel that continued US military assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations and to inform the Palestinian Authority that any US security assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations by its security forces and by Palestinian armed groups; urged US to call on Israel to end its ban preventing Palestinian students from leaving the Gaza Strip to study abroad, to reinstate Fulbright grants offered to Gaza students, to press Israel to reverse its strict closure policy towards the Gaza Strip, which is harming Gazas civilian population. Jordan: Urged US to condition funding for Jordan on the improvement of human rights standards relating to free assembly and association, torture in prisons, and misuse of administrative detention. Kazakhstan: Urged US to condition Kazakhstans bid to chair the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to Kazakhstans progress in addressing human rights concerns such as media freedom and freedom of assembly. Kenya: Urged US to oppose any attempt to grant amnesty to those responsible for violence after Kenyas elections in early 2008. Libya: Urged US to push for improvements in human rights practices in Libya. Malaysia: Urged US to press Malaysia to rescind the Internal Security Act and dismantle abusive volunteer corps. Morocco: Urged US to press Morocco to increase monitoring of human rights in Western Sahara. Nepal: Urged US to encourage Nepal to end disappearances and torture; urged US to prioritize human rights, particularly the impunity of the Nepal Army; urged US to press Nepal for accountability by all parties to the conflict after the Constituent Assembly elections and support human rights training of security forces; urged US to support better conditions for vulnerable groups such as Dalits, Madhesis, women and children. North Korea: Urged US to incorporate human rights concerns into security discussions. Pakistan: Urged US to: press for full restoration of judiciary; condition military aid on democratic reform; advocate for womens rights in Pakistan; support free expression for journalists and human rights activists in Pakistan; and push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Philippines: Urged US to condition military aid on progress in the prosecution of members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines who are implicated in human rights violations. Russia: Urged US to press Russia to amend their NGO law to conform to international standards. Saudi Arabia: Urged US to protest Saudi restrictions on the freedom of religion and the freedom of expression and association. Sierra Leone: Urged US to continue its financial support of the Special Court for Sierra Leone and to quickly disburse FY 2008 funds granted to the court. Sri Lanka: Called on US to push for an international human rights monitoring mission in Sri Lanka to investigate abuses by all sides to the conflict; urged US to address with Sri Lanka issues of child recruitment by armed groups with Sri Lankan military complicity and by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam; urged US to condition aid to Sri Lanka on improvement in human rights standards. Sudan: Urged US to press for action in Darfur by asking the UN Security Council to call on the Sudanese government to end human rights abuses and hold violators accountable; urged US to work toward the effective deployment of international peacekeepers into the Darfur region. Thailand: Urged US to condemn rights abuses by all sides in the conflict in southern Thailand; urged US to press for full respect of human rights and accountability from Thailand in bilateral drug suppression efforts; urged US to oppose Thailand using extrajudicial killings in the war on drugs; urged US to press Thailand not to return Lao Hmong refugees to Laos and to find durable solutions for Burmese refugees in Thailand; sought US support to press for the resumption of UNHCR status determination process in Thailand; urged US to protest Thai government restrictions on civil liberties and to protect Thai rights defenders; urged US to encourage Thailand to support international humanitarian efforts in Burma in aftermath of Cyclone Nagris. Uganda: Urged US to push for human rights improvements in northern Uganda and to press for an end to torture in Uganda; urged US to push for accountability for the Lords Resistance Armys atrocities and to support UN Security Council statement in light of renewed abuses. Uzbekistan: Urged US to impose targeted sanctions against selected Uzbek government officials responsible for the May 2005 massacre at Andijan and the ensuing crackdown on civil society, and overall to condition its relationship with the Uzbek government on its fulfillment of specific human rights benchmarks. Urged US to help ensure protection from forced return and secure urgent resettlement of Uzbek refugees in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia, and other countries where their safety was at risk. Vietnam: Advocated for continuation of Vietnams status as a Country of Particular Concern for its restrictions on religious freedom; called on US to press Vietnam to account for whereabouts of labor activist Le Tri Tue; urged US to continue monitoring rights abuses by Vietnam against ethnic minority populations; called for US to press Vietnam to annul national security legislation that criminalizes peaceful assembly, expression, association, and certain religions.
Child Soldiers Accountability Act of 2008
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Treaties/Legislation "Global Online Freedom Act (H.R. 4780) "Child Soldiers Prevention Act (S. 1175 and H.R. 3028) Treaties/Legislation cont. Child Soldiers Accountability Act (S. 2135) International Violence Against Women Act (S. 2279) Sexual Violence in Sudan, Chad, CAR resolution (H.R. 726) Burma Sanctions bills (S. 2257 and H.R. 3890) William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (S. 3061 and H.R. 3887) Policies/Issues Algeria: Urged US to reveal whereabouts of two Algerians transferred from Guantanamo to Algeria. Azerbaijan: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the deteriorating human rights situation in Azerbaijan, especially in the area of media freedom; urged US to use its leverage with the Azerbaijani government to secure the release of wrongfully imprisoned journalists. Bangladesh: Urged US to raise with Bangladesh: full restoration of human rights; need for in 2008; prosecution of human rights violators in security forces; need for independent monitors at detention facilities. Urged US to limit assistance to abusive police and military forces to human rights education. Bhutan: Urged US to work with Nepal to ensure full protection of Bhutanese refugees who wish to be resettled in US. Bosnia: Urged US to continue commitment to justice in the Balkans by supporting local war crimes trials in Bosnias cantonal and district courts. Burma: Called for increased US pressure for democratic change in Burma and extended targeted sanctions in Burma; advocated for US pressure on other countries to support the inclusion of Burma on the agenda of the UN Security Council; urged US to support international humanitarian efforts in Burmathrough bilateral channels and Asean channelsfollowing Cyclone Nagris. Cambodia: Urged US to consider concerns about judicial independence before funding Khmer Rouge tribunal. China: Urged US to press China to fulfill human rights commitments related to the Olympics; urged US to raise concerns about ongoing pre-Olympics crackdown against dissidents and human rights defenders as well as lack of rule of law and citizens inability to seek legal redress for injustice; urged US to press China about widespread abuses of migrant construction workers in Beijing; urged US to press China to abolish its discriminatory urban household registration permit system, affecting migrant workers and their families. Colombia: Urged effective enforcement of human rights conditions on US military and demobilization aid to Colombia; urged delay of free trade agreement until more progress is made against paramilitary violence. Democratic Republic of the Congo: Urged US to support appointment of international special advisor on human rights for eastern DRC to underpin the Goma peace process. Ethiopia: Urged US to press Ethiopia to investigate and hold accountable individuals responsible for human rights abuses in Ethiopia (including Ogaden) and Somalia. Georgia: Urged US to press Georgia to undertake a thorough investigation into the police crackdown on demonstrators on November 7, 2007, and to undertake reforms in the penitentiary system and the criminal justice system. Global: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the Voluntary Principles for Security and Human Rights in the extractive industries; advocated for a cut-off of certain categories of US military aid to countries that recruit and use child soldiers in violation of international law or support non-state armed groups that recruit children. Urged US to enact the Protection Against Transmission of HIV for Women and Youth Act of 2007 to remove abstinence-until-marriage earmark for PEPFAR programs and ensure that HIV prevention programs are based on scientific evidence, good public health practice, and human rights principles; urged US to produce a report on womens inheritance rights and impact of PEPFAR. India: Urged US to push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in India-administered Kashmir, in Punjab in the 1980s, and in Gujarat after the 2002 riots; urged US to continue to refuse an official invitation to Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi his role in 2002 communal violence; urged US to encourage India to adopt equal opportunity policies to protect the rights of Dalits and Tribals; urged US to call for the protection of rights of those likely to be displaced in West Bengal state due to government land acquisition for industry. Indonesia: Supported the continued prohibition by US on International Military Education and Training (IMET) and Foreign Military Financing (FMF) to Indonesia given ongoing Indonesian military abuses; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about abuses against child domestic workers and to press for amending labor law to grant core labor rights to workers in the informal sector, including domestic workers; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about human rights abuses by the Indonesian military exacerbated by the lack of oversight over legal and illicit business practices. Iraq: Urged US to investigate allegations of torture and ill-treatment of detainees by Iraqi security forces; urged US to ensure that assistance to Iraq will not contribute to human rights violations; urged US military to prevent and prohibit mistreatment of Iraqis in US custody; urged US to accept a higher number of Iraqi refugees and to support other countries in the region who have Iraqi refugees; urged US forces in Iraq to ensure that children taken into custody are treated as children, given prompt judicial review and access to independent monitors. Israel/Palestinian Authority: Urged US to ensure that political agreements between the two parties be consistent with human rights norms; urged US to inform Israel that continued US military assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations and to inform the Palestinian Authority that any US security assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations by its security forces and by Palestinian armed groups; urged US to call on Israel to end its ban preventing Palestinian students from leaving the Gaza Strip to study abroad, to reinstate Fulbright grants offered to Gaza students, to press Israel to reverse its strict closure policy towards the Gaza Strip, which is harming Gazas civilian population. Jordan: Urged US to condition funding for Jordan on the improvement of human rights standards relating to free assembly and association, torture in prisons, and misuse of administrative detention. Kazakhstan: Urged US to condition Kazakhstans bid to chair the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to Kazakhstans progress in addressing human rights concerns such as media freedom and freedom of assembly. Kenya: Urged US to oppose any attempt to grant amnesty to those responsible for violence after Kenyas elections in early 2008. Libya: Urged US to push for improvements in human rights practices in Libya. Malaysia: Urged US to press Malaysia to rescind the Internal Security Act and dismantle abusive volunteer corps. Morocco: Urged US to press Morocco to increase monitoring of human rights in Western Sahara. Nepal: Urged US to encourage Nepal to end disappearances and torture; urged US to prioritize human rights, particularly the impunity of the Nepal Army; urged US to press Nepal for accountability by all parties to the conflict after the Constituent Assembly elections and support human rights training of security forces; urged US to support better conditions for vulnerable groups such as Dalits, Madhesis, women and children. North Korea: Urged US to incorporate human rights concerns into security discussions. Pakistan: Urged US to: press for full restoration of judiciary; condition military aid on democratic reform; advocate for womens rights in Pakistan; support free expression for journalists and human rights activists in Pakistan; and push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Philippines: Urged US to condition military aid on progress in the prosecution of members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines who are implicated in human rights violations. Russia: Urged US to press Russia to amend their NGO law to conform to international standards. Saudi Arabia: Urged US to protest Saudi restrictions on the freedom of religion and the freedom of expression and association. Sierra Leone: Urged US to continue its financial support of the Special Court for Sierra Leone and to quickly disburse FY 2008 funds granted to the court. Sri Lanka: Called on US to push for an international human rights monitoring mission in Sri Lanka to investigate abuses by all sides to the conflict; urged US to address with Sri Lanka issues of child recruitment by armed groups with Sri Lankan military complicity and by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam; urged US to condition aid to Sri Lanka on improvement in human rights standards. Sudan: Urged US to press for action in Darfur by asking the UN Security Council to call on the Sudanese government to end human rights abuses and hold violators accountable; urged US to work toward the effective deployment of international peacekeepers into the Darfur region. Thailand: Urged US to condemn rights abuses by all sides in the conflict in southern Thailand; urged US to press for full respect of human rights and accountability from Thailand in bilateral drug suppression efforts; urged US to oppose Thailand using extrajudicial killings in the war on drugs; urged US to press Thailand not to return Lao Hmong refugees to Laos and to find durable solutions for Burmese refugees in Thailand; sought US support to press for the resumption of UNHCR status determination process in Thailand; urged US to protest Thai government restrictions on civil liberties and to protect Thai rights defenders; urged US to encourage Thailand to support international humanitarian efforts in Burma in aftermath of Cyclone Nagris. Uganda: Urged US to push for human rights improvements in northern Uganda and to press for an end to torture in Uganda; urged US to push for accountability for the Lords Resistance Armys atrocities and to support UN Security Council statement in light of renewed abuses. Uzbekistan: Urged US to impose targeted sanctions against selected Uzbek government officials responsible for the May 2005 massacre at Andijan and the ensuing crackdown on civil society, and overall to condition its relationship with the Uzbek government on its fulfillment of specific human rights benchmarks. Urged US to help ensure protection from forced return and secure urgent resettlement of Uzbek refugees in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia, and other countries where their safety was at risk. Vietnam: Advocated for continuation of Vietnams status as a Country of Particular Concern for its restrictions on religious freedom; called on US to press Vietnam to account for whereabouts of labor activist Le Tri Tue; urged US to continue monitoring rights abuses by Vietnam against ethnic minority populations; called for US to press Vietnam to annul national security legislation that criminalizes peaceful assembly, expression, association, and certain religions.
Child Soldiers Accountability Act of 2008
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Treaties and Legislation "Global Online Freedom Act (H.R. 4780) "Child Soldiers Prevention Act (S. 1175 and H.R. 3028) Treaties and Legislation cont. Child Soldiers Accountability Act (S. 2135) International Violence Against Women Act (S. 2279) Sexual Violence in Sudan, Chad, CAR resolution (H.Res. 726) Burma Sanctions bills (S. 2257; H.R. 3890) Colombia Free Trade Agreement ratification Policies/Issues Afghanistan: Advocated for greater support for security in Afghanistan, particularly for women; advocated for US to support vetting of Afghan officials potentially involved in war crimes; advocated for allowing access by the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission to detainees in US custody. Azerbaijan: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the deteriorating human rights situation in Azerbaijan, especially in the area of media freedoms; urged US to use its leverage with the Azerbaijani government to secure the release of wrongfully imprisoned journalists. Bangladesh: Urged US to raise with Bangladesh concerns about the abuse of emergency laws leading to widespread arbitrary detentions and torture in custody. Burma: Called for increased US pressure for democratic change in Burma and extended sanctions in Burma; advocated for US pressure on other countries to support the inclusion of Burma on the agenda of the UN Security Council. Cambodia: Urged US to press the Cambodian government to fulfill its promise to release land activists wrongfully imprisoned in 2007. China: Advocated for US to press China to fulfill human rights commitments related to the Olympics; urged US to raise concerns about ongoing pre-Olympics crackdown against dissidents and human rights defenders as well as lack of rule of law and citizens inability to seek legal redress for injustice. Colombia: Urged effective enforcement of human rights conditions on US military and demobilization aid to Colombia; urged delay of free trade agreement until more progress is made against paramilitary violence. Ethiopia: Urged US to call for the release of political detainees and deny assistance to abusive military units. Georgia: Urged US to press the Georgian government to undertake a thorough investigation into the police crackdown on demonstrators on November 7, 2007, and to undertake reforms in the penitentiary system and the criminal justice system. Global: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the Voluntary Principles for Security and Human Rights in the extractive industries; advocated for a cut-off of certain categories of US military aid to countries that recruit and use child soldiers in violation of international law or support non-state armed groups that recruit children. India: Urged US to push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in India-administered Kashmir. Indonesia: Supported the continued prohibition by the US on International Military Education and Training (IMET) and Foreign Military Financing (FMF) to Indonesia given continued abuses by the Indonesian military; urged US to raise the issue of abuses against child domestic workers with Indonesia and to press for amending the labor law to grant core labor rights to workers in the informal sector, including domestic workers; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about human rights abuses by the Indonesian military that are exacerbated by the lack of oversight over legal and illicit business practices. Iraq: Urged US to investigate allegations of torture and ill-treatment of detainees by Iraqi security forces; urged US to ensure that assistance to Iraq will not contribute to human rights violations; urged US military to prevent and prohibit mistreatment of Iraqis in US custody; urged US to accept a higher number of Iraqi refugees and to support other countries in the region who have Iraqi refugees. Israel/Palestinian Authority: Urged US to ensure that political agreements between the two parties be consistent with human rights norms; urged US to inform Israel that continued US military assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations and to inform the Palestinian Authority that any US security assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations by its security forces and by Palestinian armed groups. Jordan: Urged US to press Jordan to ensure that its counterterrorism measures comply with international human rights guarantees; urged US to support Iraqi refugees in Jordan; urged US to condition aid to Jordan on improvement in human rights standards. Kazakhstan: Urged US to condition Kazakhstans bid to chair the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to Kazakhstans progress in addressing human rights concerns such as media freedom and freedom of assembly. Libya: Urged US to push for improvements in human rights practices in Libya. Malaysia: Urged US to raise concerns about human rights abuses in the application of the Internal Security Act. Morocco: Urged US to press the Moroccan government to increase monitoring of human rights in Western Sahara. Nepal: Urged US to encourage Nepal to end disappearances and torture; urged US to prioritize human rights, particularly the impunity of the Nepal Army. North Korea: Urged US to incorporate human rights concerns into security discussions. Pakistan: Urged US to condition military aid on democratic reform; urged US to advocate for womens rights issues in Pakistan; urged US to support free expression for journalists and human rights activists in Pakistan; urged US to push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in Pakistan administered Kashmir. Philippines: Urged US to condition military aid on progress in the prosecution of members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines who are implicated in human rights violations. Russia: Urged US to press Russia to amend their NGO law to conform to international standards. Saudi Arabia: Urged US to protest Saudi restrictions on the freedom of religion and the freedom of expression and association. Sri Lanka: Called on US to push for an international human rights monitoring mission in Sri Lanka to investigate abuses by all sides to the conflict; urged US to address with Sri Lanka issues of child recruitment by armed groups with Sri Lankan military complicity and by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam; urged US to condition aid to Sri Lanka on improvement in human rights standards. Sudan: Urged US to press for action in Darfur by asking the UN Security Council to call on the Sudanese government to end human rights abuses and hold violators accountable. Thailand: Urged US to protest Thai government restrictions on civil liberties and to protect Thai human rights defenders; sought US to press Thailand not to return Lao Hmong refugees to Laos and to find durable solutions for Burmese refugees in Thailand; sought US support to press for the resumption of UNHCR status determination process in Thailand; urged US to condemn rights abuses by all sides in the conflict in southern Thailand; urged US to demand full respect of human rights and accountability from Thai counterparts in bilateral drug suppression efforts. Uganda: Urged US to push for human rights improvements in northern Uganda and to press for an end to torture in Uganda. Uzbekistan: Urged US to impose targeted sanctions against selected Uzbek government officials responsible for the May 2005 massacre at Andijan and the ensuing crackdown on civil society, and overall to condition its relationship with the Uzbek government on its fulfillment of specific human rights benchmarks. Urged US to help ensure protection from forced return and secure urgent resettlement of Uzbek refugees in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia, and other countries where their safety was at risk. Vietnam: Advocated for continuation of Vietnams status as a Country of Particular Concern for its restrictions on religious freedom.
Treaties/Legislation "Global Online Freedom Act (H.R. 4780) "Child Soldiers Prevention Act (S. 1175 and H.R. 3028) Treaties/Legislation cont. Child Soldiers Accountability Act (S. 2135) International Violence Against Women Act (S. 2279) Sexual Violence in Sudan, Chad, CAR resolution (H.R. 726) Burma Sanctions bills (S. 2257 and H.R. 3890) William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (S. 3061 and H.R. 3887) Policies/Issues Algeria: Urged US to reveal whereabouts of two Algerians transferred from Guantanamo to Algeria. Azerbaijan: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the deteriorating human rights situation in Azerbaijan, especially in the area of media freedom; urged US to use its leverage with the Azerbaijani government to secure the release of wrongfully imprisoned journalists. Bangladesh: Urged US to raise with Bangladesh: full restoration of human rights; need for in 2008; prosecution of human rights violators in security forces; need for independent monitors at detention facilities. Urged US to limit assistance to abusive police and military forces to human rights education. Bhutan: Urged US to work with Nepal to ensure full protection of Bhutanese refugees who wish to be resettled in US. Bosnia: Urged US to continue commitment to justice in the Balkans by supporting local war crimes trials in Bosnias cantonal and district courts. Burma: Called for increased US pressure for democratic change in Burma and extended targeted sanctions in Burma; advocated for US pressure on other countries to support the inclusion of Burma on the agenda of the UN Security Council; urged US to support international humanitarian efforts in Burmathrough bilateral channels and Asean channelsfollowing Cyclone Nagris. Cambodia: Urged US to consider concerns about judicial independence before funding Khmer Rouge tribunal. China: Urged US to press China to fulfill human rights commitments related to the Olympics; urged US to raise concerns about ongoing pre-Olympics crackdown against dissidents and human rights defenders as well as lack of rule of law and citizens inability to seek legal redress for injustice; urged US to press China about widespread abuses of migrant construction workers in Beijing; urged US to press China to abolish its discriminatory urban household registration permit system, affecting migrant workers and their families. Colombia: Urged effective enforcement of human rights conditions on US military and demobilization aid to Colombia; urged delay of free trade agreement until more progress is made against paramilitary violence. Democratic Republic of the Congo: Urged US to support appointment of international special advisor on human rights for eastern DRC to underpin the Goma peace process. Ethiopia: Urged US to press Ethiopia to investigate and hold accountable individuals responsible for human rights abuses in Ethiopia (including Ogaden) and Somalia. Georgia: Urged US to press Georgia to undertake a thorough investigation into the police crackdown on demonstrators on November 7, 2007, and to undertake reforms in the penitentiary system and the criminal justice system. Global: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the Voluntary Principles for Security and Human Rights in the extractive industries; advocated for a cut-off of certain categories of US military aid to countries that recruit and use child soldiers in violation of international law or support non-state armed groups that recruit children. Urged US to enact the Protection Against Transmission of HIV for Women and Youth Act of 2007 to remove abstinence-until-marriage earmark for PEPFAR programs and ensure that HIV prevention programs are based on scientific evidence, good public health practice, and human rights principles; urged US to produce a report on womens inheritance rights and impact of PEPFAR. India: Urged US to push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in India-administered Kashmir, in Punjab in the 1980s, and in Gujarat after the 2002 riots; urged US to continue to refuse an official invitation to Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi his role in 2002 communal violence; urged US to encourage India to adopt equal opportunity policies to protect the rights of Dalits and Tribals; urged US to call for the protection of rights of those likely to be displaced in West Bengal state due to government land acquisition for industry. Indonesia: Supported the continued prohibition by US on International Military Education and Training (IMET) and Foreign Military Financing (FMF) to Indonesia given ongoing Indonesian military abuses; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about abuses against child domestic workers and to press for amending labor law to grant core labor rights to workers in the informal sector, including domestic workers; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about human rights abuses by the Indonesian military exacerbated by the lack of oversight over legal and illicit business practices. Iraq: Urged US to investigate allegations of torture and ill-treatment of detainees by Iraqi security forces; urged US to ensure that assistance to Iraq will not contribute to human rights violations; urged US military to prevent and prohibit mistreatment of Iraqis in US custody; urged US to accept a higher number of Iraqi refugees and to support other countries in the region who have Iraqi refugees; urged US forces in Iraq to ensure that children taken into custody are treated as children, given prompt judicial review and access to independent monitors. Israel/Palestinian Authority: Urged US to ensure that political agreements between the two parties be consistent with human rights norms; urged US to inform Israel that continued US military assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations and to inform the Palestinian Authority that any US security assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations by its security forces and by Palestinian armed groups; urged US to call on Israel to end its ban preventing Palestinian students from leaving the Gaza Strip to study abroad, to reinstate Fulbright grants offered to Gaza students, to press Israel to reverse its strict closure policy towards the Gaza Strip, which is harming Gazas civilian population. Jordan: Urged US to condition funding for Jordan on the improvement of human rights standards relating to free assembly and association, torture in prisons, and misuse of administrative detention. Kazakhstan: Urged US to condition Kazakhstans bid to chair the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to Kazakhstans progress in addressing human rights concerns such as media freedom and freedom of assembly. Kenya: Urged US to oppose any attempt to grant amnesty to those responsible for violence after Kenyas elections in early 2008. Libya: Urged US to push for improvements in human rights practices in Libya. Malaysia: Urged US to press Malaysia to rescind the Internal Security Act and dismantle abusive volunteer corps. Morocco: Urged US to press Morocco to increase monitoring of human rights in Western Sahara. Nepal: Urged US to encourage Nepal to end disappearances and torture; urged US to prioritize human rights, particularly the impunity of the Nepal Army; urged US to press Nepal for accountability by all parties to the conflict after the Constituent Assembly elections and support human rights training of security forces; urged US to support better conditions for vulnerable groups such as Dalits, Madhesis, women and children. North Korea: Urged US to incorporate human rights concerns into security discussions. Pakistan: Urged US to: press for full restoration of judiciary; condition military aid on democratic reform; advocate for womens rights in Pakistan; support free expression for journalists and human rights activists in Pakistan; and push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Philippines: Urged US to condition military aid on progress in the prosecution of members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines who are implicated in human rights violations. Russia: Urged US to press Russia to amend their NGO law to conform to international standards. Saudi Arabia: Urged US to protest Saudi restrictions on the freedom of religion and the freedom of expression and association. Sierra Leone: Urged US to continue its financial support of the Special Court for Sierra Leone and to quickly disburse FY 2008 funds granted to the court. Sri Lanka: Called on US to push for an international human rights monitoring mission in Sri Lanka to investigate abuses by all sides to the conflict; urged US to address with Sri Lanka issues of child recruitment by armed groups with Sri Lankan military complicity and by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam; urged US to condition aid to Sri Lanka on improvement in human rights standards. Sudan: Urged US to press for action in Darfur by asking the UN Security Council to call on the Sudanese government to end human rights abuses and hold violators accountable; urged US to work toward the effective deployment of international peacekeepers into the Darfur region. Thailand: Urged US to condemn rights abuses by all sides in the conflict in southern Thailand; urged US to press for full respect of human rights and accountability from Thailand in bilateral drug suppression efforts; urged US to oppose Thailand using extrajudicial killings in the war on drugs; urged US to press Thailand not to return Lao Hmong refugees to Laos and to find durable solutions for Burmese refugees in Thailand; sought US support to press for the resumption of UNHCR status determination process in Thailand; urged US to protest Thai government restrictions on civil liberties and to protect Thai rights defenders; urged US to encourage Thailand to support international humanitarian efforts in Burma in aftermath of Cyclone Nagris. Uganda: Urged US to push for human rights improvements in northern Uganda and to press for an end to torture in Uganda; urged US to push for accountability for the Lords Resistance Armys atrocities and to support UN Security Council statement in light of renewed abuses. Uzbekistan: Urged US to impose targeted sanctions against selected Uzbek government officials responsible for the May 2005 massacre at Andijan and the ensuing crackdown on civil society, and overall to condition its relationship with the Uzbek government on its fulfillment of specific human rights benchmarks. Urged US to help ensure protection from forced return and secure urgent resettlement of Uzbek refugees in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia, and other countries where their safety was at risk. Vietnam: Advocated for continuation of Vietnams status as a Country of Particular Concern for its restrictions on religious freedom; called on US to press Vietnam to account for whereabouts of labor activist Le Tri Tue; urged US to continue monitoring rights abuses by Vietnam against ethnic minority populations; called for US to press Vietnam to annul national security legislation that criminalizes peaceful assembly, expression, association, and certain religions.
