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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 · fourth_quarter · 4T
Treaties and Legislation -William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (S. 3061 and H.R. 3887) Policies/Issues (continued): 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. 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 encourage Thailand to adhere to the restoration of democracy, lift government restrictions on civil liberties, and protect Thai rights defenders; 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; and sought US support to press for the resumption of UNHCR status determination process. 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.
Source: Senate LDA
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.
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
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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 -William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (S. 3061 and H.R. 3887) Policies/Issues (continued): 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. 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 encourage Thailand to adhere to the restoration of democracy, lift government restrictions on civil liberties, and protect Thai rights defenders; 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; and sought US support to press for the resumption of UNHCR status determination process. 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/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 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.
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 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 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 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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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/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.
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.
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
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
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) 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
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Treaties and Legislation -William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (S. 3061 and H.R. 3887) Policies/Issues (continued): 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. 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 encourage Thailand to adhere to the restoration of democracy, lift government restrictions on civil liberties, and protect Thai rights defenders; 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; and sought US support to press for the resumption of UNHCR status determination process. 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) 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
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 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.
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) 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
Freedom through Renewable Energy Expansion (FREE) Act
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
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.
Freedom through Renewable Energy Expansion (FREE) Act
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Treaties and Legislation "Advance Democracy Act (H.R. 1133) "Implementing the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act (H.R. 1)
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
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
Responsibility to Iraqi Refugees Act of 2007
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
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
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) • 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
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
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
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.
To enact title 51, United States Code, "National and Commercial Space Programs", as positive law.
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
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.
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) • 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
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.
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) • 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
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
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
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) • 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
Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility Closure Act of 2007
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
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
Department of Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
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
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) • 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
Department of Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Treaties/Legislation Extraordinary rendition legislation (S. 1876) Department of Defense Authorization Bill (S. 1548)
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)
Human Rights Council Funding Reform Act of 2007
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
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
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
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) • 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
National Security with Justice Act of 2007
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Treaties/Legislation Extraordinary rendition legislation (S. 1876) Department of Defense Authorization Bill (S. 1548)
National Security with Justice Act of 2007
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
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
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.
Effective Terrorists Prosecution Act of 2006
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
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
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) • 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
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)
Expanding Education for Military Families Act of 2003
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
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
Expanding Education for Military Families Act of 2003
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
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.
A bill to amend the material witness statute to strengthen procedural safeguards, and for other purposes.
Client: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH · Firm: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
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
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.
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
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
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.
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 Policies/Issues (continued): 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
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 Policies/Issues (continued): 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 · 3A
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
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.
Filing targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE, State, Dept of (DOS)
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.
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.
Filing targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE, State, Dept of (DOS)
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH via HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
2008 · first_quarter · Q1
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.
Filing targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE, State, Dept of (DOS)
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH via HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
2008 · first_quarter · Q1
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.
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH via HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
2007 · mid_year · MA
Filing targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE
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 · year_end · YA
Filing targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE
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
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) • 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)