Issue Position: International Human Rights

Issue Position

The United States, as a world power, must remain a leader for human rights and be prepared to express outrage toward countries that violate those rights. The guiding principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, if accepted and enforced by all countries, promise a world community where each citizen is guaranteed fundamental freedoms and equality before the law. As a member of the Lantos Human Rights Commission, formerly known as the Congressional Human Rights Caucus, I have been working to protect the fundamental rights to which every person is entitled. I will continue to press the new Administration to lake a leadership role to protect human rights wherever they are threatened. I am pleased to share some of my efforts in Congress to safeguard human rights around the world.

Stopping the Genocide in Darfur

I am deeply concerned about the ongoing violence and humanitarian disaster in the Darfur region. This conflict has resonated with people all over the world who want this travesty to end. Rhode Island has been active on this tragic issue for many years, with Providence becoming the first US city to divest from companies tied to the Sudanese government in 2006. In 2007, Rhode Island passed Sudan divestment into law.

Since this crisis began in 2003, I have supported legislation to fund peacekeeping efforts in Sudan, encourage the work of the United Nations and African Union peacekeeping forces in the region, and call on the President to impose sanctions on the Sudanese government. In 2007, I voted for the Darfur Divestment and Accountability Act, which overwhelmingly passed the House of Representatives. This measure supports state, city, and university efforts to divest funds from, or restrict investments in, companies that conduct business operations in Sudan. I also joined my colleagues in sending a letter to Chinese President Hu Jintao before the 2008 Beijing Olympics urging him to use his influence to end Sudan's ongoing obstruction of peacekeeping and humanitarian efforts in order to protect civilians and restore stability to the Darfur region.

I am hopeful that President Obama will continue America's role as an international leader in working to stop the genocide in Darfur. According to human rights groups, there are currently over 250,000 Sudanese refugees in Chad and 185,000 internally displaced Chadians. I have written the Administration, encouraging a holistic approach to ending the conflict by formulating a policy that encompasses Chad as well as Sudan. I have also been supportive of the recent efforts of the International Criminal Court to investigate war crimes and crimes against humanity that have taken place in Sudan. In April 2009, Congressman Patrick Kennedy introduced legislation, which I am proud to co-sponsor, that urges President Obama to support UN Security Council referrals and prosecutions of situations involving genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. The bill also notes the important achievements of the ICC and Congress' support for bringing practitioners of genocide to justice.

Helping Human Rights Groups in Colombia

In spite of its democratic tradition, Colombia has suffered from internal conflict for over 40 years. This conflict has challenged the political structure, as well as endangered human rights across the country. While Colombian President Alvaro Uribe has reiterated his commitment to human rights, there continue to be troubling reports of threats to labor and community organizers across the country. In 2008, the U.S. Department of State's Country Report on Human Rights Practices highlighted that despite laws protecting the freedoms of assembly and association, they were "limited in practice by threats and acts of violence committed by illegal armed groups." Recognizing the many difficult challenges President Uribe faces in strengthening the rule of law during an ongoing conflict, I have joined my colleagues in expressing our deep concern that these incidents are handled expeditiously by the Colombian government, and repeatedly called on him to act on these serious allegations.

Ensuring the Rights of People with Disabilities

On December 5, 2006, I was pleased to co-chair a Congressional Human Rights Caucus briefing on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities. After agreeing to its terms, the convention requires countries to take measures to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights by persons with disabilities. The convention was ratified in December 2006, and so far has 139 signatories. I have monitored this issue over the years, and I am proud that progress has been made in this area. This effort is critical to the empowerment of a community with great potential and helps break down barriers- both physical ones, and those shaped by stereotypes. I will continue to work with my colleagues to make sure people with disabilities beyond our borders are treated fairly.

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