Treaties and Legislation "Global Online Freedom Act (H.R. 4780) "Child Soldiers Prevention Act (S. 1175 and H.R. 3028) Treaties and Legislation cont. Child Soldiers Accountability Act (S. 2135) International Violence Against Women Act (S. 2279) Sexual Violence in Sudan, Chad, CAR resolution (H.Res. 726) Burma Sanctions bills (S. 2257; H.R. 3890) Colombia Free Trade Agreement ratification Policies/Issues Afghanistan: Advocated for greater support for security in Afghanistan, particularly for women; advocated for US to support vetting of Afghan officials potentially involved in war crimes; advocated for allowing access by the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission to detainees in US custody. Azerbaijan: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the deteriorating human rights situation in Azerbaijan, especially in the area of media freedoms; urged US to use its leverage with the Azerbaijani government to secure the release of wrongfully imprisoned journalists. Bangladesh: Urged US to raise with Bangladesh concerns about the abuse of emergency laws leading to widespread arbitrary detentions and torture in custody. Burma: Called for increased US pressure for democratic change in Burma and extended sanctions in Burma; advocated for US pressure on other countries to support the inclusion of Burma on the agenda of the UN Security Council. Cambodia: Urged US to press the Cambodian government to fulfill its promise to release land activists wrongfully imprisoned in 2007. China: Advocated for US to press China to fulfill human rights commitments related to the Olympics; urged US to raise concerns about ongoing pre-Olympics crackdown against dissidents and human rights defenders as well as lack of rule of law and citizens inability to seek legal redress for injustice. Colombia: Urged effective enforcement of human rights conditions on US military and demobilization aid to Colombia; urged delay of free trade agreement until more progress is made against paramilitary violence. Ethiopia: Urged US to call for the release of political detainees and deny assistance to abusive military units. Georgia: Urged US to press the Georgian government to undertake a thorough investigation into the police crackdown on demonstrators on November 7, 2007, and to undertake reforms in the penitentiary system and the criminal justice system. Global: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the Voluntary Principles for Security and Human Rights in the extractive industries; advocated for a cut-off of certain categories of US military aid to countries that recruit and use child soldiers in violation of international law or support non-state armed groups that recruit children. India: Urged US to push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in India-administered Kashmir. Indonesia: Supported the continued prohibition by the US on International Military Education and Training (IMET) and Foreign Military Financing (FMF) to Indonesia given continued abuses by the Indonesian military; urged US to raise the issue of abuses against child domestic workers with Indonesia and to press for amending the labor law to grant core labor rights to workers in the informal sector, including domestic workers; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about human rights abuses by the Indonesian military that are exacerbated by the lack of oversight over legal and illicit business practices. Iraq: Urged US to investigate allegations of torture and ill-treatment of detainees by Iraqi security forces; urged US to ensure that assistance to Iraq will not contribute to human rights violations; urged US military to prevent and prohibit mistreatment of Iraqis in US custody; urged US to accept a higher number of Iraqi refugees and to support other countries in the region who have Iraqi refugees. Israel/Palestinian Authority: Urged US to ensure that political agreements between the two parties be consistent with human rights norms; urged US to inform Israel that continued US military assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations and to inform the Palestinian Authority that any US security assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations by its security forces and by Palestinian armed groups. Jordan: Urged US to press Jordan to ensure that its counterterrorism measures comply with international human rights guarantees; urged US to support Iraqi refugees in Jordan; urged US to condition aid to Jordan on improvement in human rights standards. Kazakhstan: Urged US to condition Kazakhstans bid to chair the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to Kazakhstans progress in addressing human rights concerns such as media freedom and freedom of assembly. Libya: Urged US to push for improvements in human rights practices in Libya. Malaysia: Urged US to raise concerns about human rights abuses in the application of the Internal Security Act. Morocco: Urged US to press the Moroccan government to increase monitoring of human rights in Western Sahara. Nepal: Urged US to encourage Nepal to end disappearances and torture; urged US to prioritize human rights, particularly the impunity of the Nepal Army. North Korea: Urged US to incorporate human rights concerns into security discussions. Pakistan: Urged US to condition military aid on democratic reform; urged US to advocate for womens rights issues in Pakistan; urged US to support free expression for journalists and human rights activists in Pakistan; urged US to push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in Pakistan administered Kashmir. Philippines: Urged US to condition military aid on progress in the prosecution of members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines who are implicated in human rights violations. Russia: Urged US to press Russia to amend their NGO law to conform to international standards. Saudi Arabia: Urged US to protest Saudi restrictions on the freedom of religion and the freedom of expression and association. Sri Lanka: Called on US to push for an international human rights monitoring mission in Sri Lanka to investigate abuses by all sides to the conflict; urged US to address with Sri Lanka issues of child recruitment by armed groups with Sri Lankan military complicity and by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam; urged US to condition aid to Sri Lanka on improvement in human rights standards. Sudan: Urged US to press for action in Darfur by asking the UN Security Council to call on the Sudanese government to end human rights abuses and hold violators accountable. Thailand: Urged US to protest Thai government restrictions on civil liberties and to protect Thai human rights defenders; sought US to press Thailand not to return Lao Hmong refugees to Laos and to find durable solutions for Burmese refugees in Thailand; sought US support to press for the resumption of UNHCR status determination process in Thailand; urged US to condemn rights abuses by all sides in the conflict in southern Thailand; urged US to demand full respect of human rights and accountability from Thai counterparts in bilateral drug suppression efforts. Uganda: Urged US to push for human rights improvements in northern Uganda and to press for an end to torture in Uganda. Uzbekistan: Urged US to impose targeted sanctions against selected Uzbek government officials responsible for the May 2005 massacre at Andijan and the ensuing crackdown on civil society, and overall to condition its relationship with the Uzbek government on its fulfillment of specific human rights benchmarks. Urged US to help ensure protection from forced return and secure urgent resettlement of Uzbek refugees in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia, and other countries where their safety was at risk. Vietnam: Advocated for continuation of Vietnams status as a Country of Particular Concern for its restrictions on religious freedom.
Treaties/Legislation "Global Online Freedom Act (H.R. 4780) "Child Soldiers Prevention Act (S. 1175 and H.R. 3028) Treaties/Legislation cont. Child Soldiers Accountability Act (S. 2135) International Violence Against Women Act (S. 2279) Sexual Violence in Sudan, Chad, CAR resolution (H.R. 726) Burma Sanctions bills (S. 2257 and H.R. 3890) William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (S. 3061 and H.R. 3887) Policies/Issues Algeria: Urged US to reveal whereabouts of two Algerians transferred from Guantanamo to Algeria. Azerbaijan: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the deteriorating human rights situation in Azerbaijan, especially in the area of media freedom; urged US to use its leverage with the Azerbaijani government to secure the release of wrongfully imprisoned journalists. Bangladesh: Urged US to raise with Bangladesh: full restoration of human rights; need for in 2008; prosecution of human rights violators in security forces; need for independent monitors at detention facilities. Urged US to limit assistance to abusive police and military forces to human rights education. Bhutan: Urged US to work with Nepal to ensure full protection of Bhutanese refugees who wish to be resettled in US. Bosnia: Urged US to continue commitment to justice in the Balkans by supporting local war crimes trials in Bosnias cantonal and district courts. Burma: Called for increased US pressure for democratic change in Burma and extended targeted sanctions in Burma; advocated for US pressure on other countries to support the inclusion of Burma on the agenda of the UN Security Council; urged US to support international humanitarian efforts in Burmathrough bilateral channels and Asean channelsfollowing Cyclone Nagris. Cambodia: Urged US to consider concerns about judicial independence before funding Khmer Rouge tribunal. China: Urged US to press China to fulfill human rights commitments related to the Olympics; urged US to raise concerns about ongoing pre-Olympics crackdown against dissidents and human rights defenders as well as lack of rule of law and citizens inability to seek legal redress for injustice; urged US to press China about widespread abuses of migrant construction workers in Beijing; urged US to press China to abolish its discriminatory urban household registration permit system, affecting migrant workers and their families. Colombia: Urged effective enforcement of human rights conditions on US military and demobilization aid to Colombia; urged delay of free trade agreement until more progress is made against paramilitary violence. Democratic Republic of the Congo: Urged US to support appointment of international special advisor on human rights for eastern DRC to underpin the Goma peace process. Ethiopia: Urged US to press Ethiopia to investigate and hold accountable individuals responsible for human rights abuses in Ethiopia (including Ogaden) and Somalia. Georgia: Urged US to press Georgia to undertake a thorough investigation into the police crackdown on demonstrators on November 7, 2007, and to undertake reforms in the penitentiary system and the criminal justice system. Global: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the Voluntary Principles for Security and Human Rights in the extractive industries; advocated for a cut-off of certain categories of US military aid to countries that recruit and use child soldiers in violation of international law or support non-state armed groups that recruit children. Urged US to enact the Protection Against Transmission of HIV for Women and Youth Act of 2007 to remove abstinence-until-marriage earmark for PEPFAR programs and ensure that HIV prevention programs are based on scientific evidence, good public health practice, and human rights principles; urged US to produce a report on womens inheritance rights and impact of PEPFAR. India: Urged US to push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in India-administered Kashmir, in Punjab in the 1980s, and in Gujarat after the 2002 riots; urged US to continue to refuse an official invitation to Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi his role in 2002 communal violence; urged US to encourage India to adopt equal opportunity policies to protect the rights of Dalits and Tribals; urged US to call for the protection of rights of those likely to be displaced in West Bengal state due to government land acquisition for industry. Indonesia: Supported the continued prohibition by US on International Military Education and Training (IMET) and Foreign Military Financing (FMF) to Indonesia given ongoing Indonesian military abuses; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about abuses against child domestic workers and to press for amending labor law to grant core labor rights to workers in the informal sector, including domestic workers; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about human rights abuses by the Indonesian military exacerbated by the lack of oversight over legal and illicit business practices. Iraq: Urged US to investigate allegations of torture and ill-treatment of detainees by Iraqi security forces; urged US to ensure that assistance to Iraq will not contribute to human rights violations; urged US military to prevent and prohibit mistreatment of Iraqis in US custody; urged US to accept a higher number of Iraqi refugees and to support other countries in the region who have Iraqi refugees; urged US forces in Iraq to ensure that children taken into custody are treated as children, given prompt judicial review and access to independent monitors. Israel/Palestinian Authority: Urged US to ensure that political agreements between the two parties be consistent with human rights norms; urged US to inform Israel that continued US military assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations and to inform the Palestinian Authority that any US security assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations by its security forces and by Palestinian armed groups; urged US to call on Israel to end its ban preventing Palestinian students from leaving the Gaza Strip to study abroad, to reinstate Fulbright grants offered to Gaza students, to press Israel to reverse its strict closure policy towards the Gaza Strip, which is harming Gazas civilian population. Jordan: Urged US to condition funding for Jordan on the improvement of human rights standards relating to free assembly and association, torture in prisons, and misuse of administrative detention. Kazakhstan: Urged US to condition Kazakhstans bid to chair the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to Kazakhstans progress in addressing human rights concerns such as media freedom and freedom of assembly. Kenya: Urged US to oppose any attempt to grant amnesty to those responsible for violence after Kenyas elections in early 2008. Libya: Urged US to push for improvements in human rights practices in Libya. Malaysia: Urged US to press Malaysia to rescind the Internal Security Act and dismantle abusive volunteer corps. Morocco: Urged US to press Morocco to increase monitoring of human rights in Western Sahara. Nepal: Urged US to encourage Nepal to end disappearances and torture; urged US to prioritize human rights, particularly the impunity of the Nepal Army; urged US to press Nepal for accountability by all parties to the conflict after the Constituent Assembly elections and support human rights training of security forces; urged US to support better conditions for vulnerable groups such as Dalits, Madhesis, women and children. North Korea: Urged US to incorporate human rights concerns into security discussions. Pakistan: Urged US to: press for full restoration of judiciary; condition military aid on democratic reform; advocate for womens rights in Pakistan; support free expression for journalists and human rights activists in Pakistan; and push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Philippines: Urged US to condition military aid on progress in the prosecution of members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines who are implicated in human rights violations. Russia: Urged US to press Russia to amend their NGO law to conform to international standards. Saudi Arabia: Urged US to protest Saudi restrictions on the freedom of religion and the freedom of expression and association. Sierra Leone: Urged US to continue its financial support of the Special Court for Sierra Leone and to quickly disburse FY 2008 funds granted to the court. Sri Lanka: Called on US to push for an international human rights monitoring mission in Sri Lanka to investigate abuses by all sides to the conflict; urged US to address with Sri Lanka issues of child recruitment by armed groups with Sri Lankan military complicity and by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam; urged US to condition aid to Sri Lanka on improvement in human rights standards. Sudan: Urged US to press for action in Darfur by asking the UN Security Council to call on the Sudanese government to end human rights abuses and hold violators accountable; urged US to work toward the effective deployment of international peacekeepers into the Darfur region. Thailand: Urged US to condemn rights abuses by all sides in the conflict in southern Thailand; urged US to press for full respect of human rights and accountability from Thailand in bilateral drug suppression efforts; urged US to oppose Thailand using extrajudicial killings in the war on drugs; urged US to press Thailand not to return Lao Hmong refugees to Laos and to find durable solutions for Burmese refugees in Thailand; sought US support to press for the resumption of UNHCR status determination process in Thailand; urged US to protest Thai government restrictions on civil liberties and to protect Thai rights defenders; urged US to encourage Thailand to support international humanitarian efforts in Burma in aftermath of Cyclone Nagris. Uganda: Urged US to push for human rights improvements in northern Uganda and to press for an end to torture in Uganda; urged US to push for accountability for the Lords Resistance Armys atrocities and to support UN Security Council statement in light of renewed abuses. Uzbekistan: Urged US to impose targeted sanctions against selected Uzbek government officials responsible for the May 2005 massacre at Andijan and the ensuing crackdown on civil society, and overall to condition its relationship with the Uzbek government on its fulfillment of specific human rights benchmarks. Urged US to help ensure protection from forced return and secure urgent resettlement of Uzbek refugees in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia, and other countries where their safety was at risk. Vietnam: Advocated for continuation of Vietnams status as a Country of Particular Concern for its restrictions on religious freedom; called on US to press Vietnam to account for whereabouts of labor activist Le Tri Tue; urged US to continue monitoring rights abuses by Vietnam against ethnic minority populations; called for US to press Vietnam to annul national security legislation that criminalizes peaceful assembly, expression, association, and certain religions.
International Violence Against Women Act of 2007
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Treaties/Legislation "Global Online Freedom Act (H.R. 4780) "Child Soldiers Prevention Act (S. 1175 and H.R. 3028) Treaties/Legislation cont. Child Soldiers Accountability Act (S. 2135) International Violence Against Women Act (S. 2279) Sexual Violence in Sudan, Chad, CAR resolution (H.R. 726) Burma Sanctions bills (S. 2257 and H.R. 3890) William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (S. 3061 and H.R. 3887) Policies/Issues Algeria: Urged US to reveal whereabouts of two Algerians transferred from Guantanamo to Algeria. Azerbaijan: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the deteriorating human rights situation in Azerbaijan, especially in the area of media freedom; urged US to use its leverage with the Azerbaijani government to secure the release of wrongfully imprisoned journalists. Bangladesh: Urged US to raise with Bangladesh: full restoration of human rights; need for in 2008; prosecution of human rights violators in security forces; need for independent monitors at detention facilities. Urged US to limit assistance to abusive police and military forces to human rights education. Bhutan: Urged US to work with Nepal to ensure full protection of Bhutanese refugees who wish to be resettled in US. Bosnia: Urged US to continue commitment to justice in the Balkans by supporting local war crimes trials in Bosnias cantonal and district courts. Burma: Called for increased US pressure for democratic change in Burma and extended targeted sanctions in Burma; advocated for US pressure on other countries to support the inclusion of Burma on the agenda of the UN Security Council; urged US to support international humanitarian efforts in Burmathrough bilateral channels and Asean channelsfollowing Cyclone Nagris. Cambodia: Urged US to consider concerns about judicial independence before funding Khmer Rouge tribunal. China: Urged US to press China to fulfill human rights commitments related to the Olympics; urged US to raise concerns about ongoing pre-Olympics crackdown against dissidents and human rights defenders as well as lack of rule of law and citizens inability to seek legal redress for injustice; urged US to press China about widespread abuses of migrant construction workers in Beijing; urged US to press China to abolish its discriminatory urban household registration permit system, affecting migrant workers and their families. Colombia: Urged effective enforcement of human rights conditions on US military and demobilization aid to Colombia; urged delay of free trade agreement until more progress is made against paramilitary violence. Democratic Republic of the Congo: Urged US to support appointment of international special advisor on human rights for eastern DRC to underpin the Goma peace process. Ethiopia: Urged US to press Ethiopia to investigate and hold accountable individuals responsible for human rights abuses in Ethiopia (including Ogaden) and Somalia. Georgia: Urged US to press Georgia to undertake a thorough investigation into the police crackdown on demonstrators on November 7, 2007, and to undertake reforms in the penitentiary system and the criminal justice system. Global: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the Voluntary Principles for Security and Human Rights in the extractive industries; advocated for a cut-off of certain categories of US military aid to countries that recruit and use child soldiers in violation of international law or support non-state armed groups that recruit children. Urged US to enact the Protection Against Transmission of HIV for Women and Youth Act of 2007 to remove abstinence-until-marriage earmark for PEPFAR programs and ensure that HIV prevention programs are based on scientific evidence, good public health practice, and human rights principles; urged US to produce a report on womens inheritance rights and impact of PEPFAR. India: Urged US to push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in India-administered Kashmir, in Punjab in the 1980s, and in Gujarat after the 2002 riots; urged US to continue to refuse an official invitation to Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi his role in 2002 communal violence; urged US to encourage India to adopt equal opportunity policies to protect the rights of Dalits and Tribals; urged US to call for the protection of rights of those likely to be displaced in West Bengal state due to government land acquisition for industry. Indonesia: Supported the continued prohibition by US on International Military Education and Training (IMET) and Foreign Military Financing (FMF) to Indonesia given ongoing Indonesian military abuses; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about abuses against child domestic workers and to press for amending labor law to grant core labor rights to workers in the informal sector, including domestic workers; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about human rights abuses by the Indonesian military exacerbated by the lack of oversight over legal and illicit business practices. Iraq: Urged US to investigate allegations of torture and ill-treatment of detainees by Iraqi security forces; urged US to ensure that assistance to Iraq will not contribute to human rights violations; urged US military to prevent and prohibit mistreatment of Iraqis in US custody; urged US to accept a higher number of Iraqi refugees and to support other countries in the region who have Iraqi refugees; urged US forces in Iraq to ensure that children taken into custody are treated as children, given prompt judicial review and access to independent monitors. Israel/Palestinian Authority: Urged US to ensure that political agreements between the two parties be consistent with human rights norms; urged US to inform Israel that continued US military assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations and to inform the Palestinian Authority that any US security assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations by its security forces and by Palestinian armed groups; urged US to call on Israel to end its ban preventing Palestinian students from leaving the Gaza Strip to study abroad, to reinstate Fulbright grants offered to Gaza students, to press Israel to reverse its strict closure policy towards the Gaza Strip, which is harming Gazas civilian population. Jordan: Urged US to condition funding for Jordan on the improvement of human rights standards relating to free assembly and association, torture in prisons, and misuse of administrative detention. Kazakhstan: Urged US to condition Kazakhstans bid to chair the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to Kazakhstans progress in addressing human rights concerns such as media freedom and freedom of assembly. Kenya: Urged US to oppose any attempt to grant amnesty to those responsible for violence after Kenyas elections in early 2008. Libya: Urged US to push for improvements in human rights practices in Libya. Malaysia: Urged US to press Malaysia to rescind the Internal Security Act and dismantle abusive volunteer corps. Morocco: Urged US to press Morocco to increase monitoring of human rights in Western Sahara. Nepal: Urged US to encourage Nepal to end disappearances and torture; urged US to prioritize human rights, particularly the impunity of the Nepal Army; urged US to press Nepal for accountability by all parties to the conflict after the Constituent Assembly elections and support human rights training of security forces; urged US to support better conditions for vulnerable groups such as Dalits, Madhesis, women and children. North Korea: Urged US to incorporate human rights concerns into security discussions. Pakistan: Urged US to: press for full restoration of judiciary; condition military aid on democratic reform; advocate for womens rights in Pakistan; support free expression for journalists and human rights activists in Pakistan; and push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Philippines: Urged US to condition military aid on progress in the prosecution of members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines who are implicated in human rights violations. Russia: Urged US to press Russia to amend their NGO law to conform to international standards. Saudi Arabia: Urged US to protest Saudi restrictions on the freedom of religion and the freedom of expression and association. Sierra Leone: Urged US to continue its financial support of the Special Court for Sierra Leone and to quickly disburse FY 2008 funds granted to the court. Sri Lanka: Called on US to push for an international human rights monitoring mission in Sri Lanka to investigate abuses by all sides to the conflict; urged US to address with Sri Lanka issues of child recruitment by armed groups with Sri Lankan military complicity and by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam; urged US to condition aid to Sri Lanka on improvement in human rights standards. Sudan: Urged US to press for action in Darfur by asking the UN Security Council to call on the Sudanese government to end human rights abuses and hold violators accountable; urged US to work toward the effective deployment of international peacekeepers into the Darfur region. Thailand: Urged US to condemn rights abuses by all sides in the conflict in southern Thailand; urged US to press for full respect of human rights and accountability from Thailand in bilateral drug suppression efforts; urged US to oppose Thailand using extrajudicial killings in the war on drugs; urged US to press Thailand not to return Lao Hmong refugees to Laos and to find durable solutions for Burmese refugees in Thailand; sought US support to press for the resumption of UNHCR status determination process in Thailand; urged US to protest Thai government restrictions on civil liberties and to protect Thai rights defenders; urged US to encourage Thailand to support international humanitarian efforts in Burma in aftermath of Cyclone Nagris. Uganda: Urged US to push for human rights improvements in northern Uganda and to press for an end to torture in Uganda; urged US to push for accountability for the Lords Resistance Armys atrocities and to support UN Security Council statement in light of renewed abuses. Uzbekistan: Urged US to impose targeted sanctions against selected Uzbek government officials responsible for the May 2005 massacre at Andijan and the ensuing crackdown on civil society, and overall to condition its relationship with the Uzbek government on its fulfillment of specific human rights benchmarks. Urged US to help ensure protection from forced return and secure urgent resettlement of Uzbek refugees in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia, and other countries where their safety was at risk. Vietnam: Advocated for continuation of Vietnams status as a Country of Particular Concern for its restrictions on religious freedom; called on US to press Vietnam to account for whereabouts of labor activist Le Tri Tue; urged US to continue monitoring rights abuses by Vietnam against ethnic minority populations; called for US to press Vietnam to annul national security legislation that criminalizes peaceful assembly, expression, association, and certain religions.
International Violence Against Women Act of 2007
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Treaties/Legislation "Global Online Freedom Act (H.R. 4780) "Child Soldiers Prevention Act (S. 1175 and H.R. 3028) Treaties/Legislation cont. Child Soldiers Accountability Act (S. 2135) International Violence Against Women Act (S. 2279) Sexual Violence in Sudan, Chad, CAR resolution (H.R. 726) Burma Sanctions bills (S. 2257 and H.R. 3890) William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (S. 3061 and H.R. 3887) Policies/Issues Algeria: Urged US to reveal whereabouts of two Algerians transferred from Guantanamo to Algeria. Azerbaijan: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the deteriorating human rights situation in Azerbaijan, especially in the area of media freedom; urged US to use its leverage with the Azerbaijani government to secure the release of wrongfully imprisoned journalists. Bangladesh: Urged US to raise with Bangladesh: full restoration of human rights; need for in 2008; prosecution of human rights violators in security forces; need for independent monitors at detention facilities. Urged US to limit assistance to abusive police and military forces to human rights education. Bhutan: Urged US to work with Nepal to ensure full protection of Bhutanese refugees who wish to be resettled in US. Bosnia: Urged US to continue commitment to justice in the Balkans by supporting local war crimes trials in Bosnias cantonal and district courts. Burma: Called for increased US pressure for democratic change in Burma and extended targeted sanctions in Burma; advocated for US pressure on other countries to support the inclusion of Burma on the agenda of the UN Security Council; urged US to support international humanitarian efforts in Burmathrough bilateral channels and Asean channelsfollowing Cyclone Nagris. Cambodia: Urged US to consider concerns about judicial independence before funding Khmer Rouge tribunal. China: Urged US to press China to fulfill human rights commitments related to the Olympics; urged US to raise concerns about ongoing pre-Olympics crackdown against dissidents and human rights defenders as well as lack of rule of law and citizens inability to seek legal redress for injustice; urged US to press China about widespread abuses of migrant construction workers in Beijing; urged US to press China to abolish its discriminatory urban household registration permit system, affecting migrant workers and their families. Colombia: Urged effective enforcement of human rights conditions on US military and demobilization aid to Colombia; urged delay of free trade agreement until more progress is made against paramilitary violence. Democratic Republic of the Congo: Urged US to support appointment of international special advisor on human rights for eastern DRC to underpin the Goma peace process. Ethiopia: Urged US to press Ethiopia to investigate and hold accountable individuals responsible for human rights abuses in Ethiopia (including Ogaden) and Somalia. Georgia: Urged US to press Georgia to undertake a thorough investigation into the police crackdown on demonstrators on November 7, 2007, and to undertake reforms in the penitentiary system and the criminal justice system. Global: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the Voluntary Principles for Security and Human Rights in the extractive industries; advocated for a cut-off of certain categories of US military aid to countries that recruit and use child soldiers in violation of international law or support non-state armed groups that recruit children. Urged US to enact the Protection Against Transmission of HIV for Women and Youth Act of 2007 to remove abstinence-until-marriage earmark for PEPFAR programs and ensure that HIV prevention programs are based on scientific evidence, good public health practice, and human rights principles; urged US to produce a report on womens inheritance rights and impact of PEPFAR. India: Urged US to push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in India-administered Kashmir, in Punjab in the 1980s, and in Gujarat after the 2002 riots; urged US to continue to refuse an official invitation to Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi his role in 2002 communal violence; urged US to encourage India to adopt equal opportunity policies to protect the rights of Dalits and Tribals; urged US to call for the protection of rights of those likely to be displaced in West Bengal state due to government land acquisition for industry. Indonesia: Supported the continued prohibition by US on International Military Education and Training (IMET) and Foreign Military Financing (FMF) to Indonesia given ongoing Indonesian military abuses; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about abuses against child domestic workers and to press for amending labor law to grant core labor rights to workers in the informal sector, including domestic workers; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about human rights abuses by the Indonesian military exacerbated by the lack of oversight over legal and illicit business practices. Iraq: Urged US to investigate allegations of torture and ill-treatment of detainees by Iraqi security forces; urged US to ensure that assistance to Iraq will not contribute to human rights violations; urged US military to prevent and prohibit mistreatment of Iraqis in US custody; urged US to accept a higher number of Iraqi refugees and to support other countries in the region who have Iraqi refugees; urged US forces in Iraq to ensure that children taken into custody are treated as children, given prompt judicial review and access to independent monitors. Israel/Palestinian Authority: Urged US to ensure that political agreements between the two parties be consistent with human rights norms; urged US to inform Israel that continued US military assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations and to inform the Palestinian Authority that any US security assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations by its security forces and by Palestinian armed groups; urged US to call on Israel to end its ban preventing Palestinian students from leaving the Gaza Strip to study abroad, to reinstate Fulbright grants offered to Gaza students, to press Israel to reverse its strict closure policy towards the Gaza Strip, which is harming Gazas civilian population. Jordan: Urged US to condition funding for Jordan on the improvement of human rights standards relating to free assembly and association, torture in prisons, and misuse of administrative detention. Kazakhstan: Urged US to condition Kazakhstans bid to chair the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to Kazakhstans progress in addressing human rights concerns such as media freedom and freedom of assembly. Kenya: Urged US to oppose any attempt to grant amnesty to those responsible for violence after Kenyas elections in early 2008. Libya: Urged US to push for improvements in human rights practices in Libya. Malaysia: Urged US to press Malaysia to rescind the Internal Security Act and dismantle abusive volunteer corps. Morocco: Urged US to press Morocco to increase monitoring of human rights in Western Sahara. Nepal: Urged US to encourage Nepal to end disappearances and torture; urged US to prioritize human rights, particularly the impunity of the Nepal Army; urged US to press Nepal for accountability by all parties to the conflict after the Constituent Assembly elections and support human rights training of security forces; urged US to support better conditions for vulnerable groups such as Dalits, Madhesis, women and children. North Korea: Urged US to incorporate human rights concerns into security discussions. Pakistan: Urged US to: press for full restoration of judiciary; condition military aid on democratic reform; advocate for womens rights in Pakistan; support free expression for journalists and human rights activists in Pakistan; and push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Philippines: Urged US to condition military aid on progress in the prosecution of members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines who are implicated in human rights violations. Russia: Urged US to press Russia to amend their NGO law to conform to international standards. Saudi Arabia: Urged US to protest Saudi restrictions on the freedom of religion and the freedom of expression and association. Sierra Leone: Urged US to continue its financial support of the Special Court for Sierra Leone and to quickly disburse FY 2008 funds granted to the court. Sri Lanka: Called on US to push for an international human rights monitoring mission in Sri Lanka to investigate abuses by all sides to the conflict; urged US to address with Sri Lanka issues of child recruitment by armed groups with Sri Lankan military complicity and by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam; urged US to condition aid to Sri Lanka on improvement in human rights standards. Sudan: Urged US to press for action in Darfur by asking the UN Security Council to call on the Sudanese government to end human rights abuses and hold violators accountable; urged US to work toward the effective deployment of international peacekeepers into the Darfur region. Thailand: Urged US to condemn rights abuses by all sides in the conflict in southern Thailand; urged US to press for full respect of human rights and accountability from Thailand in bilateral drug suppression efforts; urged US to oppose Thailand using extrajudicial killings in the war on drugs; urged US to press Thailand not to return Lao Hmong refugees to Laos and to find durable solutions for Burmese refugees in Thailand; sought US support to press for the resumption of UNHCR status determination process in Thailand; urged US to protest Thai government restrictions on civil liberties and to protect Thai rights defenders; urged US to encourage Thailand to support international humanitarian efforts in Burma in aftermath of Cyclone Nagris. Uganda: Urged US to push for human rights improvements in northern Uganda and to press for an end to torture in Uganda; urged US to push for accountability for the Lords Resistance Armys atrocities and to support UN Security Council statement in light of renewed abuses. Uzbekistan: Urged US to impose targeted sanctions against selected Uzbek government officials responsible for the May 2005 massacre at Andijan and the ensuing crackdown on civil society, and overall to condition its relationship with the Uzbek government on its fulfillment of specific human rights benchmarks. Urged US to help ensure protection from forced return and secure urgent resettlement of Uzbek refugees in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia, and other countries where their safety was at risk. Vietnam: Advocated for continuation of Vietnams status as a Country of Particular Concern for its restrictions on religious freedom; called on US to press Vietnam to account for whereabouts of labor activist Le Tri Tue; urged US to continue monitoring rights abuses by Vietnam against ethnic minority populations; called for US to press Vietnam to annul national security legislation that criminalizes peaceful assembly, expression, association, and certain religions.
International Violence Against Women Act of 2007
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Treaties and Legislation "Global Online Freedom Act (H.R. 4780) "Child Soldiers Prevention Act (S. 1175 and H.R. 3028) Treaties and Legislation cont. Child Soldiers Accountability Act (S. 2135) International Violence Against Women Act (S. 2279) Sexual Violence in Sudan, Chad, CAR resolution (H.Res. 726) Burma Sanctions bills (S. 2257; H.R. 3890) Colombia Free Trade Agreement ratification Policies/Issues Afghanistan: Advocated for greater support for security in Afghanistan, particularly for women; advocated for US to support vetting of Afghan officials potentially involved in war crimes; advocated for allowing access by the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission to detainees in US custody. Azerbaijan: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the deteriorating human rights situation in Azerbaijan, especially in the area of media freedoms; urged US to use its leverage with the Azerbaijani government to secure the release of wrongfully imprisoned journalists. Bangladesh: Urged US to raise with Bangladesh concerns about the abuse of emergency laws leading to widespread arbitrary detentions and torture in custody. Burma: Called for increased US pressure for democratic change in Burma and extended sanctions in Burma; advocated for US pressure on other countries to support the inclusion of Burma on the agenda of the UN Security Council. Cambodia: Urged US to press the Cambodian government to fulfill its promise to release land activists wrongfully imprisoned in 2007. China: Advocated for US to press China to fulfill human rights commitments related to the Olympics; urged US to raise concerns about ongoing pre-Olympics crackdown against dissidents and human rights defenders as well as lack of rule of law and citizens inability to seek legal redress for injustice. Colombia: Urged effective enforcement of human rights conditions on US military and demobilization aid to Colombia; urged delay of free trade agreement until more progress is made against paramilitary violence. Ethiopia: Urged US to call for the release of political detainees and deny assistance to abusive military units. Georgia: Urged US to press the Georgian government to undertake a thorough investigation into the police crackdown on demonstrators on November 7, 2007, and to undertake reforms in the penitentiary system and the criminal justice system. Global: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the Voluntary Principles for Security and Human Rights in the extractive industries; advocated for a cut-off of certain categories of US military aid to countries that recruit and use child soldiers in violation of international law or support non-state armed groups that recruit children. India: Urged US to push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in India-administered Kashmir. Indonesia: Supported the continued prohibition by the US on International Military Education and Training (IMET) and Foreign Military Financing (FMF) to Indonesia given continued abuses by the Indonesian military; urged US to raise the issue of abuses against child domestic workers with Indonesia and to press for amending the labor law to grant core labor rights to workers in the informal sector, including domestic workers; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about human rights abuses by the Indonesian military that are exacerbated by the lack of oversight over legal and illicit business practices. Iraq: Urged US to investigate allegations of torture and ill-treatment of detainees by Iraqi security forces; urged US to ensure that assistance to Iraq will not contribute to human rights violations; urged US military to prevent and prohibit mistreatment of Iraqis in US custody; urged US to accept a higher number of Iraqi refugees and to support other countries in the region who have Iraqi refugees. Israel/Palestinian Authority: Urged US to ensure that political agreements between the two parties be consistent with human rights norms; urged US to inform Israel that continued US military assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations and to inform the Palestinian Authority that any US security assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations by its security forces and by Palestinian armed groups. Jordan: Urged US to press Jordan to ensure that its counterterrorism measures comply with international human rights guarantees; urged US to support Iraqi refugees in Jordan; urged US to condition aid to Jordan on improvement in human rights standards. Kazakhstan: Urged US to condition Kazakhstans bid to chair the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to Kazakhstans progress in addressing human rights concerns such as media freedom and freedom of assembly. Libya: Urged US to push for improvements in human rights practices in Libya. Malaysia: Urged US to raise concerns about human rights abuses in the application of the Internal Security Act. Morocco: Urged US to press the Moroccan government to increase monitoring of human rights in Western Sahara. Nepal: Urged US to encourage Nepal to end disappearances and torture; urged US to prioritize human rights, particularly the impunity of the Nepal Army. North Korea: Urged US to incorporate human rights concerns into security discussions. Pakistan: Urged US to condition military aid on democratic reform; urged US to advocate for womens rights issues in Pakistan; urged US to support free expression for journalists and human rights activists in Pakistan; urged US to push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in Pakistan administered Kashmir. Philippines: Urged US to condition military aid on progress in the prosecution of members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines who are implicated in human rights violations. Russia: Urged US to press Russia to amend their NGO law to conform to international standards. Saudi Arabia: Urged US to protest Saudi restrictions on the freedom of religion and the freedom of expression and association. Sri Lanka: Called on US to push for an international human rights monitoring mission in Sri Lanka to investigate abuses by all sides to the conflict; urged US to address with Sri Lanka issues of child recruitment by armed groups with Sri Lankan military complicity and by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam; urged US to condition aid to Sri Lanka on improvement in human rights standards. Sudan: Urged US to press for action in Darfur by asking the UN Security Council to call on the Sudanese government to end human rights abuses and hold violators accountable. Thailand: Urged US to protest Thai government restrictions on civil liberties and to protect Thai human rights defenders; sought US to press Thailand not to return Lao Hmong refugees to Laos and to find durable solutions for Burmese refugees in Thailand; sought US support to press for the resumption of UNHCR status determination process in Thailand; urged US to condemn rights abuses by all sides in the conflict in southern Thailand; urged US to demand full respect of human rights and accountability from Thai counterparts in bilateral drug suppression efforts. Uganda: Urged US to push for human rights improvements in northern Uganda and to press for an end to torture in Uganda. Uzbekistan: Urged US to impose targeted sanctions against selected Uzbek government officials responsible for the May 2005 massacre at Andijan and the ensuing crackdown on civil society, and overall to condition its relationship with the Uzbek government on its fulfillment of specific human rights benchmarks. Urged US to help ensure protection from forced return and secure urgent resettlement of Uzbek refugees in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia, and other countries where their safety was at risk. Vietnam: Advocated for continuation of Vietnams status as a Country of Particular Concern for its restrictions on religious freedom.
International Violence Against Women Act of 2007
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Treaties and Legislation "Global Online Freedom Act (H.R. 4780) "Child Soldier Prevention Act (S. 1175 and H.R. 3028) "Child Soldiers Accountability Act (S. 2135) International Violence Against Women Act (S. 2279) International Violence Against Women Act (S. 2279) Sexual Violence in Sudan, Chad, CAR resolution (H.R. 726) William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (S. 3061 and H.R. 3887) Vietnam Human Rights Act (S. 3678) Protection Against Transmission of HIV for Women and Youth Act (H.R. 1713) Policies/Issues Algeria: Urged US to reveal whereabouts of two Algerians transferred from Guantanamo to Algeria. Proposed that US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice press the Algerian government on the well-being and status of Guantanamo detainees returned to Algeria. Angola: Urged US to press Angola to improve its election procedures following the flawed parliamentary elections in September 2008. Azerbaijan: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the deteriorating human rights situation in Azerbaijan, especially media freedom; urged US to press Azerbaijan to secure the release of wrongfully imprisoned journalists. Bangladesh: Urged US to limit cooperation with the abusive Rapid Action Battalion to human rights training. Bhutan: Urged US to work with Nepal to ensure full protection of Bhutanese refugees who wish to be resettled in US. Bosnia: Urged US to continue commitment to justice in the Balkans by supporting local war crimes trials in Bosnias cantonal and district courts. Burma: Called for increased US pressure for democratic change in Burma and extended targeted sanctions in Burma; urged US to press other countries to support inclusion of Burma on UN Security Council agenda; urged US to support international humanitarian efforts in Burmathrough bilateral channels and Asean channelsfollowing Cyclone Nagris. Cambodia: Urged US to consider concerns about judicial independence before funding Khmer Rouge tribunal. Chad: Urged US to press Chad for an end to enforced disappearances and clarify the fate of opposition leaders arbitrarily detained in early 2008. China: Urged US to press China to fulfill human rights commitments related to Olympics; urged US to raise concerns about ongoing crackdown against dissidents and human rights defenders as well as lack of rule of law and citizens inability to seek legal redress for injustice; urged US to press China about widespread abuses of migrant construction workers in Beijing; urged US to press China to abolish its discriminatory urban household registration permit system, affecting migrant workers and their families; urged US to expand its human rights monitoring capabilities in China; urged US to press for diplomatic and press access to Tibetan areas; urged US to press China to permanently extend Olympics-related temporary regulations on foreign media freedom. Colombia: Urged effective enforcement of human rights conditions on US military and demobilization aid to Colombia; urged delay of free trade agreement until more progress is made against paramilitary violence. Urged US to prosecute extradited paramilitary leaders for human rights violations. Democratic Republic of the Congo: Urged US to support appointment of international special advisor on human rights for eastern DRC to underpin the Goma peace process. Ethiopia: Urged US to press Ethiopia to investigate and hold accountable individuals responsible for human rights and humanitarian law abuses in Ethiopia (including Ogaden) and Somalia; and urged a strong US response to a new draft Ethiopian law aimed at restricting the activities of civil society organizations. Georgia: Urged US to press Georgia to undertake a thorough investigation into the police crackdown on demonstrators on November 7, 2007, and to undertake reforms in the penitentiary system and the criminal justice system. Urged US to press Georgia and Russia to respect international humanitarian law; to ensure accountability for human rights and international humanitarian law violations during and in the aftermath of the August 2008 conflict over South Ossetia; to lend support to a robust international monitoring presence with a strong civilian protection mandate; and to work to promote the right to return for IDPs wishing to do so. Global: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the Voluntary Principles for Security and Human Rights in the extractive industries; advocated for a cut-off of certain categories of US military aid to countries that recruit and use child soldiers in violation of international law or support non-state armed groups that recruit children. Urged US to produce a report on womens inheritance rights and impact of PEPFAR. Urged US to support stronger language on the juvenile death penalty in UN General Assemblys annual child rights resolution. India: Urged US to push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in India-administered Kashmir, in Punjab in the 1980s, and in Gujarat after the 2002 riots; urged US to continue to refuse an official invitation to Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi his role in 2002 communal violence; urged US to encourage India to adopt equal opportunity policies to protect the rights of Dalits and Tribals; urged US to call for the protection of rights of those likely to be displaced in West Bengal state due to government land acquisition for industry. Indonesia: Supported the continued prohibition by US on International Military Education and Training (IMET) and Foreign Military Financing (FMF) to Indonesia given ongoing Indonesian military abuses; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about abuses against child domestic workers and to press for amending labor law to grant core labor rights to workers in the informal sector, including domestic workers; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about human rights abuses by the Indonesian military exacerbated by the lack of oversight over legal and illicit business practices. Iraq: Urged US to investigate allegations of torture and ill-treatment of detainees by Iraqi security forces; urged US to ensure that assistance to Iraq will not contribute to human rights violations; urged the US to admit substantially more refugees from Iraq and increase financial support to Syria, Jordan, and other countries that have borne the brunt of the refugee crisis. Urged the US to release detainees in Iraq that are unlikely to be charged, and transfer others against whom there is evidence for criminal proceedings to Iraqi courts with the safeguard that no one should be transferred if they are at risk of abuse; urged US forces in Iraq to ensure that children taken into custody are treated as children, given prompt judicial review and access to independent monitors. Israel/Palestinian Authority: Urged US to ensure that political agreements between the two parties be consistent with human rights norms; urged US to inform Israel that continued US military assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations and to inform the Palestinian Authority that any US security assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations by its security forces and by Palestinian armed groups; urged US to press Israel to reverse its strict closure policy towards the Gaza Strip, which is harming Gazas civilian population. Urged the US to avoid being financially complicit in the expansion of illegal new settlement construction and security measures by Israel in the West Bank. Jordan: Urged US to condition funding for Jordan on the improvement of human rights standards relating to free assembly and association, torture in prisons, and misuse of administrative detention. Kazakhstan: Urged US to press Kazakhstan to fulfill the reform pledges it made in exchange for the chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in 2010, and overall to use its relationship with Kazakhstan to advance progress in human rights in areas of key concern such as media freedom and freedom of assembly. Kenya: Urged US to oppose any attempt to grant amnesty to those responsible for violence after Kenyas elections in early 2008; and to suspend bilateral military training until there is a full, independent inquiry into human rights abuses in the Mount Elgon region of the country (in which a US-trained unit has been heavily implicated). Libya: Urged US to push for improvements in human rights practices in Libya. Urged US to condition further improvements in the US-Libya relationship on steps by Libyan authorities to end the incarceration of political prisoners, abolish laws that imprison peaceful critics, promote freedom of expression and assembly, and stop the use of torture. Malaysia: Urged US to press Malaysia to rescind the Internal Security Act and dismantle abusive volunteer corps, and investigate human trafficking along the countrys borders. Morocco: Urged US to press Morocco to increase monitoring of human rights in Western Sahara. Nepal: Urged US to encourage Nepal to end disappearances and torture; urged US to prioritize human rights, particularly the impunity of the Nepal Army; urged US to press Nepal for accountability by all parties to the conflict and support human rights training of security forces; urged US to support better conditions for vulnerable groups such as Dalits, Madhesis, women and children; urged US to press Nepal government not to violate rights of Tibetans in Nepal, including repealing threats to deport them. Nigeria: Urged US to press the Nigerian government to tackle government corruption and mismanagement and bring to account those responsible. North Korea: Urged US to incorporate human rights concerns into security discussions. Pakistan: Urged US to: press for full restoration of judiciary; condition military aid on democratic reform; advocate for womens rights in Pakistan; support free expression for journalists and human rights activists in Pakistan; and push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Philippines: Urged US to condition military aid on progress in the prosecution of members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines who are implicated in human rights violations, urged US to more carefully vet members of the AFP and Philippine National Police who participate in US-funded programs. Russia: Urged US to press Russia to amend its NGO law to conform to international standards. Urged US to press Russia to end violence by S. Ossetian militia; to press Russia and Georgia to respect international humanitarian law; to ensure accountability for human rights and international humanitarian law violations during and in the aftermath of the August 2008 conflict over South Ossetia; to lend support to a robust international monitoring presence with a strong civilian protection mandate; and to work to promote the right to return for IDPs wishing to do so. Rwanda: Urged US not to support the reappointment of war crimes suspect Karake Karenzi as deputy commander of the Rwandan contingent to UNAMID (Darfur); and to press for due process for all crimes committed in Rwanda during and following the 1994 genocide. Saudi Arabia: Urged US to protest Saudi restrictions on the freedom of religion and the freedom of expression and association. Urged US to press Saudi Arabia to improve judiciary, penal code, and respect for due process in criminal justice system. Sierra Leone: Urged US to continue its financial support of the Special Court for Sierra Leone and to quickly disburse FY 2008 funds granted to the court. Sri Lanka: Urged US to push for an international human rights monitoring mission in Sri Lanka to investigate abuses by all sides to the conflict; urged US to address with Sri Lanka issues of child recruitment by armed groups with Sri Lankan military complicity and by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam; urged US to condition aid to Sri Lanka on improvement in human rights standards. Somalia: urged US to focus concerns on needs of the civilian population; promote creation of a Commission of Inquiry into human rights abuses by all parties to the conflict. Sudan: Urged US to press for action in Darfur by asking the UN Security Council to call on the Sudanese government to end human rights abuses and hold violators accountable; urged US to work toward the effective deployment of international peacekeepers into the Darfur region; and urged US to veto any attempts to secure a Security Council deferral of ICC indictments against Sudanese President Bashir. Thailand: Urged US to condemn rights abuses by all sides in the conflict in southern Thailand; urged US to press for full respect of human rights and accountability from Thailand in bilateral drug suppression efforts; urged US to oppose Thailand using extrajudicial killings in the war on drugs; urged US to press Thailand not to return Lao Hmong refugees to Laos and to find durable solutions for Burmese refugees in Thailand; sought US support to press for the resumption of UNHCR status determination process in Thailand; urged US to protest Thai government restrictions on civil liberties and to protect Thai rights defenders. Tunisia: Urged US to press the Tunisia to end its harassment and imprisonment of human rights activists. Turkmenistan: Urged US to link deepening of relations with Turkmenistan to concrete improvements in human rights. Uganda: Urged US to push for human rights improvements in northern Uganda and to press for an end to torture and the continued government use of secret detention centers; urged US to push for accountability for the Lords Resistance Armys atrocities and to support UN Security Council statement on LRA abuses. Uzbekistan: Urged US to formulate and pursue a clear human rights policy vis-a-vis the Uzbek government, including by operationalizing the targeted sanctions sanctions in the form of a visa ban on Uzbek government officials responsible for the May 2005 massacre at Andijan and the ensuing crackdown on civil society, imposed in June 2008 following the Uzbek governments failure to meet the specific human rights benchmarks articulated in the foreign operations bill. Vietnam: Advocated for continuation of Vietnams status as a Country of Particular Concern for its restrictions on religious freedom; called on US to press Vietnam to account for whereabouts of labor activist Le Tri Tue; urged US to continue monitoring rights abuses by Vietnam against ethnic minority populations; called for US to press Vietnam to annul national security legislation that criminalizes peaceful assembly, expression, association, and certain religions. Zimbabwe: Urged US to maintain pressure on Zimbabwe by extending sanctions on officials responsible for human rights abuses and ensuring that perpetrators are held accountable following any power-sharing agreement in the country.
William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Treaties/Legislation "Global Online Freedom Act (H.R. 4780) "Child Soldiers Prevention Act (S. 1175 and H.R. 3028) Treaties/Legislation cont. Child Soldiers Accountability Act (S. 2135) International Violence Against Women Act (S. 2279) Sexual Violence in Sudan, Chad, CAR resolution (H.R. 726) Burma Sanctions bills (S. 2257 and H.R. 3890) William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (S. 3061 and H.R. 3887) Policies/Issues Algeria: Urged US to reveal whereabouts of two Algerians transferred from Guantanamo to Algeria. Azerbaijan: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the deteriorating human rights situation in Azerbaijan, especially in the area of media freedom; urged US to use its leverage with the Azerbaijani government to secure the release of wrongfully imprisoned journalists. Bangladesh: Urged US to raise with Bangladesh: full restoration of human rights; need for in 2008; prosecution of human rights violators in security forces; need for independent monitors at detention facilities. Urged US to limit assistance to abusive police and military forces to human rights education. Bhutan: Urged US to work with Nepal to ensure full protection of Bhutanese refugees who wish to be resettled in US. Bosnia: Urged US to continue commitment to justice in the Balkans by supporting local war crimes trials in Bosnias cantonal and district courts. Burma: Called for increased US pressure for democratic change in Burma and extended targeted sanctions in Burma; advocated for US pressure on other countries to support the inclusion of Burma on the agenda of the UN Security Council; urged US to support international humanitarian efforts in Burmathrough bilateral channels and Asean channelsfollowing Cyclone Nagris. Cambodia: Urged US to consider concerns about judicial independence before funding Khmer Rouge tribunal. China: Urged US to press China to fulfill human rights commitments related to the Olympics; urged US to raise concerns about ongoing pre-Olympics crackdown against dissidents and human rights defenders as well as lack of rule of law and citizens inability to seek legal redress for injustice; urged US to press China about widespread abuses of migrant construction workers in Beijing; urged US to press China to abolish its discriminatory urban household registration permit system, affecting migrant workers and their families. Colombia: Urged effective enforcement of human rights conditions on US military and demobilization aid to Colombia; urged delay of free trade agreement until more progress is made against paramilitary violence. Democratic Republic of the Congo: Urged US to support appointment of international special advisor on human rights for eastern DRC to underpin the Goma peace process. Ethiopia: Urged US to press Ethiopia to investigate and hold accountable individuals responsible for human rights abuses in Ethiopia (including Ogaden) and Somalia. Georgia: Urged US to press Georgia to undertake a thorough investigation into the police crackdown on demonstrators on November 7, 2007, and to undertake reforms in the penitentiary system and the criminal justice system. Global: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the Voluntary Principles for Security and Human Rights in the extractive industries; advocated for a cut-off of certain categories of US military aid to countries that recruit and use child soldiers in violation of international law or support non-state armed groups that recruit children. Urged US to enact the Protection Against Transmission of HIV for Women and Youth Act of 2007 to remove abstinence-until-marriage earmark for PEPFAR programs and ensure that HIV prevention programs are based on scientific evidence, good public health practice, and human rights principles; urged US to produce a report on womens inheritance rights and impact of PEPFAR. India: Urged US to push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in India-administered Kashmir, in Punjab in the 1980s, and in Gujarat after the 2002 riots; urged US to continue to refuse an official invitation to Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi his role in 2002 communal violence; urged US to encourage India to adopt equal opportunity policies to protect the rights of Dalits and Tribals; urged US to call for the protection of rights of those likely to be displaced in West Bengal state due to government land acquisition for industry. Indonesia: Supported the continued prohibition by US on International Military Education and Training (IMET) and Foreign Military Financing (FMF) to Indonesia given ongoing Indonesian military abuses; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about abuses against child domestic workers and to press for amending labor law to grant core labor rights to workers in the informal sector, including domestic workers; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about human rights abuses by the Indonesian military exacerbated by the lack of oversight over legal and illicit business practices. Iraq: Urged US to investigate allegations of torture and ill-treatment of detainees by Iraqi security forces; urged US to ensure that assistance to Iraq will not contribute to human rights violations; urged US military to prevent and prohibit mistreatment of Iraqis in US custody; urged US to accept a higher number of Iraqi refugees and to support other countries in the region who have Iraqi refugees; urged US forces in Iraq to ensure that children taken into custody are treated as children, given prompt judicial review and access to independent monitors. Israel/Palestinian Authority: Urged US to ensure that political agreements between the two parties be consistent with human rights norms; urged US to inform Israel that continued US military assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations and to inform the Palestinian Authority that any US security assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations by its security forces and by Palestinian armed groups; urged US to call on Israel to end its ban preventing Palestinian students from leaving the Gaza Strip to study abroad, to reinstate Fulbright grants offered to Gaza students, to press Israel to reverse its strict closure policy towards the Gaza Strip, which is harming Gazas civilian population. Jordan: Urged US to condition funding for Jordan on the improvement of human rights standards relating to free assembly and association, torture in prisons, and misuse of administrative detention. Kazakhstan: Urged US to condition Kazakhstans bid to chair the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to Kazakhstans progress in addressing human rights concerns such as media freedom and freedom of assembly. Kenya: Urged US to oppose any attempt to grant amnesty to those responsible for violence after Kenyas elections in early 2008. Libya: Urged US to push for improvements in human rights practices in Libya. Malaysia: Urged US to press Malaysia to rescind the Internal Security Act and dismantle abusive volunteer corps. Morocco: Urged US to press Morocco to increase monitoring of human rights in Western Sahara. Nepal: Urged US to encourage Nepal to end disappearances and torture; urged US to prioritize human rights, particularly the impunity of the Nepal Army; urged US to press Nepal for accountability by all parties to the conflict after the Constituent Assembly elections and support human rights training of security forces; urged US to support better conditions for vulnerable groups such as Dalits, Madhesis, women and children. North Korea: Urged US to incorporate human rights concerns into security discussions. Pakistan: Urged US to: press for full restoration of judiciary; condition military aid on democratic reform; advocate for womens rights in Pakistan; support free expression for journalists and human rights activists in Pakistan; and push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Philippines: Urged US to condition military aid on progress in the prosecution of members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines who are implicated in human rights violations. Russia: Urged US to press Russia to amend their NGO law to conform to international standards. Saudi Arabia: Urged US to protest Saudi restrictions on the freedom of religion and the freedom of expression and association. Sierra Leone: Urged US to continue its financial support of the Special Court for Sierra Leone and to quickly disburse FY 2008 funds granted to the court. Sri Lanka: Called on US to push for an international human rights monitoring mission in Sri Lanka to investigate abuses by all sides to the conflict; urged US to address with Sri Lanka issues of child recruitment by armed groups with Sri Lankan military complicity and by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam; urged US to condition aid to Sri Lanka on improvement in human rights standards. Sudan: Urged US to press for action in Darfur by asking the UN Security Council to call on the Sudanese government to end human rights abuses and hold violators accountable; urged US to work toward the effective deployment of international peacekeepers into the Darfur region. Thailand: Urged US to condemn rights abuses by all sides in the conflict in southern Thailand; urged US to press for full respect of human rights and accountability from Thailand in bilateral drug suppression efforts; urged US to oppose Thailand using extrajudicial killings in the war on drugs; urged US to press Thailand not to return Lao Hmong refugees to Laos and to find durable solutions for Burmese refugees in Thailand; sought US support to press for the resumption of UNHCR status determination process in Thailand; urged US to protest Thai government restrictions on civil liberties and to protect Thai rights defenders; urged US to encourage Thailand to support international humanitarian efforts in Burma in aftermath of Cyclone Nagris. Uganda: Urged US to push for human rights improvements in northern Uganda and to press for an end to torture in Uganda; urged US to push for accountability for the Lords Resistance Armys atrocities and to support UN Security Council statement in light of renewed abuses. Uzbekistan: Urged US to impose targeted sanctions against selected Uzbek government officials responsible for the May 2005 massacre at Andijan and the ensuing crackdown on civil society, and overall to condition its relationship with the Uzbek government on its fulfillment of specific human rights benchmarks. Urged US to help ensure protection from forced return and secure urgent resettlement of Uzbek refugees in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia, and other countries where their safety was at risk. Vietnam: Advocated for continuation of Vietnams status as a Country of Particular Concern for its restrictions on religious freedom; called on US to press Vietnam to account for whereabouts of labor activist Le Tri Tue; urged US to continue monitoring rights abuses by Vietnam against ethnic minority populations; called for US to press Vietnam to annul national security legislation that criminalizes peaceful assembly, expression, association, and certain religions.
William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Treaties/Legislation "Global Online Freedom Act (H.R. 4780) "Child Soldiers Prevention Act (S. 1175 and H.R. 3028) Treaties/Legislation cont. Child Soldiers Accountability Act (S. 2135) International Violence Against Women Act (S. 2279) Sexual Violence in Sudan, Chad, CAR resolution (H.R. 726) Burma Sanctions bills (S. 2257 and H.R. 3890) William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (S. 3061 and H.R. 3887) Policies/Issues Algeria: Urged US to reveal whereabouts of two Algerians transferred from Guantanamo to Algeria. Azerbaijan: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the deteriorating human rights situation in Azerbaijan, especially in the area of media freedom; urged US to use its leverage with the Azerbaijani government to secure the release of wrongfully imprisoned journalists. Bangladesh: Urged US to raise with Bangladesh: full restoration of human rights; need for in 2008; prosecution of human rights violators in security forces; need for independent monitors at detention facilities. Urged US to limit assistance to abusive police and military forces to human rights education. Bhutan: Urged US to work with Nepal to ensure full protection of Bhutanese refugees who wish to be resettled in US. Bosnia: Urged US to continue commitment to justice in the Balkans by supporting local war crimes trials in Bosnias cantonal and district courts. Burma: Called for increased US pressure for democratic change in Burma and extended targeted sanctions in Burma; advocated for US pressure on other countries to support the inclusion of Burma on the agenda of the UN Security Council; urged US to support international humanitarian efforts in Burmathrough bilateral channels and Asean channelsfollowing Cyclone Nagris. Cambodia: Urged US to consider concerns about judicial independence before funding Khmer Rouge tribunal. China: Urged US to press China to fulfill human rights commitments related to the Olympics; urged US to raise concerns about ongoing pre-Olympics crackdown against dissidents and human rights defenders as well as lack of rule of law and citizens inability to seek legal redress for injustice; urged US to press China about widespread abuses of migrant construction workers in Beijing; urged US to press China to abolish its discriminatory urban household registration permit system, affecting migrant workers and their families. Colombia: Urged effective enforcement of human rights conditions on US military and demobilization aid to Colombia; urged delay of free trade agreement until more progress is made against paramilitary violence. Democratic Republic of the Congo: Urged US to support appointment of international special advisor on human rights for eastern DRC to underpin the Goma peace process. Ethiopia: Urged US to press Ethiopia to investigate and hold accountable individuals responsible for human rights abuses in Ethiopia (including Ogaden) and Somalia. Georgia: Urged US to press Georgia to undertake a thorough investigation into the police crackdown on demonstrators on November 7, 2007, and to undertake reforms in the penitentiary system and the criminal justice system. Global: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the Voluntary Principles for Security and Human Rights in the extractive industries; advocated for a cut-off of certain categories of US military aid to countries that recruit and use child soldiers in violation of international law or support non-state armed groups that recruit children. Urged US to enact the Protection Against Transmission of HIV for Women and Youth Act of 2007 to remove abstinence-until-marriage earmark for PEPFAR programs and ensure that HIV prevention programs are based on scientific evidence, good public health practice, and human rights principles; urged US to produce a report on womens inheritance rights and impact of PEPFAR. India: Urged US to push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in India-administered Kashmir, in Punjab in the 1980s, and in Gujarat after the 2002 riots; urged US to continue to refuse an official invitation to Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi his role in 2002 communal violence; urged US to encourage India to adopt equal opportunity policies to protect the rights of Dalits and Tribals; urged US to call for the protection of rights of those likely to be displaced in West Bengal state due to government land acquisition for industry. Indonesia: Supported the continued prohibition by US on International Military Education and Training (IMET) and Foreign Military Financing (FMF) to Indonesia given ongoing Indonesian military abuses; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about abuses against child domestic workers and to press for amending labor law to grant core labor rights to workers in the informal sector, including domestic workers; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about human rights abuses by the Indonesian military exacerbated by the lack of oversight over legal and illicit business practices. Iraq: Urged US to investigate allegations of torture and ill-treatment of detainees by Iraqi security forces; urged US to ensure that assistance to Iraq will not contribute to human rights violations; urged US military to prevent and prohibit mistreatment of Iraqis in US custody; urged US to accept a higher number of Iraqi refugees and to support other countries in the region who have Iraqi refugees; urged US forces in Iraq to ensure that children taken into custody are treated as children, given prompt judicial review and access to independent monitors. Israel/Palestinian Authority: Urged US to ensure that political agreements between the two parties be consistent with human rights norms; urged US to inform Israel that continued US military assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations and to inform the Palestinian Authority that any US security assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations by its security forces and by Palestinian armed groups; urged US to call on Israel to end its ban preventing Palestinian students from leaving the Gaza Strip to study abroad, to reinstate Fulbright grants offered to Gaza students, to press Israel to reverse its strict closure policy towards the Gaza Strip, which is harming Gazas civilian population. Jordan: Urged US to condition funding for Jordan on the improvement of human rights standards relating to free assembly and association, torture in prisons, and misuse of administrative detention. Kazakhstan: Urged US to condition Kazakhstans bid to chair the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to Kazakhstans progress in addressing human rights concerns such as media freedom and freedom of assembly. Kenya: Urged US to oppose any attempt to grant amnesty to those responsible for violence after Kenyas elections in early 2008. Libya: Urged US to push for improvements in human rights practices in Libya. Malaysia: Urged US to press Malaysia to rescind the Internal Security Act and dismantle abusive volunteer corps. Morocco: Urged US to press Morocco to increase monitoring of human rights in Western Sahara. Nepal: Urged US to encourage Nepal to end disappearances and torture; urged US to prioritize human rights, particularly the impunity of the Nepal Army; urged US to press Nepal for accountability by all parties to the conflict after the Constituent Assembly elections and support human rights training of security forces; urged US to support better conditions for vulnerable groups such as Dalits, Madhesis, women and children. North Korea: Urged US to incorporate human rights concerns into security discussions. Pakistan: Urged US to: press for full restoration of judiciary; condition military aid on democratic reform; advocate for womens rights in Pakistan; support free expression for journalists and human rights activists in Pakistan; and push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Philippines: Urged US to condition military aid on progress in the prosecution of members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines who are implicated in human rights violations. Russia: Urged US to press Russia to amend their NGO law to conform to international standards. Saudi Arabia: Urged US to protest Saudi restrictions on the freedom of religion and the freedom of expression and association. Sierra Leone: Urged US to continue its financial support of the Special Court for Sierra Leone and to quickly disburse FY 2008 funds granted to the court. Sri Lanka: Called on US to push for an international human rights monitoring mission in Sri Lanka to investigate abuses by all sides to the conflict; urged US to address with Sri Lanka issues of child recruitment by armed groups with Sri Lankan military complicity and by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam; urged US to condition aid to Sri Lanka on improvement in human rights standards. Sudan: Urged US to press for action in Darfur by asking the UN Security Council to call on the Sudanese government to end human rights abuses and hold violators accountable; urged US to work toward the effective deployment of international peacekeepers into the Darfur region. Thailand: Urged US to condemn rights abuses by all sides in the conflict in southern Thailand; urged US to press for full respect of human rights and accountability from Thailand in bilateral drug suppression efforts; urged US to oppose Thailand using extrajudicial killings in the war on drugs; urged US to press Thailand not to return Lao Hmong refugees to Laos and to find durable solutions for Burmese refugees in Thailand; sought US support to press for the resumption of UNHCR status determination process in Thailand; urged US to protest Thai government restrictions on civil liberties and to protect Thai rights defenders; urged US to encourage Thailand to support international humanitarian efforts in Burma in aftermath of Cyclone Nagris. Uganda: Urged US to push for human rights improvements in northern Uganda and to press for an end to torture in Uganda; urged US to push for accountability for the Lords Resistance Armys atrocities and to support UN Security Council statement in light of renewed abuses. Uzbekistan: Urged US to impose targeted sanctions against selected Uzbek government officials responsible for the May 2005 massacre at Andijan and the ensuing crackdown on civil society, and overall to condition its relationship with the Uzbek government on its fulfillment of specific human rights benchmarks. Urged US to help ensure protection from forced return and secure urgent resettlement of Uzbek refugees in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia, and other countries where their safety was at risk. Vietnam: Advocated for continuation of Vietnams status as a Country of Particular Concern for its restrictions on religious freedom; called on US to press Vietnam to account for whereabouts of labor activist Le Tri Tue; urged US to continue monitoring rights abuses by Vietnam against ethnic minority populations; called for US to press Vietnam to annul national security legislation that criminalizes peaceful assembly, expression, association, and certain religions.
William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Treaties and Legislation "Global Online Freedom Act (H.R. 4780) "Child Soldier Prevention Act (S. 1175 and H.R. 3028) "Child Soldiers Accountability Act (S. 2135) International Violence Against Women Act (S. 2279) International Violence Against Women Act (S. 2279) Sexual Violence in Sudan, Chad, CAR resolution (H.R. 726) William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (S. 3061 and H.R. 3887) Vietnam Human Rights Act (S. 3678) Protection Against Transmission of HIV for Women and Youth Act (H.R. 1713) Policies/Issues Algeria: Urged US to reveal whereabouts of two Algerians transferred from Guantanamo to Algeria. Proposed that US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice press the Algerian government on the well-being and status of Guantanamo detainees returned to Algeria. Angola: Urged US to press Angola to improve its election procedures following the flawed parliamentary elections in September 2008. Azerbaijan: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the deteriorating human rights situation in Azerbaijan, especially media freedom; urged US to press Azerbaijan to secure the release of wrongfully imprisoned journalists. Bangladesh: Urged US to limit cooperation with the abusive Rapid Action Battalion to human rights training. Bhutan: Urged US to work with Nepal to ensure full protection of Bhutanese refugees who wish to be resettled in US. Bosnia: Urged US to continue commitment to justice in the Balkans by supporting local war crimes trials in Bosnias cantonal and district courts. Burma: Called for increased US pressure for democratic change in Burma and extended targeted sanctions in Burma; urged US to press other countries to support inclusion of Burma on UN Security Council agenda; urged US to support international humanitarian efforts in Burmathrough bilateral channels and Asean channelsfollowing Cyclone Nagris. Cambodia: Urged US to consider concerns about judicial independence before funding Khmer Rouge tribunal. Chad: Urged US to press Chad for an end to enforced disappearances and clarify the fate of opposition leaders arbitrarily detained in early 2008. China: Urged US to press China to fulfill human rights commitments related to Olympics; urged US to raise concerns about ongoing crackdown against dissidents and human rights defenders as well as lack of rule of law and citizens inability to seek legal redress for injustice; urged US to press China about widespread abuses of migrant construction workers in Beijing; urged US to press China to abolish its discriminatory urban household registration permit system, affecting migrant workers and their families; urged US to expand its human rights monitoring capabilities in China; urged US to press for diplomatic and press access to Tibetan areas; urged US to press China to permanently extend Olympics-related temporary regulations on foreign media freedom. Colombia: Urged effective enforcement of human rights conditions on US military and demobilization aid to Colombia; urged delay of free trade agreement until more progress is made against paramilitary violence. Urged US to prosecute extradited paramilitary leaders for human rights violations. Democratic Republic of the Congo: Urged US to support appointment of international special advisor on human rights for eastern DRC to underpin the Goma peace process. Ethiopia: Urged US to press Ethiopia to investigate and hold accountable individuals responsible for human rights and humanitarian law abuses in Ethiopia (including Ogaden) and Somalia; and urged a strong US response to a new draft Ethiopian law aimed at restricting the activities of civil society organizations. Georgia: Urged US to press Georgia to undertake a thorough investigation into the police crackdown on demonstrators on November 7, 2007, and to undertake reforms in the penitentiary system and the criminal justice system. Urged US to press Georgia and Russia to respect international humanitarian law; to ensure accountability for human rights and international humanitarian law violations during and in the aftermath of the August 2008 conflict over South Ossetia; to lend support to a robust international monitoring presence with a strong civilian protection mandate; and to work to promote the right to return for IDPs wishing to do so. Global: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the Voluntary Principles for Security and Human Rights in the extractive industries; advocated for a cut-off of certain categories of US military aid to countries that recruit and use child soldiers in violation of international law or support non-state armed groups that recruit children. Urged US to produce a report on womens inheritance rights and impact of PEPFAR. Urged US to support stronger language on the juvenile death penalty in UN General Assemblys annual child rights resolution. India: Urged US to push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in India-administered Kashmir, in Punjab in the 1980s, and in Gujarat after the 2002 riots; urged US to continue to refuse an official invitation to Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi his role in 2002 communal violence; urged US to encourage India to adopt equal opportunity policies to protect the rights of Dalits and Tribals; urged US to call for the protection of rights of those likely to be displaced in West Bengal state due to government land acquisition for industry. Indonesia: Supported the continued prohibition by US on International Military Education and Training (IMET) and Foreign Military Financing (FMF) to Indonesia given ongoing Indonesian military abuses; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about abuses against child domestic workers and to press for amending labor law to grant core labor rights to workers in the informal sector, including domestic workers; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about human rights abuses by the Indonesian military exacerbated by the lack of oversight over legal and illicit business practices. Iraq: Urged US to investigate allegations of torture and ill-treatment of detainees by Iraqi security forces; urged US to ensure that assistance to Iraq will not contribute to human rights violations; urged the US to admit substantially more refugees from Iraq and increase financial support to Syria, Jordan, and other countries that have borne the brunt of the refugee crisis. Urged the US to release detainees in Iraq that are unlikely to be charged, and transfer others against whom there is evidence for criminal proceedings to Iraqi courts with the safeguard that no one should be transferred if they are at risk of abuse; urged US forces in Iraq to ensure that children taken into custody are treated as children, given prompt judicial review and access to independent monitors. Israel/Palestinian Authority: Urged US to ensure that political agreements between the two parties be consistent with human rights norms; urged US to inform Israel that continued US military assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations and to inform the Palestinian Authority that any US security assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations by its security forces and by Palestinian armed groups; urged US to press Israel to reverse its strict closure policy towards the Gaza Strip, which is harming Gazas civilian population. Urged the US to avoid being financially complicit in the expansion of illegal new settlement construction and security measures by Israel in the West Bank. Jordan: Urged US to condition funding for Jordan on the improvement of human rights standards relating to free assembly and association, torture in prisons, and misuse of administrative detention. Kazakhstan: Urged US to press Kazakhstan to fulfill the reform pledges it made in exchange for the chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in 2010, and overall to use its relationship with Kazakhstan to advance progress in human rights in areas of key concern such as media freedom and freedom of assembly. Kenya: Urged US to oppose any attempt to grant amnesty to those responsible for violence after Kenyas elections in early 2008; and to suspend bilateral military training until there is a full, independent inquiry into human rights abuses in the Mount Elgon region of the country (in which a US-trained unit has been heavily implicated). Libya: Urged US to push for improvements in human rights practices in Libya. Urged US to condition further improvements in the US-Libya relationship on steps by Libyan authorities to end the incarceration of political prisoners, abolish laws that imprison peaceful critics, promote freedom of expression and assembly, and stop the use of torture. Malaysia: Urged US to press Malaysia to rescind the Internal Security Act and dismantle abusive volunteer corps, and investigate human trafficking along the countrys borders. Morocco: Urged US to press Morocco to increase monitoring of human rights in Western Sahara. Nepal: Urged US to encourage Nepal to end disappearances and torture; urged US to prioritize human rights, particularly the impunity of the Nepal Army; urged US to press Nepal for accountability by all parties to the conflict and support human rights training of security forces; urged US to support better conditions for vulnerable groups such as Dalits, Madhesis, women and children; urged US to press Nepal government not to violate rights of Tibetans in Nepal, including repealing threats to deport them. Nigeria: Urged US to press the Nigerian government to tackle government corruption and mismanagement and bring to account those responsible. North Korea: Urged US to incorporate human rights concerns into security discussions. Pakistan: Urged US to: press for full restoration of judiciary; condition military aid on democratic reform; advocate for womens rights in Pakistan; support free expression for journalists and human rights activists in Pakistan; and push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Philippines: Urged US to condition military aid on progress in the prosecution of members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines who are implicated in human rights violations, urged US to more carefully vet members of the AFP and Philippine National Police who participate in US-funded programs. Russia: Urged US to press Russia to amend its NGO law to conform to international standards. Urged US to press Russia to end violence by S. Ossetian militia; to press Russia and Georgia to respect international humanitarian law; to ensure accountability for human rights and international humanitarian law violations during and in the aftermath of the August 2008 conflict over South Ossetia; to lend support to a robust international monitoring presence with a strong civilian protection mandate; and to work to promote the right to return for IDPs wishing to do so. Rwanda: Urged US not to support the reappointment of war crimes suspect Karake Karenzi as deputy commander of the Rwandan contingent to UNAMID (Darfur); and to press for due process for all crimes committed in Rwanda during and following the 1994 genocide. Saudi Arabia: Urged US to protest Saudi restrictions on the freedom of religion and the freedom of expression and association. Urged US to press Saudi Arabia to improve judiciary, penal code, and respect for due process in criminal justice system. Sierra Leone: Urged US to continue its financial support of the Special Court for Sierra Leone and to quickly disburse FY 2008 funds granted to the court. Sri Lanka: Urged US to push for an international human rights monitoring mission in Sri Lanka to investigate abuses by all sides to the conflict; urged US to address with Sri Lanka issues of child recruitment by armed groups with Sri Lankan military complicity and by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam; urged US to condition aid to Sri Lanka on improvement in human rights standards. Somalia: urged US to focus concerns on needs of the civilian population; promote creation of a Commission of Inquiry into human rights abuses by all parties to the conflict. Sudan: Urged US to press for action in Darfur by asking the UN Security Council to call on the Sudanese government to end human rights abuses and hold violators accountable; urged US to work toward the effective deployment of international peacekeepers into the Darfur region; and urged US to veto any attempts to secure a Security Council deferral of ICC indictments against Sudanese President Bashir. Thailand: Urged US to condemn rights abuses by all sides in the conflict in southern Thailand; urged US to press for full respect of human rights and accountability from Thailand in bilateral drug suppression efforts; urged US to oppose Thailand using extrajudicial killings in the war on drugs; urged US to press Thailand not to return Lao Hmong refugees to Laos and to find durable solutions for Burmese refugees in Thailand; sought US support to press for the resumption of UNHCR status determination process in Thailand; urged US to protest Thai government restrictions on civil liberties and to protect Thai rights defenders. Tunisia: Urged US to press the Tunisia to end its harassment and imprisonment of human rights activists. Turkmenistan: Urged US to link deepening of relations with Turkmenistan to concrete improvements in human rights. Uganda: Urged US to push for human rights improvements in northern Uganda and to press for an end to torture and the continued government use of secret detention centers; urged US to push for accountability for the Lords Resistance Armys atrocities and to support UN Security Council statement on LRA abuses. Uzbekistan: Urged US to formulate and pursue a clear human rights policy vis-a-vis the Uzbek government, including by operationalizing the targeted sanctions sanctions in the form of a visa ban on Uzbek government officials responsible for the May 2005 massacre at Andijan and the ensuing crackdown on civil society, imposed in June 2008 following the Uzbek governments failure to meet the specific human rights benchmarks articulated in the foreign operations bill. Vietnam: Advocated for continuation of Vietnams status as a Country of Particular Concern for its restrictions on religious freedom; called on US to press Vietnam to account for whereabouts of labor activist Le Tri Tue; urged US to continue monitoring rights abuses by Vietnam against ethnic minority populations; called for US to press Vietnam to annul national security legislation that criminalizes peaceful assembly, expression, association, and certain religions. Zimbabwe: Urged US to maintain pressure on Zimbabwe by extending sanctions on officials responsible for human rights abuses and ensuring that perpetrators are held accountable following any power-sharing agreement in the country.
Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act of 2008
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Legislation/Treaties "Department of Defense Authorization Bill: amendments on detainee status, interrogation and rendition (S. 1548) "Material support legislation (H.R. 2764) Legislation/Treaties cont. Habeas Restoration Bills (H.R. 2826 and S. 185) Close Guantanamo legislation (S. 1469 and S. 1249) National Security with Justice Legislation (S. 1876) Taping of Interrogations (H.R. 4951) Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (H.R. 2740) Extraordinary Rendition Legislation (S. 1876) Intelligence Authorization Act (H.R. 2082) Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act (S. 3155) Policies/Issues Detention of and access to courts for alleged enemy combatants held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies of terrorist suspects Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism Use of military commissions, combatant status review tribunals, and applicable fair trial procedures Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances Applicability and definition of fair trial/humane treatment standards in the Geneva Conventions Death penalty: advocacy in favor of abolition and against expansion. Access to courts for vulnerable populations: advocated against restrictions on court access for immigrants, criminal defendants, prisoners and enemy combatant detainees Material witness warrants: advocated in favor of legislation to ensure that suspects are not detained as material witnesses Vulnerable refugees and material support restrictions: protecting victims of terrorism from being defined as supporters of terrorism and barred entry into US Accountability for private security and military contractors Juvenile justice: deinstitutionalization of status offenders, juveniles in adult prisons, ethnic and racial disparities, and conditions of confinement.
Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act of 2008
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Legislation/Treaties " Department of Defense Authorization Bill: amendments on detainee status,interrogation and rendition (S. 1548) " Material support legislation (H.R. 2764) "National Security with Justice Act (S. 1876) Detainee Interrogation Recording Act (H.R. 4660) Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Expansion and Enforcement Act (H.R. 2740) Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act (S. 3155) Youth PROMISE Act (H.R. 3846) Detainee Basic Medical Care Act (H.R. 5950) Policies/Issues Detention of and access to courts for alleged enemy combatants held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies of terrorist suspects Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism Use of military commissions, combatant status review tribunals, and applicable fair trial procedures Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances Applicability and definition of fair trial/humane treatment standards in the Geneva Conventions Death penalty: advocacy in favor of abolition and against expansion Access to courts for vulnerable populations: advocated against restrictions on court access for immigrants, criminal defendants, prisoners and enemy combatant detainees Vulnerable refugees and material support restrictions: protecting victims of terrorism from being defined as supporters of terrorism and barred entry into US Accountability for private security and military contractors Juvenile justice: deinstitutionalization of status offenders, juveniles in adult prisons, ethnic and racial disparities, and conditions of confinement Prison reduction and support for age-appropriate youth crime prevention and intervention programs Improve medical care for detained immigrants; establish reporting procedures for deaths in detention
Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act of 2008
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Legislation/Treaties "Department of Defense Authorization Bill: amendments on detainee status, interrogation and rendition (S. 1548) "Material support legislation (H.R. 2764) Legislation/Treaties cont. Habeas Restoration Bills (H.R. 2826 and S. 185) Close Guantanamo legislation (S. 1469 and S. 1249) National Security with Justice Legislation (S. 1876) Taping of Interrogations (H.R. 4951) Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (H.R. 2740) Extraordinary Rendition Legislation (S. 1876) Intelligence Authorization Act (H.R. 2082) Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act (S. 3155) Policies/Issues Detention of and access to courts for alleged enemy combatants held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies of terrorist suspects Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism Use of military commissions, combatant status review tribunals, and applicable fair trial procedures Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances Applicability and definition of fair trial/humane treatment standards in the Geneva Conventions Death penalty: advocacy in favor of abolition and against expansion. Access to courts for vulnerable populations: advocated against restrictions on court access for immigrants, criminal defendants, prisoners and enemy combatant detainees Material witness warrants: advocated in favor of legislation to ensure that suspects are not detained as material witnesses Vulnerable refugees and material support restrictions: protecting victims of terrorism from being defined as supporters of terrorism and barred entry into US Accountability for private security and military contractors Juvenile justice: deinstitutionalization of status offenders, juveniles in adult prisons, ethnic and racial disparities, and conditions of confinement.
Treaties and Legislation "Global Online Freedom Act (H.R. 4780) "Child Soldier Prevention Act (S. 1175 and H.R. 3028) "Child Soldiers Accountability Act (S. 2135) International Violence Against Women Act (S. 2279) International Violence Against Women Act (S. 2279) Sexual Violence in Sudan, Chad, CAR resolution (H.R. 726) William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (S. 3061 and H.R. 3887) Vietnam Human Rights Act (S. 3678) Protection Against Transmission of HIV for Women and Youth Act (H.R. 1713) Policies/Issues Algeria: Urged US to reveal whereabouts of two Algerians transferred from Guantanamo to Algeria. Proposed that US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice press the Algerian government on the well-being and status of Guantanamo detainees returned to Algeria. Angola: Urged US to press Angola to improve its election procedures following the flawed parliamentary elections in September 2008. Azerbaijan: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the deteriorating human rights situation in Azerbaijan, especially media freedom; urged US to press Azerbaijan to secure the release of wrongfully imprisoned journalists. Bangladesh: Urged US to limit cooperation with the abusive Rapid Action Battalion to human rights training. Bhutan: Urged US to work with Nepal to ensure full protection of Bhutanese refugees who wish to be resettled in US. Bosnia: Urged US to continue commitment to justice in the Balkans by supporting local war crimes trials in Bosnias cantonal and district courts. Burma: Called for increased US pressure for democratic change in Burma and extended targeted sanctions in Burma; urged US to press other countries to support inclusion of Burma on UN Security Council agenda; urged US to support international humanitarian efforts in Burmathrough bilateral channels and Asean channelsfollowing Cyclone Nagris. Cambodia: Urged US to consider concerns about judicial independence before funding Khmer Rouge tribunal. Chad: Urged US to press Chad for an end to enforced disappearances and clarify the fate of opposition leaders arbitrarily detained in early 2008. China: Urged US to press China to fulfill human rights commitments related to Olympics; urged US to raise concerns about ongoing crackdown against dissidents and human rights defenders as well as lack of rule of law and citizens inability to seek legal redress for injustice; urged US to press China about widespread abuses of migrant construction workers in Beijing; urged US to press China to abolish its discriminatory urban household registration permit system, affecting migrant workers and their families; urged US to expand its human rights monitoring capabilities in China; urged US to press for diplomatic and press access to Tibetan areas; urged US to press China to permanently extend Olympics-related temporary regulations on foreign media freedom. Colombia: Urged effective enforcement of human rights conditions on US military and demobilization aid to Colombia; urged delay of free trade agreement until more progress is made against paramilitary violence. Urged US to prosecute extradited paramilitary leaders for human rights violations. Democratic Republic of the Congo: Urged US to support appointment of international special advisor on human rights for eastern DRC to underpin the Goma peace process. Ethiopia: Urged US to press Ethiopia to investigate and hold accountable individuals responsible for human rights and humanitarian law abuses in Ethiopia (including Ogaden) and Somalia; and urged a strong US response to a new draft Ethiopian law aimed at restricting the activities of civil society organizations. Georgia: Urged US to press Georgia to undertake a thorough investigation into the police crackdown on demonstrators on November 7, 2007, and to undertake reforms in the penitentiary system and the criminal justice system. Urged US to press Georgia and Russia to respect international humanitarian law; to ensure accountability for human rights and international humanitarian law violations during and in the aftermath of the August 2008 conflict over South Ossetia; to lend support to a robust international monitoring presence with a strong civilian protection mandate; and to work to promote the right to return for IDPs wishing to do so. Global: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the Voluntary Principles for Security and Human Rights in the extractive industries; advocated for a cut-off of certain categories of US military aid to countries that recruit and use child soldiers in violation of international law or support non-state armed groups that recruit children. Urged US to produce a report on womens inheritance rights and impact of PEPFAR. Urged US to support stronger language on the juvenile death penalty in UN General Assemblys annual child rights resolution. India: Urged US to push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in India-administered Kashmir, in Punjab in the 1980s, and in Gujarat after the 2002 riots; urged US to continue to refuse an official invitation to Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi his role in 2002 communal violence; urged US to encourage India to adopt equal opportunity policies to protect the rights of Dalits and Tribals; urged US to call for the protection of rights of those likely to be displaced in West Bengal state due to government land acquisition for industry. Indonesia: Supported the continued prohibition by US on International Military Education and Training (IMET) and Foreign Military Financing (FMF) to Indonesia given ongoing Indonesian military abuses; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about abuses against child domestic workers and to press for amending labor law to grant core labor rights to workers in the informal sector, including domestic workers; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about human rights abuses by the Indonesian military exacerbated by the lack of oversight over legal and illicit business practices. Iraq: Urged US to investigate allegations of torture and ill-treatment of detainees by Iraqi security forces; urged US to ensure that assistance to Iraq will not contribute to human rights violations; urged the US to admit substantially more refugees from Iraq and increase financial support to Syria, Jordan, and other countries that have borne the brunt of the refugee crisis. Urged the US to release detainees in Iraq that are unlikely to be charged, and transfer others against whom there is evidence for criminal proceedings to Iraqi courts with the safeguard that no one should be transferred if they are at risk of abuse; urged US forces in Iraq to ensure that children taken into custody are treated as children, given prompt judicial review and access to independent monitors. Israel/Palestinian Authority: Urged US to ensure that political agreements between the two parties be consistent with human rights norms; urged US to inform Israel that continued US military assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations and to inform the Palestinian Authority that any US security assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations by its security forces and by Palestinian armed groups; urged US to press Israel to reverse its strict closure policy towards the Gaza Strip, which is harming Gazas civilian population. Urged the US to avoid being financially complicit in the expansion of illegal new settlement construction and security measures by Israel in the West Bank. Jordan: Urged US to condition funding for Jordan on the improvement of human rights standards relating to free assembly and association, torture in prisons, and misuse of administrative detention. Kazakhstan: Urged US to press Kazakhstan to fulfill the reform pledges it made in exchange for the chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in 2010, and overall to use its relationship with Kazakhstan to advance progress in human rights in areas of key concern such as media freedom and freedom of assembly. Kenya: Urged US to oppose any attempt to grant amnesty to those responsible for violence after Kenyas elections in early 2008; and to suspend bilateral military training until there is a full, independent inquiry into human rights abuses in the Mount Elgon region of the country (in which a US-trained unit has been heavily implicated). Libya: Urged US to push for improvements in human rights practices in Libya. Urged US to condition further improvements in the US-Libya relationship on steps by Libyan authorities to end the incarceration of political prisoners, abolish laws that imprison peaceful critics, promote freedom of expression and assembly, and stop the use of torture. Malaysia: Urged US to press Malaysia to rescind the Internal Security Act and dismantle abusive volunteer corps, and investigate human trafficking along the countrys borders. Morocco: Urged US to press Morocco to increase monitoring of human rights in Western Sahara. Nepal: Urged US to encourage Nepal to end disappearances and torture; urged US to prioritize human rights, particularly the impunity of the Nepal Army; urged US to press Nepal for accountability by all parties to the conflict and support human rights training of security forces; urged US to support better conditions for vulnerable groups such as Dalits, Madhesis, women and children; urged US to press Nepal government not to violate rights of Tibetans in Nepal, including repealing threats to deport them. Nigeria: Urged US to press the Nigerian government to tackle government corruption and mismanagement and bring to account those responsible. North Korea: Urged US to incorporate human rights concerns into security discussions. Pakistan: Urged US to: press for full restoration of judiciary; condition military aid on democratic reform; advocate for womens rights in Pakistan; support free expression for journalists and human rights activists in Pakistan; and push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Philippines: Urged US to condition military aid on progress in the prosecution of members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines who are implicated in human rights violations, urged US to more carefully vet members of the AFP and Philippine National Police who participate in US-funded programs. Russia: Urged US to press Russia to amend its NGO law to conform to international standards. Urged US to press Russia to end violence by S. Ossetian militia; to press Russia and Georgia to respect international humanitarian law; to ensure accountability for human rights and international humanitarian law violations during and in the aftermath of the August 2008 conflict over South Ossetia; to lend support to a robust international monitoring presence with a strong civilian protection mandate; and to work to promote the right to return for IDPs wishing to do so. Rwanda: Urged US not to support the reappointment of war crimes suspect Karake Karenzi as deputy commander of the Rwandan contingent to UNAMID (Darfur); and to press for due process for all crimes committed in Rwanda during and following the 1994 genocide. Saudi Arabia: Urged US to protest Saudi restrictions on the freedom of religion and the freedom of expression and association. Urged US to press Saudi Arabia to improve judiciary, penal code, and respect for due process in criminal justice system. Sierra Leone: Urged US to continue its financial support of the Special Court for Sierra Leone and to quickly disburse FY 2008 funds granted to the court. Sri Lanka: Urged US to push for an international human rights monitoring mission in Sri Lanka to investigate abuses by all sides to the conflict; urged US to address with Sri Lanka issues of child recruitment by armed groups with Sri Lankan military complicity and by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam; urged US to condition aid to Sri Lanka on improvement in human rights standards. Somalia: urged US to focus concerns on needs of the civilian population; promote creation of a Commission of Inquiry into human rights abuses by all parties to the conflict. Sudan: Urged US to press for action in Darfur by asking the UN Security Council to call on the Sudanese government to end human rights abuses and hold violators accountable; urged US to work toward the effective deployment of international peacekeepers into the Darfur region; and urged US to veto any attempts to secure a Security Council deferral of ICC indictments against Sudanese President Bashir. Thailand: Urged US to condemn rights abuses by all sides in the conflict in southern Thailand; urged US to press for full respect of human rights and accountability from Thailand in bilateral drug suppression efforts; urged US to oppose Thailand using extrajudicial killings in the war on drugs; urged US to press Thailand not to return Lao Hmong refugees to Laos and to find durable solutions for Burmese refugees in Thailand; sought US support to press for the resumption of UNHCR status determination process in Thailand; urged US to protest Thai government restrictions on civil liberties and to protect Thai rights defenders. Tunisia: Urged US to press the Tunisia to end its harassment and imprisonment of human rights activists. Turkmenistan: Urged US to link deepening of relations with Turkmenistan to concrete improvements in human rights. Uganda: Urged US to push for human rights improvements in northern Uganda and to press for an end to torture and the continued government use of secret detention centers; urged US to push for accountability for the Lords Resistance Armys atrocities and to support UN Security Council statement on LRA abuses. Uzbekistan: Urged US to formulate and pursue a clear human rights policy vis-a-vis the Uzbek government, including by operationalizing the targeted sanctions sanctions in the form of a visa ban on Uzbek government officials responsible for the May 2005 massacre at Andijan and the ensuing crackdown on civil society, imposed in June 2008 following the Uzbek governments failure to meet the specific human rights benchmarks articulated in the foreign operations bill. Vietnam: Advocated for continuation of Vietnams status as a Country of Particular Concern for its restrictions on religious freedom; called on US to press Vietnam to account for whereabouts of labor activist Le Tri Tue; urged US to continue monitoring rights abuses by Vietnam against ethnic minority populations; called for US to press Vietnam to annul national security legislation that criminalizes peaceful assembly, expression, association, and certain religions. Zimbabwe: Urged US to maintain pressure on Zimbabwe by extending sanctions on officials responsible for human rights abuses and ensuring that perpetrators are held accountable following any power-sharing agreement in the country.
Gang Abatement and Prevention Act of 2007
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Legislation/Treaties "Department of Defense Authorization Bill: amendments on detainee status, interrogation and rendition (S. 1548) "Material support legislation (H.R. 2764) Legislation/Treaties cont. Habeas Restoration Bills (H.R. 2826 and S. 185) Close Guantanamo legislation (S. 1469 and S. 1249) National Security with Justice Legislation (S. 1876) Taping of Interrogations (H.R. 4951) Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (H.R. 2740) Extraordinary Rendition Legislation (S. 1876) Intelligence Authorization Act (H.R. 2082) Gang Abatement and Suppression Act (S. 456) Gang Prevention, Intervention, and Suppression Act (H.R. 3547) Youth PROMISE Act (H.R. 3846) Juvenile Crime Reduction Act (H.R. 3411) Prison Abuse Remedies Act of 2007 (H.R. 4109) Juvenile Justice Accountability and Improvement Act of 2007 (H.R. 4300) Policies/Issues Detention of and access to courts for persons held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies of terrorist suspects Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism Use of military commissions, combatant status review tribunals, and applicable fair trial procedures Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances Applicability and definition of fair trial/humane treatment standards in the Geneva Conventions Death penalty: advocacy in favor of abolition and against expansion. Access to courts for vulnerable populations: advocated against restrictions on court access for immigrants, criminal defendants, prisoners and enemy combatant detainees Material witness warrants: advocated in favor of legislation to ensure that suspects are not detained as material witnesses Vulnerable refugees and material support restrictions: protecting victims of terrorism from being defined as supporters of terrorism and barred entry into US Accountability for private security and military contractors Gangs: advocacy against life without parole penalties for youth, an overly broad gang definition, and an increase in the disproportionate incarceration of racial and ethnic minorities; advocacy in favor of increased prevention and intervention services for youth Juvenile life without parole: advocacy in favor of requiring the opportunity for parole for all juvenile offenders Mental health: advocacy to increase training and the provision of mental health services to benefit court-involved youth suffering from mental health illness Prison litigation reform: amend current legislation to preserve the rule of law in US prisons and jails, and better protect prisoners from rape, assault, denials of religious freedom, and other constitutional violations
Treaties/Legislation "Department of Defense Authorization Bill (S. 1548) "Guantanamo closure bills (S. 1469 and S. 1249) Treaties/Legislations cont. Intelligence Authorization Act (H.R. 2082) Policies/Issues Detention of and access to courts for alleged enemy combatants held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies of terrorism suspects Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism Use of military commissions and combatant status review tribunals Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances Terrorism-related bars on admission jeopardizing resettlement and asylum status of vulnerable refugees Admission of Iraqi refugees into the US Accountability for private security and military contractors
Legislation/Treaties "Department of Defense Authorization Bill: amendments on detainee status, interrogation and rendition (S. 1548) "Material support legislation (H.R. 2764) Legislation/Treaties cont. Habeas Restoration Bills (H.R. 2826 and S. 185) Close Guantanamo legislation (S. 1469 and S. 1249) National Security with Justice Legislation (S. 1876) Taping of Interrogations (H.R. 4951) Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (H.R. 2740) Extraordinary Rendition Legislation (S. 1876) Intelligence Authorization Act (H.R. 2082) Gang Abatement and Suppression Act (S. 456) Gang Prevention, Intervention, and Suppression Act (H.R. 3547) Youth PROMISE Act (H.R. 3846) Juvenile Crime Reduction Act (H.R. 3411) Prison Abuse Remedies Act of 2007 (H.R. 4109) Juvenile Justice Accountability and Improvement Act of 2007 (H.R. 4300) Policies/Issues Detention of and access to courts for persons held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies of terrorist suspects Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism Use of military commissions, combatant status review tribunals, and applicable fair trial procedures Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances Applicability and definition of fair trial/humane treatment standards in the Geneva Conventions Death penalty: advocacy in favor of abolition and against expansion. Access to courts for vulnerable populations: advocated against restrictions on court access for immigrants, criminal defendants, prisoners and enemy combatant detainees Material witness warrants: advocated in favor of legislation to ensure that suspects are not detained as material witnesses Vulnerable refugees and material support restrictions: protecting victims of terrorism from being defined as supporters of terrorism and barred entry into US Accountability for private security and military contractors Gangs: advocacy against life without parole penalties for youth, an overly broad gang definition, and an increase in the disproportionate incarceration of racial and ethnic minorities; advocacy in favor of increased prevention and intervention services for youth Juvenile life without parole: advocacy in favor of requiring the opportunity for parole for all juvenile offenders Mental health: advocacy to increase training and the provision of mental health services to benefit court-involved youth suffering from mental health illness Prison litigation reform: amend current legislation to preserve the rule of law in US prisons and jails, and better protect prisoners from rape, assault, denials of religious freedom, and other constitutional violations
Treaties/Legislation "Department of Defense Authorization Bill (S. 1548) "Guantanamo closure bills (S. 1469 and S. 1249) Treaties/Legislations cont. Intelligence Authorization Act (H.R. 2082) Policies/Issues Detention of and access to courts for alleged enemy combatants held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies of terrorism suspects Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism Use of military commissions and combatant status review tribunals Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances Terrorism-related bars on admission jeopardizing resettlement and asylum status of vulnerable refugees Admission of Iraqi refugees into the US Accountability for private security and military contractors
Legislation/Treaties "Department of Defense Authorization Bill: amendments on detainee status, interrogation and rendition (S. 1548) "Material support legislation (H.R. 2764) Legislation/Treaties cont. Habeas Restoration Bills (H.R. 2826 and S. 185) Close Guantanamo legislation (S. 1469 and S. 1249) National Security with Justice Legislation (S. 1876) Taping of Interrogations (H.R. 4951) Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (H.R. 2740) Extraordinary Rendition Legislation (S. 1876) Intelligence Authorization Act (H.R. 2082) Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act (S. 3155) Policies/Issues Detention of and access to courts for alleged enemy combatants held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies of terrorist suspects Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism Use of military commissions, combatant status review tribunals, and applicable fair trial procedures Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances Applicability and definition of fair trial/humane treatment standards in the Geneva Conventions Death penalty: advocacy in favor of abolition and against expansion. Access to courts for vulnerable populations: advocated against restrictions on court access for immigrants, criminal defendants, prisoners and enemy combatant detainees Material witness warrants: advocated in favor of legislation to ensure that suspects are not detained as material witnesses Vulnerable refugees and material support restrictions: protecting victims of terrorism from being defined as supporters of terrorism and barred entry into US Accountability for private security and military contractors Juvenile justice: deinstitutionalization of status offenders, juveniles in adult prisons, ethnic and racial disparities, and conditions of confinement.
Treaties/Legislation "Extraordinary rendition legislation (S. 1876) "Guantanamo closure bills (S. 1469 and S. 1249) Treaties/Legislation cont. Habeas restoration bills (H.R. 2826 and S. 185) Material support legislation (H.R. 2764) Intelligence Authorization Act (H.R. 2082) Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (H.R. 2740) Policies/Issues Detention of and access to courts for persons held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies of terrorism suspects Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism Use of military commissions and combatant status review tribunals Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances Terrorism-related bars on admission jeopardizing resettlement and asylum status of vulnerable refugees Admission of Iraqi refugees into the US Accountability for private security and military contractors
Legislation/Treaties "Department of Defense Authorization Bill: amendments on detainee status, interrogation and rendition (S. 1548) "Material support legislation (H.R. 2764) Legislation/Treaties cont. Habeas Restoration Bills (H.R. 2826 and S. 185) Close Guantanamo legislation (S. 1469 and S. 1249) National Security with Justice Legislation (S. 1876) Taping of Interrogations (H.R. 4951) Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (H.R. 2740) Extraordinary Rendition Legislation (S. 1876) Intelligence Authorization Act (H.R. 2082) Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act (S. 3155) Policies/Issues Detention of and access to courts for alleged enemy combatants held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies of terrorist suspects Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism Use of military commissions, combatant status review tribunals, and applicable fair trial procedures Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances Applicability and definition of fair trial/humane treatment standards in the Geneva Conventions Death penalty: advocacy in favor of abolition and against expansion. Access to courts for vulnerable populations: advocated against restrictions on court access for immigrants, criminal defendants, prisoners and enemy combatant detainees Material witness warrants: advocated in favor of legislation to ensure that suspects are not detained as material witnesses Vulnerable refugees and material support restrictions: protecting victims of terrorism from being defined as supporters of terrorism and barred entry into US Accountability for private security and military contractors Juvenile justice: deinstitutionalization of status offenders, juveniles in adult prisons, ethnic and racial disparities, and conditions of confinement.
Expanding Education for Military Families Act of 2003
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Legislation/Treaties "Department of Defense Authorization Bill: amendments on detainee status, interrogation and rendition (S. 1548) "Material support legislation (H.R. 2764) Legislation/Treaties cont. Habeas Restoration Bills (H.R. 2826 and S. 185) Close Guantanamo legislation (S. 1469 and S. 1249) National Security with Justice Legislation (S. 1876) Taping of Interrogations (H.R. 4951) Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (H.R. 2740) Extraordinary Rendition Legislation (S. 1876) Intelligence Authorization Act (H.R. 2082) Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act (S. 3155) Policies/Issues Detention of and access to courts for alleged enemy combatants held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies of terrorist suspects Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism Use of military commissions, combatant status review tribunals, and applicable fair trial procedures Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances Applicability and definition of fair trial/humane treatment standards in the Geneva Conventions Death penalty: advocacy in favor of abolition and against expansion. Access to courts for vulnerable populations: advocated against restrictions on court access for immigrants, criminal defendants, prisoners and enemy combatant detainees Material witness warrants: advocated in favor of legislation to ensure that suspects are not detained as material witnesses Vulnerable refugees and material support restrictions: protecting victims of terrorism from being defined as supporters of terrorism and barred entry into US Accountability for private security and military contractors Juvenile justice: deinstitutionalization of status offenders, juveniles in adult prisons, ethnic and racial disparities, and conditions of confinement.
Expanding Education for Military Families Act of 2003
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Treaties/Legislation "Extraordinary rendition legislation (S. 1876) "Guantanamo closure bills (S. 1469 and S. 1249) Treaties/Legislation cont. Habeas restoration bills (H.R. 2826 and S. 185) Material support legislation (H.R. 2764) Intelligence Authorization Act (H.R. 2082) Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (H.R. 2740) Policies/Issues Detention of and access to courts for persons held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies of terrorism suspects Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism Use of military commissions and combatant status review tribunals Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances Terrorism-related bars on admission jeopardizing resettlement and asylum status of vulnerable refugees Admission of Iraqi refugees into the US Accountability for private security and military contractors
Legislation/Treaties "Department of Defense Authorization Bill: amendments on detainee status, interrogation and rendition (S. 1548) "Material support legislation (H.R. 2764) Legislation/Treaties cont. Habeas Restoration Bills (H.R. 2826 and S. 185) Close Guantanamo legislation (S. 1469 and S. 1249) National Security with Justice Legislation (S. 1876) Taping of Interrogations (H.R. 4951) Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (H.R. 2740) Extraordinary Rendition Legislation (S. 1876) Intelligence Authorization Act (H.R. 2082) Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act (S. 3155) Policies/Issues Detention of and access to courts for alleged enemy combatants held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies of terrorist suspects Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism Use of military commissions, combatant status review tribunals, and applicable fair trial procedures Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances Applicability and definition of fair trial/humane treatment standards in the Geneva Conventions Death penalty: advocacy in favor of abolition and against expansion. Access to courts for vulnerable populations: advocated against restrictions on court access for immigrants, criminal defendants, prisoners and enemy combatant detainees Material witness warrants: advocated in favor of legislation to ensure that suspects are not detained as material witnesses Vulnerable refugees and material support restrictions: protecting victims of terrorism from being defined as supporters of terrorism and barred entry into US Accountability for private security and military contractors Juvenile justice: deinstitutionalization of status offenders, juveniles in adult prisons, ethnic and racial disparities, and conditions of confinement.
Treaties/Legislation "Department of Defense Authorization Bill (S. 1548) "Guantanamo closure bills (S. 1469 and S. 1249) Treaties/Legislations cont. Intelligence Authorization Act (H.R. 2082) Policies/Issues Detention of and access to courts for alleged enemy combatants held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies of terrorism suspects Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism Use of military commissions and combatant status review tribunals Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances Terrorism-related bars on admission jeopardizing resettlement and asylum status of vulnerable refugees Admission of Iraqi refugees into the US Accountability for private security and military contractors
Filing targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE, State, Dept of (DOS)
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH via HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
2008 · third_quarter · Q3
Treaties and Legislation "Global Online Freedom Act (H.R. 4780) "Child Soldier Prevention Act (S. 1175 and H.R. 3028) "Child Soldiers Accountability Act (S. 2135) International Violence Against Women Act (S. 2279) International Violence Against Women Act (S. 2279) Sexual Violence in Sudan, Chad, CAR resolution (H.R. 726) William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (S. 3061 and H.R. 3887) Vietnam Human Rights Act (S. 3678) Protection Against Transmission of HIV for Women and Youth Act (H.R. 1713) Policies/Issues Algeria: Urged US to reveal whereabouts of two Algerians transferred from Guantanamo to Algeria. Proposed that US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice press the Algerian government on the well-being and status of Guantanamo detainees returned to Algeria. Angola: Urged US to press Angola to improve its election procedures following the flawed parliamentary elections in September 2008. Azerbaijan: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the deteriorating human rights situation in Azerbaijan, especially media freedom; urged US to press Azerbaijan to secure the release of wrongfully imprisoned journalists. Bangladesh: Urged US to limit cooperation with the abusive Rapid Action Battalion to human rights training. Bhutan: Urged US to work with Nepal to ensure full protection of Bhutanese refugees who wish to be resettled in US. Bosnia: Urged US to continue commitment to justice in the Balkans by supporting local war crimes trials in Bosnias cantonal and district courts. Burma: Called for increased US pressure for democratic change in Burma and extended targeted sanctions in Burma; urged US to press other countries to support inclusion of Burma on UN Security Council agenda; urged US to support international humanitarian efforts in Burmathrough bilateral channels and Asean channelsfollowing Cyclone Nagris. Cambodia: Urged US to consider concerns about judicial independence before funding Khmer Rouge tribunal. Chad: Urged US to press Chad for an end to enforced disappearances and clarify the fate of opposition leaders arbitrarily detained in early 2008. China: Urged US to press China to fulfill human rights commitments related to Olympics; urged US to raise concerns about ongoing crackdown against dissidents and human rights defenders as well as lack of rule of law and citizens inability to seek legal redress for injustice; urged US to press China about widespread abuses of migrant construction workers in Beijing; urged US to press China to abolish its discriminatory urban household registration permit system, affecting migrant workers and their families; urged US to expand its human rights monitoring capabilities in China; urged US to press for diplomatic and press access to Tibetan areas; urged US to press China to permanently extend Olympics-related temporary regulations on foreign media freedom. Colombia: Urged effective enforcement of human rights conditions on US military and demobilization aid to Colombia; urged delay of free trade agreement until more progress is made against paramilitary violence. Urged US to prosecute extradited paramilitary leaders for human rights violations. Democratic Republic of the Congo: Urged US to support appointment of international special advisor on human rights for eastern DRC to underpin the Goma peace process. Ethiopia: Urged US to press Ethiopia to investigate and hold accountable individuals responsible for human rights and humanitarian law abuses in Ethiopia (including Ogaden) and Somalia; and urged a strong US response to a new draft Ethiopian law aimed at restricting the activities of civil society organizations. Georgia: Urged US to press Georgia to undertake a thorough investigation into the police crackdown on demonstrators on November 7, 2007, and to undertake reforms in the penitentiary system and the criminal justice system. Urged US to press Georgia and Russia to respect international humanitarian law; to ensure accountability for human rights and international humanitarian law violations during and in the aftermath of the August 2008 conflict over South Ossetia; to lend support to a robust international monitoring presence with a strong civilian protection mandate; and to work to promote the right to return for IDPs wishing to do so. Global: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the Voluntary Principles for Security and Human Rights in the extractive industries; advocated for a cut-off of certain categories of US military aid to countries that recruit and use child soldiers in violation of international law or support non-state armed groups that recruit children. Urged US to produce a report on womens inheritance rights and impact of PEPFAR. Urged US to support stronger language on the juvenile death penalty in UN General Assemblys annual child rights resolution. India: Urged US to push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in India-administered Kashmir, in Punjab in the 1980s, and in Gujarat after the 2002 riots; urged US to continue to refuse an official invitation to Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi his role in 2002 communal violence; urged US to encourage India to adopt equal opportunity policies to protect the rights of Dalits and Tribals; urged US to call for the protection of rights of those likely to be displaced in West Bengal state due to government land acquisition for industry. Indonesia: Supported the continued prohibition by US on International Military Education and Training (IMET) and Foreign Military Financing (FMF) to Indonesia given ongoing Indonesian military abuses; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about abuses against child domestic workers and to press for amending labor law to grant core labor rights to workers in the informal sector, including domestic workers; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about human rights abuses by the Indonesian military exacerbated by the lack of oversight over legal and illicit business practices. Iraq: Urged US to investigate allegations of torture and ill-treatment of detainees by Iraqi security forces; urged US to ensure that assistance to Iraq will not contribute to human rights violations; urged the US to admit substantially more refugees from Iraq and increase financial support to Syria, Jordan, and other countries that have borne the brunt of the refugee crisis. Urged the US to release detainees in Iraq that are unlikely to be charged, and transfer others against whom there is evidence for criminal proceedings to Iraqi courts with the safeguard that no one should be transferred if they are at risk of abuse; urged US forces in Iraq to ensure that children taken into custody are treated as children, given prompt judicial review and access to independent monitors. Israel/Palestinian Authority: Urged US to ensure that political agreements between the two parties be consistent with human rights norms; urged US to inform Israel that continued US military assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations and to inform the Palestinian Authority that any US security assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations by its security forces and by Palestinian armed groups; urged US to press Israel to reverse its strict closure policy towards the Gaza Strip, which is harming Gazas civilian population. Urged the US to avoid being financially complicit in the expansion of illegal new settlement construction and security measures by Israel in the West Bank. Jordan: Urged US to condition funding for Jordan on the improvement of human rights standards relating to free assembly and association, torture in prisons, and misuse of administrative detention. Kazakhstan: Urged US to press Kazakhstan to fulfill the reform pledges it made in exchange for the chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in 2010, and overall to use its relationship with Kazakhstan to advance progress in human rights in areas of key concern such as media freedom and freedom of assembly. Kenya: Urged US to oppose any attempt to grant amnesty to those responsible for violence after Kenyas elections in early 2008; and to suspend bilateral military training until there is a full, independent inquiry into human rights abuses in the Mount Elgon region of the country (in which a US-trained unit has been heavily implicated). Libya: Urged US to push for improvements in human rights practices in Libya. Urged US to condition further improvements in the US-Libya relationship on steps by Libyan authorities to end the incarceration of political prisoners, abolish laws that imprison peaceful critics, promote freedom of expression and assembly, and stop the use of torture. Malaysia: Urged US to press Malaysia to rescind the Internal Security Act and dismantle abusive volunteer corps, and investigate human trafficking along the countrys borders. Morocco: Urged US to press Morocco to increase monitoring of human rights in Western Sahara. Nepal: Urged US to encourage Nepal to end disappearances and torture; urged US to prioritize human rights, particularly the impunity of the Nepal Army; urged US to press Nepal for accountability by all parties to the conflict and support human rights training of security forces; urged US to support better conditions for vulnerable groups such as Dalits, Madhesis, women and children; urged US to press Nepal government not to violate rights of Tibetans in Nepal, including repealing threats to deport them. Nigeria: Urged US to press the Nigerian government to tackle government corruption and mismanagement and bring to account those responsible. North Korea: Urged US to incorporate human rights concerns into security discussions. Pakistan: Urged US to: press for full restoration of judiciary; condition military aid on democratic reform; advocate for womens rights in Pakistan; support free expression for journalists and human rights activists in Pakistan; and push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Philippines: Urged US to condition military aid on progress in the prosecution of members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines who are implicated in human rights violations, urged US to more carefully vet members of the AFP and Philippine National Police who participate in US-funded programs. Russia: Urged US to press Russia to amend its NGO law to conform to international standards. Urged US to press Russia to end violence by S. Ossetian militia; to press Russia and Georgia to respect international humanitarian law; to ensure accountability for human rights and international humanitarian law violations during and in the aftermath of the August 2008 conflict over South Ossetia; to lend support to a robust international monitoring presence with a strong civilian protection mandate; and to work to promote the right to return for IDPs wishing to do so. Rwanda: Urged US not to support the reappointment of war crimes suspect Karake Karenzi as deputy commander of the Rwandan contingent to UNAMID (Darfur); and to press for due process for all crimes committed in Rwanda during and following the 1994 genocide. Saudi Arabia: Urged US to protest Saudi restrictions on the freedom of religion and the freedom of expression and association. Urged US to press Saudi Arabia to improve judiciary, penal code, and respect for due process in criminal justice system. Sierra Leone: Urged US to continue its financial support of the Special Court for Sierra Leone and to quickly disburse FY 2008 funds granted to the court. Sri Lanka: Urged US to push for an international human rights monitoring mission in Sri Lanka to investigate abuses by all sides to the conflict; urged US to address with Sri Lanka issues of child recruitment by armed groups with Sri Lankan military complicity and by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam; urged US to condition aid to Sri Lanka on improvement in human rights standards. Somalia: urged US to focus concerns on needs of the civilian population; promote creation of a Commission of Inquiry into human rights abuses by all parties to the conflict. Sudan: Urged US to press for action in Darfur by asking the UN Security Council to call on the Sudanese government to end human rights abuses and hold violators accountable; urged US to work toward the effective deployment of international peacekeepers into the Darfur region; and urged US to veto any attempts to secure a Security Council deferral of ICC indictments against Sudanese President Bashir. Thailand: Urged US to condemn rights abuses by all sides in the conflict in southern Thailand; urged US to press for full respect of human rights and accountability from Thailand in bilateral drug suppression efforts; urged US to oppose Thailand using extrajudicial killings in the war on drugs; urged US to press Thailand not to return Lao Hmong refugees to Laos and to find durable solutions for Burmese refugees in Thailand; sought US support to press for the resumption of UNHCR status determination process in Thailand; urged US to protest Thai government restrictions on civil liberties and to protect Thai rights defenders. Tunisia: Urged US to press the Tunisia to end its harassment and imprisonment of human rights activists. Turkmenistan: Urged US to link deepening of relations with Turkmenistan to concrete improvements in human rights. Uganda: Urged US to push for human rights improvements in northern Uganda and to press for an end to torture and the continued government use of secret detention centers; urged US to push for accountability for the Lords Resistance Armys atrocities and to support UN Security Council statement on LRA abuses. Uzbekistan: Urged US to formulate and pursue a clear human rights policy vis-a-vis the Uzbek government, including by operationalizing the targeted sanctions sanctions in the form of a visa ban on Uzbek government officials responsible for the May 2005 massacre at Andijan and the ensuing crackdown on civil society, imposed in June 2008 following the Uzbek governments failure to meet the specific human rights benchmarks articulated in the foreign operations bill. Vietnam: Advocated for continuation of Vietnams status as a Country of Particular Concern for its restrictions on religious freedom; called on US to press Vietnam to account for whereabouts of labor activist Le Tri Tue; urged US to continue monitoring rights abuses by Vietnam against ethnic minority populations; called for US to press Vietnam to annul national security legislation that criminalizes peaceful assembly, expression, association, and certain religions. Zimbabwe: Urged US to maintain pressure on Zimbabwe by extending sanctions on officials responsible for human rights abuses and ensuring that perpetrators are held accountable following any power-sharing agreement in the country.
Treaties/Legislation "Department of Defense Authorization Bill (S. 1548) "Guantanamo closure bills (S. 1469 and S. 1249) Policies/Issues Detention of and access to courts for alleged enemy combatants held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies of terrorism suspects Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism Use of military commissions and combatant status review tribunals Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances Terrorism-related bars on admission jeopardizing resettlement and asylum status of vulnerable refugees Admission of Iraqi refugees into the US Accountability for private security and military contractors
Legislation/Treaties " Department of Defense Authorization Bill: amendments on detainee status,interrogation and rendition (S. 1548) " Material support legislation (H.R. 2764) "National Security with Justice Act (S. 1876) Detainee Interrogation Recording Act (H.R. 4660) Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Expansion and Enforcement Act (H.R. 2740) Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act (S. 3155) Youth PROMISE Act (H.R. 3846) Detainee Basic Medical Care Act (H.R. 5950) Policies/Issues Detention of and access to courts for alleged enemy combatants held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies of terrorist suspects Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism Use of military commissions, combatant status review tribunals, and applicable fair trial procedures Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances Applicability and definition of fair trial/humane treatment standards in the Geneva Conventions Death penalty: advocacy in favor of abolition and against expansion Access to courts for vulnerable populations: advocated against restrictions on court access for immigrants, criminal defendants, prisoners and enemy combatant detainees Vulnerable refugees and material support restrictions: protecting victims of terrorism from being defined as supporters of terrorism and barred entry into US Accountability for private security and military contractors Juvenile justice: deinstitutionalization of status offenders, juveniles in adult prisons, ethnic and racial disparities, and conditions of confinement Prison reduction and support for age-appropriate youth crime prevention and intervention programs Improve medical care for detained immigrants; establish reporting procedures for deaths in detention
Filing targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE, State, Dept of (DOS)
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH via HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
2008 · first_quarter · Q1
Treaties/Legislation "Department of Defense Authorization Bill (S. 1548) "Guantanamo closure bills (S. 1469 and S. 1249) Treaties/Legislations cont. Intelligence Authorization Act (H.R. 2082) Policies/Issues Detention of and access to courts for alleged enemy combatants held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies of terrorism suspects Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism Use of military commissions and combatant status review tribunals Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances Terrorism-related bars on admission jeopardizing resettlement and asylum status of vulnerable refugees Admission of Iraqi refugees into the US Accountability for private security and military contractors
Treaties/Legislation "Global Online Freedom Act (H.R. 4780) "Child Soldiers Prevention Act (S. 1175 and H.R. 3028) Treaties/Legislation cont. Child Soldiers Accountability Act (S. 2135) International Violence Against Women Act (S. 2279) Sexual Violence in Sudan, Chad, CAR resolution (H.R. 726) Burma Sanctions bills (S. 2257 and H.R. 3890) William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (S. 3061 and H.R. 3887) Policies/Issues Algeria: Urged US to reveal whereabouts of two Algerians transferred from Guantanamo to Algeria. Azerbaijan: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the deteriorating human rights situation in Azerbaijan, especially in the area of media freedom; urged US to use its leverage with the Azerbaijani government to secure the release of wrongfully imprisoned journalists. Bangladesh: Urged US to raise with Bangladesh: full restoration of human rights; need for in 2008; prosecution of human rights violators in security forces; need for independent monitors at detention facilities. Urged US to limit assistance to abusive police and military forces to human rights education. Bhutan: Urged US to work with Nepal to ensure full protection of Bhutanese refugees who wish to be resettled in US. Bosnia: Urged US to continue commitment to justice in the Balkans by supporting local war crimes trials in Bosnias cantonal and district courts. Burma: Called for increased US pressure for democratic change in Burma and extended targeted sanctions in Burma; advocated for US pressure on other countries to support the inclusion of Burma on the agenda of the UN Security Council; urged US to support international humanitarian efforts in Burmathrough bilateral channels and Asean channelsfollowing Cyclone Nagris. Cambodia: Urged US to consider concerns about judicial independence before funding Khmer Rouge tribunal. China: Urged US to press China to fulfill human rights commitments related to the Olympics; urged US to raise concerns about ongoing pre-Olympics crackdown against dissidents and human rights defenders as well as lack of rule of law and citizens inability to seek legal redress for injustice; urged US to press China about widespread abuses of migrant construction workers in Beijing; urged US to press China to abolish its discriminatory urban household registration permit system, affecting migrant workers and their families. Colombia: Urged effective enforcement of human rights conditions on US military and demobilization aid to Colombia; urged delay of free trade agreement until more progress is made against paramilitary violence. Democratic Republic of the Congo: Urged US to support appointment of international special advisor on human rights for eastern DRC to underpin the Goma peace process. Ethiopia: Urged US to press Ethiopia to investigate and hold accountable individuals responsible for human rights abuses in Ethiopia (including Ogaden) and Somalia. Georgia: Urged US to press Georgia to undertake a thorough investigation into the police crackdown on demonstrators on November 7, 2007, and to undertake reforms in the penitentiary system and the criminal justice system. Global: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the Voluntary Principles for Security and Human Rights in the extractive industries; advocated for a cut-off of certain categories of US military aid to countries that recruit and use child soldiers in violation of international law or support non-state armed groups that recruit children. Urged US to enact the Protection Against Transmission of HIV for Women and Youth Act of 2007 to remove abstinence-until-marriage earmark for PEPFAR programs and ensure that HIV prevention programs are based on scientific evidence, good public health practice, and human rights principles; urged US to produce a report on womens inheritance rights and impact of PEPFAR. India: Urged US to push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in India-administered Kashmir, in Punjab in the 1980s, and in Gujarat after the 2002 riots; urged US to continue to refuse an official invitation to Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi his role in 2002 communal violence; urged US to encourage India to adopt equal opportunity policies to protect the rights of Dalits and Tribals; urged US to call for the protection of rights of those likely to be displaced in West Bengal state due to government land acquisition for industry. Indonesia: Supported the continued prohibition by US on International Military Education and Training (IMET) and Foreign Military Financing (FMF) to Indonesia given ongoing Indonesian military abuses; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about abuses against child domestic workers and to press for amending labor law to grant core labor rights to workers in the informal sector, including domestic workers; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about human rights abuses by the Indonesian military exacerbated by the lack of oversight over legal and illicit business practices. Iraq: Urged US to investigate allegations of torture and ill-treatment of detainees by Iraqi security forces; urged US to ensure that assistance to Iraq will not contribute to human rights violations; urged US military to prevent and prohibit mistreatment of Iraqis in US custody; urged US to accept a higher number of Iraqi refugees and to support other countries in the region who have Iraqi refugees; urged US forces in Iraq to ensure that children taken into custody are treated as children, given prompt judicial review and access to independent monitors. Israel/Palestinian Authority: Urged US to ensure that political agreements between the two parties be consistent with human rights norms; urged US to inform Israel that continued US military assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations and to inform the Palestinian Authority that any US security assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations by its security forces and by Palestinian armed groups; urged US to call on Israel to end its ban preventing Palestinian students from leaving the Gaza Strip to study abroad, to reinstate Fulbright grants offered to Gaza students, to press Israel to reverse its strict closure policy towards the Gaza Strip, which is harming Gazas civilian population. Jordan: Urged US to condition funding for Jordan on the improvement of human rights standards relating to free assembly and association, torture in prisons, and misuse of administrative detention. Kazakhstan: Urged US to condition Kazakhstans bid to chair the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to Kazakhstans progress in addressing human rights concerns such as media freedom and freedom of assembly. Kenya: Urged US to oppose any attempt to grant amnesty to those responsible for violence after Kenyas elections in early 2008. Libya: Urged US to push for improvements in human rights practices in Libya. Malaysia: Urged US to press Malaysia to rescind the Internal Security Act and dismantle abusive volunteer corps. Morocco: Urged US to press Morocco to increase monitoring of human rights in Western Sahara. Nepal: Urged US to encourage Nepal to end disappearances and torture; urged US to prioritize human rights, particularly the impunity of the Nepal Army; urged US to press Nepal for accountability by all parties to the conflict after the Constituent Assembly elections and support human rights training of security forces; urged US to support better conditions for vulnerable groups such as Dalits, Madhesis, women and children. North Korea: Urged US to incorporate human rights concerns into security discussions. Pakistan: Urged US to: press for full restoration of judiciary; condition military aid on democratic reform; advocate for womens rights in Pakistan; support free expression for journalists and human rights activists in Pakistan; and push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Philippines: Urged US to condition military aid on progress in the prosecution of members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines who are implicated in human rights violations. Russia: Urged US to press Russia to amend their NGO law to conform to international standards. Saudi Arabia: Urged US to protest Saudi restrictions on the freedom of religion and the freedom of expression and association. Sierra Leone: Urged US to continue its financial support of the Special Court for Sierra Leone and to quickly disburse FY 2008 funds granted to the court. Sri Lanka: Called on US to push for an international human rights monitoring mission in Sri Lanka to investigate abuses by all sides to the conflict; urged US to address with Sri Lanka issues of child recruitment by armed groups with Sri Lankan military complicity and by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam; urged US to condition aid to Sri Lanka on improvement in human rights standards. Sudan: Urged US to press for action in Darfur by asking the UN Security Council to call on the Sudanese government to end human rights abuses and hold violators accountable; urged US to work toward the effective deployment of international peacekeepers into the Darfur region. Thailand: Urged US to condemn rights abuses by all sides in the conflict in southern Thailand; urged US to press for full respect of human rights and accountability from Thailand in bilateral drug suppression efforts; urged US to oppose Thailand using extrajudicial killings in the war on drugs; urged US to press Thailand not to return Lao Hmong refugees to Laos and to find durable solutions for Burmese refugees in Thailand; sought US support to press for the resumption of UNHCR status determination process in Thailand; urged US to protest Thai government restrictions on civil liberties and to protect Thai rights defenders; urged US to encourage Thailand to support international humanitarian efforts in Burma in aftermath of Cyclone Nagris. Uganda: Urged US to push for human rights improvements in northern Uganda and to press for an end to torture in Uganda; urged US to push for accountability for the Lords Resistance Armys atrocities and to support UN Security Council statement in light of renewed abuses. Uzbekistan: Urged US to impose targeted sanctions against selected Uzbek government officials responsible for the May 2005 massacre at Andijan and the ensuing crackdown on civil society, and overall to condition its relationship with the Uzbek government on its fulfillment of specific human rights benchmarks. Urged US to help ensure protection from forced return and secure urgent resettlement of Uzbek refugees in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia, and other countries where their safety was at risk. Vietnam: Advocated for continuation of Vietnams status as a Country of Particular Concern for its restrictions on religious freedom; called on US to press Vietnam to account for whereabouts of labor activist Le Tri Tue; urged US to continue monitoring rights abuses by Vietnam against ethnic minority populations; called for US to press Vietnam to annul national security legislation that criminalizes peaceful assembly, expression, association, and certain religions.
Legislation/Treaties "Department of Defense Authorization Bill: amendments on detainee status, interrogation and rendition (S. 1548) "Material support legislation (H.R. 2764) Legislation/Treaties cont. Habeas Restoration Bills (H.R. 2826 and S. 185) Close Guantanamo legislation (S. 1469 and S. 1249) National Security with Justice Legislation (S. 1876) Taping of Interrogations (H.R. 4951) Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (H.R. 2740) Extraordinary Rendition Legislation (S. 1876) Intelligence Authorization Act (H.R. 2082) Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act (S. 3155) Policies/Issues Detention of and access to courts for alleged enemy combatants held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies of terrorist suspects Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism Use of military commissions, combatant status review tribunals, and applicable fair trial procedures Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances Applicability and definition of fair trial/humane treatment standards in the Geneva Conventions Death penalty: advocacy in favor of abolition and against expansion. Access to courts for vulnerable populations: advocated against restrictions on court access for immigrants, criminal defendants, prisoners and enemy combatant detainees Material witness warrants: advocated in favor of legislation to ensure that suspects are not detained as material witnesses Vulnerable refugees and material support restrictions: protecting victims of terrorism from being defined as supporters of terrorism and barred entry into US Accountability for private security and military contractors Juvenile justice: deinstitutionalization of status offenders, juveniles in adult prisons, ethnic and racial disparities, and conditions of confinement.
Filing targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE, State, Dept of (DOS)
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH via HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
2008 · first_quarter · Q1
Legislation/Treaties "Department of Defense Authorization Bill: amendments on detainee status, interrogation and rendition (S. 1548) "Material support legislation (H.R. 2764) Legislation/Treaties cont. Habeas Restoration Bills (H.R. 2826 and S. 185) Close Guantanamo legislation (S. 1469 and S. 1249) National Security with Justice Legislation (S. 1876) Taping of Interrogations (H.R. 4951) Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (H.R. 2740) Extraordinary Rendition Legislation (S. 1876) Intelligence Authorization Act (H.R. 2082) Gang Abatement and Suppression Act (S. 456) Gang Prevention, Intervention, and Suppression Act (H.R. 3547) Youth PROMISE Act (H.R. 3846) Juvenile Crime Reduction Act (H.R. 3411) Prison Abuse Remedies Act of 2007 (H.R. 4109) Juvenile Justice Accountability and Improvement Act of 2007 (H.R. 4300) Policies/Issues Detention of and access to courts for persons held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies of terrorist suspects Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism Use of military commissions, combatant status review tribunals, and applicable fair trial procedures Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances Applicability and definition of fair trial/humane treatment standards in the Geneva Conventions Death penalty: advocacy in favor of abolition and against expansion. Access to courts for vulnerable populations: advocated against restrictions on court access for immigrants, criminal defendants, prisoners and enemy combatant detainees Material witness warrants: advocated in favor of legislation to ensure that suspects are not detained as material witnesses Vulnerable refugees and material support restrictions: protecting victims of terrorism from being defined as supporters of terrorism and barred entry into US Accountability for private security and military contractors Gangs: advocacy against life without parole penalties for youth, an overly broad gang definition, and an increase in the disproportionate incarceration of racial and ethnic minorities; advocacy in favor of increased prevention and intervention services for youth Juvenile life without parole: advocacy in favor of requiring the opportunity for parole for all juvenile offenders Mental health: advocacy to increase training and the provision of mental health services to benefit court-involved youth suffering from mental health illness Prison litigation reform: amend current legislation to preserve the rule of law in US prisons and jails, and better protect prisoners from rape, assault, denials of religious freedom, and other constitutional violations
Treaties/Legislation "Extraordinary rendition legislation (S. 1876) "Guantanamo closure bills (S. 1469 and S. 1249) Treaties/Legislation cont. Habeas restoration bills (H.R. 2826 and S. 185) Material support legislation (H.R. 2764) Intelligence Authorization Act (H.R. 2082) Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (H.R. 2740) Policies/Issues Detention of and access to courts for persons held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies of terrorism suspects Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism Use of military commissions and combatant status review tribunals Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances Terrorism-related bars on admission jeopardizing resettlement and asylum status of vulnerable refugees Admission of Iraqi refugees into the US Accountability for private security and military contractors
Treaties and Legislation "Global Online Freedom Act (H.R. 4780) "Child Soldiers Prevention Act (S. 1175 and H.R. 3028) Treaties and Legislation cont. Child Soldiers Accountability Act (S. 2135) International Violence Against Women Act (S. 2279) Sexual Violence in Sudan, Chad, CAR resolution (H.Res. 726) Burma Sanctions bills (S. 2257; H.R. 3890) Colombia Free Trade Agreement ratification Policies/Issues Afghanistan: Advocated for greater support for security in Afghanistan, particularly for women; advocated for US to support vetting of Afghan officials potentially involved in war crimes; advocated for allowing access by the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission to detainees in US custody. Azerbaijan: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the deteriorating human rights situation in Azerbaijan, especially in the area of media freedoms; urged US to use its leverage with the Azerbaijani government to secure the release of wrongfully imprisoned journalists. Bangladesh: Urged US to raise with Bangladesh concerns about the abuse of emergency laws leading to widespread arbitrary detentions and torture in custody. Burma: Called for increased US pressure for democratic change in Burma and extended sanctions in Burma; advocated for US pressure on other countries to support the inclusion of Burma on the agenda of the UN Security Council. Cambodia: Urged US to press the Cambodian government to fulfill its promise to release land activists wrongfully imprisoned in 2007. China: Advocated for US to press China to fulfill human rights commitments related to the Olympics; urged US to raise concerns about ongoing pre-Olympics crackdown against dissidents and human rights defenders as well as lack of rule of law and citizens inability to seek legal redress for injustice. Colombia: Urged effective enforcement of human rights conditions on US military and demobilization aid to Colombia; urged delay of free trade agreement until more progress is made against paramilitary violence. Ethiopia: Urged US to call for the release of political detainees and deny assistance to abusive military units. Georgia: Urged US to press the Georgian government to undertake a thorough investigation into the police crackdown on demonstrators on November 7, 2007, and to undertake reforms in the penitentiary system and the criminal justice system. Global: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the Voluntary Principles for Security and Human Rights in the extractive industries; advocated for a cut-off of certain categories of US military aid to countries that recruit and use child soldiers in violation of international law or support non-state armed groups that recruit children. India: Urged US to push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in India-administered Kashmir. Indonesia: Supported the continued prohibition by the US on International Military Education and Training (IMET) and Foreign Military Financing (FMF) to Indonesia given continued abuses by the Indonesian military; urged US to raise the issue of abuses against child domestic workers with Indonesia and to press for amending the labor law to grant core labor rights to workers in the informal sector, including domestic workers; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about human rights abuses by the Indonesian military that are exacerbated by the lack of oversight over legal and illicit business practices. Iraq: Urged US to investigate allegations of torture and ill-treatment of detainees by Iraqi security forces; urged US to ensure that assistance to Iraq will not contribute to human rights violations; urged US military to prevent and prohibit mistreatment of Iraqis in US custody; urged US to accept a higher number of Iraqi refugees and to support other countries in the region who have Iraqi refugees. Israel/Palestinian Authority: Urged US to ensure that political agreements between the two parties be consistent with human rights norms; urged US to inform Israel that continued US military assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations and to inform the Palestinian Authority that any US security assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations by its security forces and by Palestinian armed groups. Jordan: Urged US to press Jordan to ensure that its counterterrorism measures comply with international human rights guarantees; urged US to support Iraqi refugees in Jordan; urged US to condition aid to Jordan on improvement in human rights standards. Kazakhstan: Urged US to condition Kazakhstans bid to chair the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to Kazakhstans progress in addressing human rights concerns such as media freedom and freedom of assembly. Libya: Urged US to push for improvements in human rights practices in Libya. Malaysia: Urged US to raise concerns about human rights abuses in the application of the Internal Security Act. Morocco: Urged US to press the Moroccan government to increase monitoring of human rights in Western Sahara. Nepal: Urged US to encourage Nepal to end disappearances and torture; urged US to prioritize human rights, particularly the impunity of the Nepal Army. North Korea: Urged US to incorporate human rights concerns into security discussions. Pakistan: Urged US to condition military aid on democratic reform; urged US to advocate for womens rights issues in Pakistan; urged US to support free expression for journalists and human rights activists in Pakistan; urged US to push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in Pakistan administered Kashmir. Philippines: Urged US to condition military aid on progress in the prosecution of members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines who are implicated in human rights violations. Russia: Urged US to press Russia to amend their NGO law to conform to international standards. Saudi Arabia: Urged US to protest Saudi restrictions on the freedom of religion and the freedom of expression and association. Sri Lanka: Called on US to push for an international human rights monitoring mission in Sri Lanka to investigate abuses by all sides to the conflict; urged US to address with Sri Lanka issues of child recruitment by armed groups with Sri Lankan military complicity and by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam; urged US to condition aid to Sri Lanka on improvement in human rights standards. Sudan: Urged US to press for action in Darfur by asking the UN Security Council to call on the Sudanese government to end human rights abuses and hold violators accountable. Thailand: Urged US to protest Thai government restrictions on civil liberties and to protect Thai human rights defenders; sought US to press Thailand not to return Lao Hmong refugees to Laos and to find durable solutions for Burmese refugees in Thailand; sought US support to press for the resumption of UNHCR status determination process in Thailand; urged US to condemn rights abuses by all sides in the conflict in southern Thailand; urged US to demand full respect of human rights and accountability from Thai counterparts in bilateral drug suppression efforts. Uganda: Urged US to push for human rights improvements in northern Uganda and to press for an end to torture in Uganda. Uzbekistan: Urged US to impose targeted sanctions against selected Uzbek government officials responsible for the May 2005 massacre at Andijan and the ensuing crackdown on civil society, and overall to condition its relationship with the Uzbek government on its fulfillment of specific human rights benchmarks. Urged US to help ensure protection from forced return and secure urgent resettlement of Uzbek refugees in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia, and other countries where their safety was at risk. Vietnam: Advocated for continuation of Vietnams status as a Country of Particular Concern for its restrictions on religious freedom.
Filing targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE, State, Dept of (DOS)
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2007 · year_end · YA
Filing targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE, State, Dept of (DOS)
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH via HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
2007 · year_end · YY
Legislation/Treaties "Department of Defense Authorization Bill: amendments on detainee status, interrogation and rendition (S. 1548) "Material support legislation (H.R. 2764)
Treaties/Legislation Extraordinary rendition legislation (S. 1876) Department of Defense Authorization Bill (S. 1548)
Treaties and Legislation "Advance Democracy Act (H.R. 1133) "Implementing the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act (H.R. 1)
Filing targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE, State, Dept of (DOS)
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH via HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
2007 · mid_year · MM
Legislation/Treaties • Department of Defense Authorization Bill: amendments on detainee status, interrogation and rendition (S. 1548) • Comprehensive immigration legislation (S. 1348) • Second Chance Act (H.R. 1593) • Material support legislation (H.R. 2764) • Amendments to the Military Commissions Act (S. 4060 and H.R. 1416) • Habeas Restoration Bills (H.R. 2826 and S. 185) • Close Guantanamo legislation (S. 1469 and S. 1249) • National Security with Justice Legislation (S. 1876) • Taping of Interrogations (H.R. 4951) Policies/Issues • Detention of and access to courts for enemy combatants held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations • Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies of terrorist suspects • Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism • Use of military commissions, combatant status review tribunals, and applicable fair trial procedures • Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances • Applicability and definition of fair trial/humane treatment standards in the Geneva Conventions • Death penalty: advocacy in favor of abolition and against expansion. • Access to courts for vulnerable populations: advocated against restrictions on court access for immigrants, criminal defendants, prisoners and enemy combatant detainees • Mandatory minimum sentences: advocated against inclusion of such sentences in crime bills • Immigration reform: advocated for fair recognition of homosexual couples under new immigration laws • Material witness warrants: advocated in favor of legislation to ensure that suspects are not detained as material witnesses • Immigration reform: advocated for reasoned enforcement policies that respect and incorporate due process and human rights protections • Vulnerable refugees and material support restrictions: protecting victims of terrorism from being defined as “supporters” of terrorism and barred entry into US
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH via HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
2006 · mid_year · MA
Civil Rights/Judiciary Legislation/Treaties • Defense Authorization Bill: amendments on detainee status, interrogation and rendition • Gang legislation • Streamlined Procedures Act: restrictions on habeas corpus for criminal defendants • Immigration legislation (H.R. 4437; S.2611; S.2454): mandatory and indefinite detention provisions, access to judicial review, expansion of aggravated felony definition • Sex offender legislation • Material witness warrant legislation (S.1739; companion House legislation) • Material support legislation (H.R. 5918; Senate amendment 4711 to S.22454) • Post-Hamdan: military commission legislation; legislation on Common Article 3 • Military Commissions Act of 2006 (S.3930) Policies/Issues • Detention of and access to courts for enemy combatants held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations • Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies of terrorist suspects • Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism • Use of military commissions, combatant status review tribunals, and applicable fair trial procedures • Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances • Applicability and definition of fair trial/humane treatment standards in the Geneva Conventions • Death penalty: advocacy in favor of abolition and against expansion. • Juveniles sentenced to life without parole: advocated for legislation that would preclude children being sentenced to life with parole; sought relief for those subject to this sentence • Access to courts for vulnerable populations: advocated against restrictions on court access for immigrants, criminal defendants, prisoners and enemy combatant detainees • Mandatory minimum sentences: advocated against inclusion of such sentences in crime bills • Immigration reform: advocated for fair recognition of homosexual couples under new immigration laws • Material witness warrants: advocated in favor of legislation to ensure that suspects are not detained as material witnesses • Immigration reform: advocated for reasoned enforcement policies that respect and incorporate due process and human rights protections • Vulnerable refugees and material support restrictions: protecting victims of terrorism from being defined as “supporters” of terrorism and barred entry into US
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH via HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
2006 · mid_year · MM
Legislation/Treaties • Defense Authorization Bill: amendments on detainee status, interrogation and rendition. • Gang legislation. • Streamlined Procedures Act: restrictions on habeas corpus for criminal defendants. • Immigration legislation (H.R. 4437; S.2611; S.2454): mandatory and indefinite detention provisions, access to judicial review, expansion of aggravated felony definition. • Sex offender legislation. • Material witness warrant legislation (S.1739; companion House legislation). • Material support legislation (H.R. 5918; Senate amendment 4711 to S.22454). • Post-Hamdan: military commission legislation; legislation on Common Article 3. Policies/Issues • Detention of and access to courts for enemy combatants held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations. • Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies of terrorist suspects. • Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism. • Use of military commissions, combatant status review tribunals, and applicable fair trial procedures. • Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances. • Applicability and definition of fair trial/humane treatment standards in the Geneva Conventions. • Death penalty: advocacy in favor of abolition and against expansion. • Juveniles sentenced to life without parole: advocated for legislation that would preclude children being sentenced to life with parole; sought relief for those subject to this sentence. • Access to courts for vulnerable populations: advocated against restrictions on court access for immigrants, criminal defendants, prisoners and enemy combatant detainees. • Mandatory minimum sentences: advocated against inclusion of such sentences in crime bills. • Material witness warrants: advocated in favor of legislation to ensure that suspects are not detained as material witnesses. • Immigration reform: advocated for reasoned enforcement policies that respect and incorporate due process and human rights protections. • Vulnerable refugees and material support restrictions: protecting victims of terrorism from being defined as “supporters” of terrorism and barred entry into U.S. • Immigration reform: advocated for fair recognition of homosexual couples under new immigration laws.
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH via HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
2005 · year_end · YY
Filing targets: Defense, Dept of (DOD), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Security Council (NSC), Office of the Vice President of the United States, SENATE, State, Dept of (DOS)
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2005 · mid_year · MM
Filing targets: Defense, Dept of (DOD), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Natl Security Council (NSC), Office of the Vice President of the United States, SENATE, State, Dept of (DOS)
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH via HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
2004 · year_end · YY
Legislation/Treaties  402(b)(3) and 403(a) of the United States Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Act, 22 U.S.C. sections 7601 et seq. (2003)  S. 1435/H.R. 1765, Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003  S. 1194/H.R. 2387, Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act of 2003  S. 2526/H.R. 4591, Civil Liberties Restoration Act  H.R. 4676, S.2923, Second Chance Act Policies/Issues • Detention of enemy combatants held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations. • Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies. • Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism. • Use of military commissions, and combatant status review tribunals. • Detention and treatment of asylum seekers and non-citizens under immigration laws: the Homeland Security Enhancement Act of 2003 and the “CLEAR Act.” • Establishment and functioning of civil rights oversight mechanism in Department of Homeland Security. • Post 9-11 antiterrorism efforts, especially detention and due process issues. • Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances. • Prison rape. • Mentally ill offenders in prison: Urged the U.S. to pass new legislation on mentally ill offenders (S. 1194/H.R. 2387, Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act of 2003). • Urged the U.S. to repeal sections of the 402(b)(3) and 403(a) of the United States Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Act, 22 U.S.C. sections 7601 et seq. (2003), requiring the expenditure of 33 % of HIV prevention funds on abstinence-until-marriage programs. • Rights of ex-offenders: Urged U.S. to end disenfranchisement of ex-offenders in their communities regarding the right to housing and the right to vote.
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2003 · year_end · YA
· USA PATRIOT Act (oversight mechanisms) · Bill on civil liberties post 9-11 · H.R. 1029, Detention of Enemy Combatants Act · H.R. 2671, Clear law Enforcement for Criminal Alien Removal Act of 2003 · Detention of enemy combatants apprehended inside the U.S. · Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism · Establishment of Civil Rights Oversight Mechanism in the new Department of Homeland Security · Guantanamo detainees (child detainees) · Military Commissions: Urged change in rules and structure
Foreign Relations Treaties and Legislation · Labor Rights – CAFTA · P.L.199, Omnibus Appropriations Act · Economic Support Fund – money for prosecution of war crimes in Iraq · Fiscal Year 2004 Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill (S 1420, HR 2800) o Sections on Afghanistan, Central Asia, and Colombia · H.R. 2330, the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003 Policies/Issues Afghanistan: Urged the U.S. to provide greater assistance, particularly for security matters. Algeria/Tunisia/North Africa: Urged Secretary of State to raise human rights concerns during December 2003 visits to capitals. Alien Tort Claims Act: Opposed efforts by the Dept. of Justice to prevent ATCA from being used by victims of human rights abuses against corporations. Burma: Urged the U.S. to impose greater sanctions. Central Asia/Caucasus: Discussed general human rights issues in the region. Colombia: Urged President to raise human rights during meeting; opposed certification of compliance with aid conditionality requirements of FY2003 Foreign Operations Appropriations Act (Public Law 108-7); urged greater focus on helping Colombia apprehend paramilitaries; urged increased funding for human rights related activities; opposed U.S. support for alternative penal law. International Criminal Court: Urged U.S. to stop using bilateral impunity (Article 98) agreements that seek to exempt U.S. citizens from the ICC. Iraq: Urged U.S. to support the creation of an international criminal tribunal to try those accused of committing war crimes; urged that mass graves and other evidence of past abuses be protected; asked that greater resources be used to provide security for Iraqi civilians. Israel/Occupied Territories: Urged the U.S. to deduct from loan guarantees to Israel sums equivalent to costs of separation barrier unless Israel changes the course and operation of barrier to address international law violations. Middle East: Urged the U.S. to take steps to promote democratic reform in countries covered by the President’s Middle East Partnership Initiative. Rendition: Urged U.S. to comply with its obligations not to return or transfer persons to countries where they may be tortured and to strengthen those obligations UN Human Rights Commission: Urged the U.S. to support resolutions on Cuba, China, Turkmenistan, and Chechnya. Turkmenistan: Urged that Turkmenistan be designated a “Country of Particular Concern” under the U.S. International Religious Freedom Act (Public Law 105-292). Uzbekistan: Opposed certification of compliance with aid conditionality requirements of FY2004 Foreign Operations Appropriations Act (Public Law 199), urged that Uzbekistan be designated a “Country of Particular Concern” under the U.S. International Religious Freedom Act (Public Law 105-292)
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH via HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
2003 · year_end · YA
Civil Rights Legislation/Treaties · S. 1435/H.R. 1765, Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 · S. 1194/H.R. 2387, Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act of 2003 · S. 132, National Death Penalty Moratorium Act of 2003 · S. 402/H.R. 2574, Federal Death Penalty Abolition Act of 2003 · USA PATRIOT Act (oversight mechanisms) · Bill on civil liberties post 9-11 · H.R. 2671, Clear law Enforcement for Criminal Alien Removal Act of 2003 · H.R. 1029, Detention of Enemy Combatants Act Policies/Issues · Death Penalty: Juvenile/disabled offenders, national moratorium · Detention of enemy combatants apprehended inside the U.S. · Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism · Establishment of Civil Rights Oversight Mechanism in the new Department of Homeland Security · Guantanamo detainees · Military Commissions: Urged change in rules and structure · Post 9-11 antiterrorism efforts, including portions of the USA Patriot Act, treatment of immigrants, and Operation Liberty Shield’s impact on asylum seekers. · Prison rape · Mentally ill offenders in prison · Rights of ex-offenders · Rights of gays in the military · Trafficking in persons · U.S. Implementation of the Convention against Torture, including renditions of terrorist suspects by U.S. officials to other countries
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH via HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
2003 · mid_year · MM
· Detention of enemy combatants apprehended inside the U.S. · Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism, Congressional oversight mechanisms related to this issue · Establishment of Civil Rights Oversight Mechanism in the new Department of Homeland Security · Hate Crimes post 9/11 · Guantanamo detainees · Military Commissions: Urged change in rules and structure · Post 9-11 antiterrorism efforts, including portions of the USA Patriot Act, treatment of immigrants, and Operation Liberty Shield’s impact on asylum seekers.
Treaties and Legislation · OPCAT Ratification · Labor Rights – CAFTA · P.L. 108-7, Omnibus Appropriations Act o Section 523, Afghanistan o Section 574, Uzbekistan o Sections 564 and 565, Colombia · P.L. 108-11, Wartime Supplemental Appropriations Bill · Economic Support Fund – money for prosecution of war crimes in Iraq · Fiscal Year 2004 Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill (S 1420, HR 2800) o Sections on Afghanistan, Central Asia, and Colombia · H.R. 2330, the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003 · H. Res. 118, Calling for the establishment of an international criminal tribunal · S. Res. 101, Calling for the prosecution of Iraqis and their supporters for war crimes · S. J. Res. 3/H con. Res. 32, Expressing the sense of Congress with respect to human rights in Central Asia · H. Con. Res. 136, Providing that NATO should play a greater role in promoting security in Afghanistan Policies/Issues Afghanistan: Urged the U.S. to provide greater assistance, particularly for security matters. Alien Tort Claims Act: Opposed efforts by the Dept. of Justice to prevent ATCA from being used by victims of human rights abuses against corporations. Burma: Urged the U.S. to impose greater sanctions. Central Asia: Discussed general human rights issues in the region. Colombia: Urged President to raise human rights during meeting, opposed certification of compliance with aid conditionality requirements of FY2003 Foreign Operations Appropriations Act (Public Law 108-7). Cuba: Worked to get resolution condemning human rights abuses passed at the U.N. Human Rights Commission. Egypt: Worked to get Egypt’s aid conditioned on compliance with the Convention against Torture. International Criminal Court: Urged U.S. to stop using bilateral impunity (Article 98) agreements that seek to exempt U.S. citizens from the ICC. Iraq: Pressed for the creation of an international criminal tribunal to try those accused of committing war crimes, urged that mass graves and other evidence of past abuses be protected, asked that greater resources be used to provide security for Iraqi civilians. Torture: Pressed for clarification by Bush administration following reports of the possible use of torture by U.S. personnel overseas, and urged Pres. Bush to condemn torture. UN Human Rights Commission: Urged the U.S. to work to get resolutions on Cuba, China, and Chechnya passed. Uzbekistan: Opposed certification of compliance with aid conditionality requirements of FY2003 Foreign Operations Appropriations Act (Public Law 108-7), worked to get Uzbekistan designated a “Country of Particular Concern” under the U.S. International Religious Freedom Act (Public Law 105-292) Other: Monitored State Department reports on human rights, democracy assistance, trafficking in persons, and religious freedom.
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH via HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
2003 · mid_year · RR
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH via HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
2002 · year_end · YA
Filing targets: Defense, Dept of (DOD), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Security Council (NSC), Office of the Vice President of the United States, SENATE, State, Dept of (DOS)
Foreign Relations Treaties and Legislation • Advance Democracy Act (H.R. 1133) • Global Online Freedom Act (H.R. 4780) • Implementing the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act (H.R. 1) • Andijan Accountability Act (S. 2770) • Child Soldiers Prevention Act (S. 1175 and H.R. 3028) • Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill (H.R. 2764) • UN Human Rights Council legislation (S. 1698) Policies/Issues Afghanistan: Advocated for greater support for security in Afghanistan, particularly for women; advocated for US to support vetting of Afghan officials potentially involved in war crimes; advocated for allowing access by the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission to detainees in US custody. Bangladesh: Urged US to raise with Bangladesh concerns about the extra-judicial activities of Bangladesh’s Rapid Action Battalion. Burma: Called for increased US pressure for democratic change in Burma and renewed sanctions in Burma; advocated for US pressure on other countries to support the inclusion of Burma on the agenda of the UN Security Council; urged US to press the UN to establish a commission of inquiry into war crimes and crimes against humanity in Burma. China: Advocated for the US to press for access to justice for Chinese citizens attempting to file class action lawsuits. Colombia: Urged effective enforcement of human rights conditions on US military and demobilization aid to Colombia. Egypt: Urged US to raise with Egypt concerns about arbitrary and mass arrests of suspects in counterterrorism operations and torture in detention. Ethiopia: Urged US to call for release of political detainees and deny assistance to abusive military units. Global: Urged US to take a stronger stance on the Voluntary Principles for Security and Human Rights in the extractive industries; advocated for a cut-off of certain categories of US military aid to countries that recruit and use child soldiers in violation of international law or support militias that recruit children. India: Urged US to push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in India-administered Kashmir. Indonesia: Supported the continued prohibition by the US on International Military Education and Training (IMET) and Foreign Military Financing (FMF) to Indonesia given continued abuses by the Indonesian military; urged US to raise the issue of abuses against child domestic workers with Indonesia and to press for amending the labor law to grant core labor rights to workers in the informal sector, including domestic workers; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about human rights abuses by the Indonesian military that are exacerbated by the lack of oversight over legal and illicit business practices. Iran: Urged US to refrain from tying allocation of funds to activists and reform programs with programs of regime change. Iraq: Urged US to investigate allegations of torture and ill-treatment of detainees by Iraqi security forces; urged US to ensure that assistance to Iraq will not contribute to human rights violations; urged US military to prevent and prohibit mistreatment of Iraqis in US custody; urged US to accept a higher number of Iraqi refugees and to support other countries in the region who have Iraqi refugees; urged US to press Iraq to release 5 Iranian diplomats in Iraq or to provide adequate due process rights for these diplomats. Israel/Palestinian Authority: Urged US to ensure that political agreements between the two parties be consistent with human rights norms; urged US to inform Israel that continued US military assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations and to inform the Palestinian Authority that any US security assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations by its security forces and by Palestinian armed groups. Jordan: Urged US to make clear to Jordan that its counterterrorism measures should comply with international human rights guarantees; urged US to support Iraqi refugees in Jordan. Lebanon: Urged US to raise with Lebanon concerns that the Lebanese government avoid civilian casualties in clashes with armed groups; called on US to ensure that US counterterrorism assistance is not used in the commission of human right s violations. Libya: Urged US to push for improvements in human rights practices in Libya. Malaysia: Urged US to raise concerns about human rights abuses in the application of the Internal Security Act. Morocco: Called on US to ensure US counterterrorism assistance is not used in the commission of human rights violations. Nepal: Urged US to encourage Nepal to end “disappearances” and torture; urged US to prioritize human rights, particularly the impunity of the Nepal Army. North Korea: Urged US to raise with North Korea concerns about workers’ rights issues at Kaesong Industrial Complex and to include human rights issues in any dialogue with North Korea. Pakistan: Urged US to condition military aid on democratic reform; urged US to advocate for women’s rights issues in Pakistan; urged US to support free expression for journalists and human rights activists in Pakistan; urged US to push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in Pakistan administered Kashmir. Philippines: Advocated for greater security in the Philippines, particularly for civilians targeted by radical armed groups; urged US to condition military aid on progress in the prosecution of members of the Philippine Armed Forces who have participated in human rights violations. Russia: Urged US to pressure Russia to amend their NGO law to conform to international standards. Saudi Arabia: Urged US to protest Saudi restrictions on the freedom of religion and the freedom of expression and association; urged US to discuss with Saudi Arabia the nature of diplomatic assurances for detainees who have been transferred from the detention center in Guantanamo Bay to Saudi Arabia. Sri Lanka: Called on US to push for an international human rights monitoring mission in Sri Lanka to investigate issues brought about by increasing violence in the country; urged US to address with Sri Lanka issues of child recruitment by armed forces with Sri Lankan government complicity and by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. Sudan: Urged US to press for action in Darfur by asking the UN Security Council to urge the Sudanese government to end human rights abuses and hold violators accountable. Thailand: Urged US to protest Thai restrictions on civil liberties; sought US pressure on Thailand not to return Cambodian refugees to Cambodia and to find durable solutions for Burmese refugees in Thailand; urged US to condemn rights abuses by all sides in the conflict in southern Thailand. Tunisia: Advocated for fair treatment of Guantanamo detainees returned to Tunisia. Uganda: Urged US to push for human rights improvements in northern Uganda and to press for an end to torture in Uganda. United Arab Emirates: Urged US to pressure the UAE to abide by international labor standards. Uzbekistan: Urged US to condition its relationship with Uzbekistan on an independent, international inquiry into the May 2005 massacre in Andijan and to impose sanctions targeting President Karimov and government officials responsible for the Andijan massacre and ensuing repression; urged US to help ensure protection from forced return and urgent resettlement of Uzbek refugees in Kazakhstan, Russia, and Ukraine. Vietnam: Advocated for US to support the rights of Montagnards who have faced violent reprisals by the government in Vietnam; advocated for continuation of Vietnam’s status as a Country of Particular Concern for its restrictions on religious freedom.
Homeland Security Treaties/Legislation • Extraordinary rendition legislation (S. 1876) • Department of Defense Authorization Bill (S. 1548) • Guantanamo closure bills (S. 1469 and S. 1249) • Habeas restoration bills (H.R. 2826 and S. 185) • Material support legislation (H.R. 2764) • Iraqi refugees legislation (H.R. 2265) • Comprehensive immigration reform legislation (S. 1348) Policies/Issues • Detention of and access to courts for enemy combatants held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations • Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies of terrorism suspects • Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism • Use of military commissions and combatant status review tribunals • Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances • Terrorism-related bars on admission jeopardizing resettlement and asylum status of vulnerable refugees • Immigration policies: indefinite and mandatory detention, criminalization of low-level offenses, access to courts and due process, mandatory deportation policies • Admission of Iraqi refugees into the US
Filing targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE, State, Dept of (DOS)
Foreign Relations Treaties and Legislation • Advance Democracy Act (H.R. 1133) • Global Online Freedom Act (H.R. 4780) • Implementing the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act (H.R. 1) • Andijan Accountability Act (S. 2770) • Military Commissions Act (S. 3930) • Child Soldiers Prevention Act (H.R. 5966) • Central Asia Democracy Promotion Act (H.R. 5382) Policies/Issues Afghanistan: Advocated for greater support for security in Afghanistan, particularly for women; advocated for US to support vetting of Afghan officials potentially involved in war crimes; advocated for allowing access by the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission to detainees in US custody. Bangladesh: Urged US to raise with Bangladesh concerns about the extra-judicial activities of Bangladesh’s Rapid Action Battalion. Burma: Called for increased US pressure for democratic change in Burma and renewed sanctions in Burma; advocated for US pressure on other countries to support the inclusion of Burma on the agenda of the UN Security Council; urged US to press the UN to establish a commission of inquiry into war crimes and crimes against humanity in Burma. Cambodia: Called on US to press Cambodia not to return Montagnard refugees to Vietnam; urged US scrutiny of Cambodian government interference in the Khmer Rouge Tribunal. China: Urged US to develop a code of conduct for internet companies doing business in China; advocated for the US to press for access to justice for Chinese citizens attempting to file class action lawsuits. Colombia: Urged US to oppose Colombian efforts to pass weak demobilization law for foreign terrorist organizations; urged conditioning funding for paramilitary demobilization process. Egypt: Urged US to raise with Egypt concerns about arbitrary and mass arrests of suspects in counterterrorism operations and torture in detention. Global: Urged US to protect user privacy and to support the regulation of internet companies to prevent the violation of rights of expression and information; urged US to take a stronger stance on the Voluntary Principles for Security and Human Rights in the extractive industries; advocated for a cut-off of certain categories of US military aid to countries that recruit and use child soldiers in violation of international law or support militias that recruit children. India: Advocated for US to press India to make human rights a priority in discussions around a constitutional assembly for Nepal; urged US to push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in India-administered Kashmir. Indonesia: Supported the continued prohibition by the US on International Military Education and Training (IMET) and Foreign Military Financing (FMF) to Indonesia given continued abuses by the Indonesian military; urged US to raise the issue of abuses against child domestic workers with Indonesia and to press for amending the labor law to grant core labor rights to workers in the informal sector, including domestic workers; urged US to raise with Indonesia concerns about human rights abuses by the Indonesian military that are exacerbated by the lack of oversight over legal and illicit business practices. Iraq: Urged US to investigate allegations of torture and ill-treatment of detainees by Iraqi security forces; urged US to ensure that assistance to Iraq will not contribute to human rights violations; urged against US involvement in the creation or support of Iraqi “death squads” in combating insurgency; urged US to ensure adequate funding and resources for effective operation of Iraq Property Claims Commission; urged US military to prevent and prohibit mistreatment of Iraqis in US custody; urged US to accept a higher number of Iraqi refugees and to support other countries in the region who have Iraqi refugees. Israel/Palestinian Authority: Urged US to ensure that political agreements between the two parties be consistent with human rights norms; urged US to inform Israel that continued US military assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations and to inform the Palestinian Authority that any US security assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations by its security forces and by Palestinian armed groups; urged US to press Israel to cease all illegal settlement activity and to set up US-led international mechanism to monitor settlement activity; urged the US to cut off the supply of cluster munitions to Israel because of misuse during the fighting in Lebanon. Jordan: Urged US to make clear to Jordan that its counterterrorism measures should comply with international human rights guarantees; urged US to support Iraqi refugees in Jordan. Kyrgyzstan: Urged US to use its leverage with the Kyrgyz government to ensure it resists pressure from Uzbekistan to return Uzbek refugees after the May 2005 massacre in Uzbekistan. Lebanon: Urged US to raise with Lebanon concerns about the formation of the Hariri Tribunal. Libya: Urged US to push for improvements in human rights practices in Libya. Malaysia: Urged US to raise concerns about human rights abuses in the application of the Internal Security Act. Morocco: Called on US to ensure US counter-terrorism assistance is not used in the commission of human rights violations; urged US to press Morocco not to mistreat criminal suspects. Nepal: Urged US to encourage Nepal to end “disappearances” and torture; urged the non-certification of Nepal under US legislation conditioning military aid on human rights progress; urged US to prioritize human rights, particularly the impunity of the Royal Nepal Army (RNA). North Korea: Urged US to raise with North Korea concerns about workers’ rights issues at Kaesong Industrial Complex. Pakistan: Urged US to advocate for women’s rights issues in Pakistan; urged US to support free expression for journalists and human rights activists in Pakistan; urged US to push for accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses in Pakistan administered Kashmir. Russia: Urged US to pressure Russia to amend their NGO law to conform to international standards. Saudi Arabia: Urged US to push for Saudi Arabia to register local human rights organizations; urged US to protest Saudi restrictions on the freedom of religion and the freedom of expression and association; urged US to discuss with Saudi Arabia the nature of diplomatic assurances for detainees who have been transferred from the detention center in Guantanamo Bay to Saudi Arabia. Sri Lanka: Called on US to push for an international human rights monitoring mission in Sri Lanka to investigate issues brought about by increasing violence in the country; urged US to address with Sri Lanka issues of child recruitment by armed forces with Sri Lankan government complicity and by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. Sudan: Urged US to press for action in Darfur by asking the UN Security Council to end human rights abuses and hold violators accountable. Thailand: Urged US to protest Thai restrictions on civil liberties; sought US pressure on Thailand not to return Cambodian refugees to Cambodia and to find durable solutions for Burmese refugees in Thailand; urged US to condemn rights abuses by all sides in the conflict in southern Thailand. Tunisia: Urged US to monitor prison conditions, to encourage access for independent monitoring procedures, and to press Tunisia to bring prisons into compliance with international norms; urged US to speak out on crackdowns on media freedoms in Tunisia. Uganda: Urged US to push for human rights improvements in northern Uganda and to press for an end to torture in Uganda. Uzbekistan: Urged US to condition its relationship with Uzbekistan on an independent, international inquiry into the May 2005 massacre in Andijan and to impose sanctions targeting President Karimov and government officials responsible for the Andijan massacre and ensuing repression; urged US to help ensure protection from forced return and urgent resettlement of Uzbek refugees in Kazakhstan, Russia, and Ukraine. Vietnam: Advocated for US to support the rights of Montagnards who have faced violent reprisals by the government in Vietnam; advocated for continuation of Vietnam’s status as a Country of Particular Concern for its restrictions on religious freedom.
Homeland Security Treaties/Legislation • Material support legislation (H.R. 5918; Senate Amendment 4711 to S.2454) • Comprehensive immigration reform legislation • Military Commissions Act of 2006 (S.3930) Policies/Issues • Detention of and access to courts for enemy combatants held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations • Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies of terrorism suspects • Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism • Use of military commissions and combatant status review tribunals • Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances • Terrorism-related bars on admission jeopardizing resettlement and asylum status of vulnerable refugees • Immigration policies: indefinite and mandatory detention, criminalization of low-level offenses, access to courts and due process, mandatory deportation policies
Filing targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE, State, Dept of (DOS)
Treaties and Legislation • DOD Authorization Bill: amendments on detainee interrogation and legal status, rendition of detainees to foreign countries. • DOD Appropriations Bill (including detainee amendment). • Darfur Accountability Act. • Advance Democracy Act. • Security Assistance Legislation (HR 3057). • Global Online Freedom Act (H.R. 4780). • International Religious Freedom Act. Policies/Issues: Afghanistan: Advocated for greater support for security in Afghanistan, particularly for women; advocated for U.S. to support vetting of Afghan officials potentially involved in war crimes; advocated for access by the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission to detainees in U.S. custody. Burma: Called for increased U.S. pressure for democratic change and renewed sanctions; advocated for U.S. pressure on other countries to support inclusion of Burma on the agenda of the Security Council. Cambodia: Called on U.S. to press Cambodia not to return Montagnard refugees to Vietnam. China: Urged U.S. to develop a code of conduct for internet companies doing business in China; advocated for President Bush to raise human rights concerns in dialogue with President Hu. Colombia: Urged U.S. to oppose Colombian efforts to pass weak demobilization law for foreign terrorist organizations; urged conditioning funding for paramilitary demobilization process. Egypt: Urged U.S. to raise with Egypt concerns about arbitrary and mass arrests of suspects in counter-terrorism operations and torture in detention; urged the State Department to include human rights provisions in the Free Trade Agreement with Egypt. Global: Urged U.S. government to protect user privacy and to support regulating internet companies so that they do no violate rights of expression and information; urged U.S. government to take a stronger stance on the Voluntary Principles for Security and Human Rights in the extractive industries. India: Advocated for human rights protections for victims of the tsunami; advocated for support by India for placing human rights as a priority in discussions around a constitutional assembly for Nepal. Indonesia: Supported continued prohibition on International Military Education and Training (IMET) and Foreign Military Financing (FMF) to Indonesia given continued abuses by the Indonesian military; urged U.S. to focus on human rights in Aceh following tsunami; urged that relief work in Aceh target displaced populations both from the armed conflict and the tsunami disaster; urged the U.S. Department of Labor and U.S. Trade Representative to raise the issue of abuses against child domestic workers with Indonesia and press for amending the labor law to afford core labor rights to workers in the informal sector, including domestic workers; advocated for human rights language on security assistance to Indonesia under Foreign Operations Bill HR 3057; highlighted human rights abuses by the Indonesian military that are exacerbated by the lack of oversight over legal and illicit business practices. Iran: Urged Under-Secretary of State Nicholas Burns to withdraw funding to Iranian NGOs because such funding has elicited undue scrutiny from the Iranian government. Iraq: Urged U.S. to investigate allegations of torture and ill-treatment of detainees by Iraqi security forces; urged U.S. Congress to ensure that assistance to Iraqi government will not contribute to human rights violations; urged against U.S. involvement in the creation or support of “death squads” in combating insurgency; urged U.S. to ensure adequate funding and resources for effective operation of Iraq Property Claims Commission; urged U.S. military to prevent and prohibit mistreatment of Iraqis in U.S. custody. Israel/Palestinian Authority: Urged U.S. to ensure that political agreements between the two parties be consistent with human rights norms; urged the U.S. to inform Israel that continued U.S. military assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations and to inform Palestinian Authority that any U.S. security assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations by its security forces and by Palestinian armed groups; urged U.S. to press Israel to cease all illegal settlement activity and to set up U.S.-led international mechanism to monitor settlement activity. Kyrgyzstan: Urged Kyrgyz government to resist pressure from Uzbekistan to return Uzbek refugees after Andijan massacre. Malaysia: Urged U.S. to raise concerns about human rights abuses in the application of the Internal Security Act. Morocco: Called on U.S. to ensure U.S. counter-terrorism assistance is not used in commission of human rights violations and to press Morocco not to mistreat criminal suspects. Nepal: Urged U.S. to press Nepal to end “disappearances” and torture; advocated for human rights language on security assistance to Nepal under Foreign Operations bill HR 3057; urged U.S. to halt security assistance to Nepal until human rights conditions are met; urged non-certification of Nepal under U.S. legislation conditioning military aid on human rights progress; urged U.S. to prioritize human rights, particularly impunity of the Royal Nepal Army (RNA). Russia: Urged U.S. to pressure Russia to amend their NGO law to conform to international norms. Saudi Arabia: Urged Bush administration to take stronger steps to protest Saudi restrictions on the exercise of freedom of religion. Sudan: Urged U.S. to press for action in Darfur by asking the U.N. Security Council to end human rights abuses and hold violators accountable. Thailand: Urged U.S. to protest Thai restrictions on civil liberties; sought U.S. pressure on Thailand not to return Cambodian refugees to Cambodia and to help find durable solutions for Burmese refugees in Thailand; urged U.S. to condemn violations of humanitarian law by all sides in the conflict in southern Thailand. Tunisia: Urged U.S. to monitor prison conditions, encourage access for independent monitoring procedures, and press Tunisia to bring prisons into compliance with international norms; urged U.S. to speak out on crackdowns on media freedoms in Thailand. Turkmenistan: Urged that Turkmenistan be designated a Country of Particular Concern under the U.S. International Religious Freedom Act (Public Law 105-292). Uganda: Urged U.S. to push for human rights improvements in war-affected northern Uganda and to press for an end to torture. Uzbekistan: Urged U.S. to condition its relationship with Uzbekistan on an independent, international inquiry into the massacre in Andijan, to close its military facility there absent progress, and to impose sanctions targeting President Karimov and government officials responsible for the Andijan massacre and ensuing cover-up; urged U.S. to help ensure protection from forced return and urgent resettlement of Uzbek refugees in Kazakhstan, Russia, and Ukraine; urged Defense Department to support efforts to press Uzbekistan on human rights. Vietnam: Advocated for U.S. to support the rights of Montagnards who have faced violent reprisals by the government in Vietnam; advocated for continuation of Country of Particular Concern status for religious freedom.
Treaties/Legislation: • Defense Authorization Bill: amendments on detainee status, interrogation and rendition. • Material support legislation (H.R. 5918; Senate Amm. 4711 to S.2454). • Comprehensive immigration reform legislation (House and Senate). Policies/Issues • Detention of and access to courts for enemy combatants held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations. • Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies of terrorist suspects. • Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism. • Use of military commissions and combatant status review tribunals. • Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances. • Terrorism-related bars on admission jeopardizing resettlement and asylum status of vulnerable refugees. • Immigration policies: indefinite and mandatory detention, criminalization of low-level offenses, access to courts and due process.
Filing targets: Defense, Dept of (DOD), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Security Council (NSC), Office of the Vice President of the United States, SENATE, State, Dept of (DOS)
Foreign Relations Treaties and Legislation • DOD Authorization Bill (H.R. 1588) • Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (S. 2845) • Consolidated Appropriations Act (H.R. 4818) (Sections on Nepal, Burma, Central Asia, Afghanistan, Indonesia, Colombia) Policies/Issues Afghanistan: Advocated for greater support for security in Afghanistan and especially the threat that lack of security poses to women. Angola: Urged U.S. government to press for greater accountability in the handling of oil revenues. Bahrain: Called on U.S. to urge release of local human rights defender and to oppose dissolution of local rights organizations. Burma: Called for increased U.S. pressure for democratic change. Colombia: Urged U.S. to oppose Colombian efforts to pass weak demobilization law for paramilitary forces; urged withholding funding for paramilitary demobilization process, including OAS mission in Colombia; opposed certification of compliance with aid conditionality requirements of FY2003 Foreign Operations Appropriations Act (Public Law 108-7). Egypt: Urged U.S. to raise with Egypt concerns about arbitrary and mass arrests of suspects in counter-terrorism operations and torture in detention. Ethiopia: Urged U.S. government and Congress to pressure Ethiopian government to investigate human rights abuses in Gambella province. Great Lakes: Urged U.S. government to take steps to protect civilians caught in conflicts in Burundi and Democratic Republic of the Congo. India: Advocated for steps against caste discrimination in children's access to education and health, especially those children who are HIV/AIDS affected. Indonesia: Supported continued prohibition on IMET/FMF to Indonesia given continued abuses by the Indonesian military; urged U.S. to focus on human rights in Aceh following tsunami. International Criminal Court: Urged U.S. to stop using bilateral impunity (Article 98) agreements that seek to exempt U.S. citizens from the ICC. Iraq: Urged U.S. to work for end to torture by Iraqi security forces; urged U.S. to establish process for returning to Iraqi government the originals of all documents seized by coalition forces since overthrow of former government, and ensure that officials of the Iraqi Special Tribunal and Iraqi criminal court have access to potential evidence in future criminal proceedings; urged U.S. to ensure adequate funding and resources for effective operation of Iraq Property Claims Commission. Israel/Palestinian Authority: Urged the U.S. to deduct from loan guarantees to Israel sums equivalent to costs of separation barrier unless Israel addresses international law violations; restrict transfer of armored bulldozers and certain U.S.-origin weapons systems used in violations of international law; inform Israel that continued U.S. military assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations; inform Palestinian Authority that any U.S. security assistance requires clear and measurable steps to halt serious rights violations by its security forces and by Palestinian armed groups; and, ensure that political agreements between the parties are consistent with human rights norms. Malaysia: Advocated for the rights of Acehnese refugees and the rights of Indonesian domestic workers in Malaysia. Middle East: Urged Bush administration to press for specific improvements in human rights in several countries under President’s Middle East democracy initiative. Morocco: Urged President Bush to raise concerns about arbitrary arrests and treatment of detainees during King Mohammed VI's visit to Washington; called on U.S. to ensure U.S. counter-terrorism assistance is not used in commission of human rights violations and to press government not to mistreat criminal suspects. Nepal: Urged U.S. pressure on Nepal to end “disappearances” and torture. Rendition: Urged U.S. to comply with its obligations not to return or transfer persons to countries where they are likely to be tortured and to strengthen those obligations. Russia: Urged President Bush to raise human rights issues in summit with Putin. Rwanda: Urged U.S. government to raise concerns with Rwanda about possible military intervention in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Saudi Arabia: urged that Saudi Arabia be designated "Country of Particular Concern" under International Religious Freedom Act (PL 105-292). Sri Lanka: Advocated for the U.S. to take a strong stance on LTTE recruitment of child soldiers and on the issue of killings of political opponents. Sudan: Urged U.S. to press for action in Darfur by the U.N. Security Council to end human rights abuses and hold violators accountable; urged U.S. support for sanctions related to Darfur crisis, and to support referral of situation in Darfur to the International Criminal Court. Turkmenistan: Urged that Turkmenistan be designated a “Country of Particular Concern” under the U.S. International Religious Freedom Act (Public Law 105-292). Trafficking in Persons: Urged U.S. to provide more detailed information on world-wide trafficking in persons. Uganda: Urged U.S. government to push for specific human rights improvements in the war-affected region of northern Uganda and to pressure for an end to torture. Uzbekistan: Urged Defense Department to support efforts to press Uzbekistan on human rights. Vietnam: Advocated for the U.S. government to support the rights of Montagnards who have faced violent reprisals by the government in Vietnam. Zimbabwe: Urged U.S. government to push for free and fair elections in Zimbabwe.
Legislation • S. 2528/ HR. 4591, Civil Liberties Restoration Act of 2004 • H.R. 10, the 9/11 Recommendations Implementation Act of 2004 • S. 2536, Homeland Security Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Protection Act of 2004 • H.R. 4674, To Prohibit the Return of Persons by the United States, for Purposes of detention, Interrogation, or Trial, to Countries Engaging in Torture or other Inhuman Treatment. Policies/Issues --Detention of enemy combatants held at Guantanamo Bay and other locations. --Torture and ill-treatment and interrogation policies. --Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism. --Use of military commissions, and combatant status review tribunals. --Detention and treatment of asylum seekers and non-citizens under immigration laws: the Homeland Security Enhancement Act of 2003 and the “CLEAR Act.” --Establishment and functioning of civil rights oversight mechanism in Department of Homeland Security. --Post 9-11 antiterrorism efforts, especially detention and due process issues. --Extraordinary renditions and use of diplomatic assurances.
Filing targets: Defense, Dept of (DOD), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Security Council (NSC), SENATE, State, Dept of (DOS), Vice President of the U.S.
Civil Rights Legislation/Treaties · S. 1435/H.R. 1765, Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 · S. 1194/H.R. 2387, Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act of 2003 · S. 132, National Death Penalty Moratorium Act of 2003 · S. 402/H.R. 2574, Federal Death Penalty Abolition Act of 2003 · USA PATRIOT Act (oversight mechanisms) · Bill on civil liberties post 9-11 · H.R. 2671, Clear law Enforcement for Criminal Alien Removal Act of 2003 · H.R. 1029, Detention of Enemy Combatants Act Policies/Issues · Death Penalty: Juvenile/disabled offenders, national moratorium · Detention of enemy combatants apprehended inside the U.S. · Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism · Establishment of Civil Rights Oversight Mechanism in the new Department of Homeland Security · Guantanamo detainees · Military Commissions: Urged change in rules and structure · Post 9-11 antiterrorism efforts, including portions of the USA Patriot Act, treatment of immigrants, and Operation Liberty Shield’s impact on asylum seekers. · Prison rape · Mentally ill offenders in prison · Rights of ex-offenders · Rights of gays in the military · Trafficking in persons · U.S. Implementation of the Convention against Torture, including renditions of terrorist suspects by U.S. officials to other countries
Filing targets: Defense, Dept of (DOD), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Security Council (NSC), Office of the Vice President of the United States, SENATE, State, Dept of (DOS)
· USA PATRIOT Act (oversight mechanisms) · Bill on civil liberties post 9-11 · H.R. 1029, Detention of Enemy Combatants Act · H.R. 2671, Clear law Enforcement for Criminal Alien Removal Act of 2003 · Detention of enemy combatants apprehended inside the U.S. · Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism · Establishment of Civil Rights Oversight Mechanism in the new Department of Homeland Security · Guantanamo detainees (child detainees) · Military Commissions: Urged change in rules and structure
Foreign Relations Treaties and Legislation · Labor Rights – CAFTA · P.L.199, Omnibus Appropriations Act · Economic Support Fund – money for prosecution of war crimes in Iraq · Fiscal Year 2004 Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill (S 1420, HR 2800) o Sections on Afghanistan, Central Asia, and Colombia · H.R. 2330, the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003 Policies/Issues Afghanistan: Urged the U.S. to provide greater assistance, particularly for security matters. Algeria/Tunisia/North Africa: Urged Secretary of State to raise human rights concerns during December 2003 visits to capitals. Alien Tort Claims Act: Opposed efforts by the Dept. of Justice to prevent ATCA from being used by victims of human rights abuses against corporations. Burma: Urged the U.S. to impose greater sanctions. Central Asia/Caucasus: Discussed general human rights issues in the region. Colombia: Urged President to raise human rights during meeting; opposed certification of compliance with aid conditionality requirements of FY2003 Foreign Operations Appropriations Act (Public Law 108-7); urged greater focus on helping Colombia apprehend paramilitaries; urged increased funding for human rights related activities; opposed U.S. support for alternative penal law. International Criminal Court: Urged U.S. to stop using bilateral impunity (Article 98) agreements that seek to exempt U.S. citizens from the ICC. Iraq: Urged U.S. to support the creation of an international criminal tribunal to try those accused of committing war crimes; urged that mass graves and other evidence of past abuses be protected; asked that greater resources be used to provide security for Iraqi civilians. Israel/Occupied Territories: Urged the U.S. to deduct from loan guarantees to Israel sums equivalent to costs of separation barrier unless Israel changes the course and operation of barrier to address international law violations. Middle East: Urged the U.S. to take steps to promote democratic reform in countries covered by the President’s Middle East Partnership Initiative. Rendition: Urged U.S. to comply with its obligations not to return or transfer persons to countries where they may be tortured and to strengthen those obligations UN Human Rights Commission: Urged the U.S. to support resolutions on Cuba, China, Turkmenistan, and Chechnya. Turkmenistan: Urged that Turkmenistan be designated a “Country of Particular Concern” under the U.S. International Religious Freedom Act (Public Law 105-292). Uzbekistan: Opposed certification of compliance with aid conditionality requirements of FY2004 Foreign Operations Appropriations Act (Public Law 199), urged that Uzbekistan be designated a “Country of Particular Concern” under the U.S. International Religious Freedom Act (Public Law 105-292)
Filing targets: Defense, Dept of (DOD), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Security Council (NSC), Office of the Vice President of the United States, SENATE, State, Dept of (DOS)
Civil Rights Legislation/Treaties · S. 1435/H.R. 1765, Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 · S. 1194/H.R. 2387, Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act of 2003 · S. 132, National Death Penalty Moratorium Act of 2003 · S. 402/H.R. 2574, Federal Death Penalty Abolition Act of 2003 · USA PATRIOT Act (oversight mechanisms) · Draft Bill on civil liberties post 9-11 Policies/Issues · Death Penalty: Juvenile/disabled offenders, national moratorium · Detention of enemy combatants apprehended inside the U.S. · Detention and treatment of aliens suspected of terrorism, Congressional oversight mechanisms related to this issue Prison rape · Rights of ex-felons · Rights of gays in the military · Trafficking in persons
Filing targets: Defense, Dept of (DOD), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Security Council (NSC), Office of the Vice President of the United States, SENATE, State, Dept of (DOS)