Human Rights

"...recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world."
           -Preamble to the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948

 

Human Rights

July 1, 2009 Panel Event- Dilemma for US NGOs: Counterterrorism Laws vs. the Humanitarian Imperative

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July 1, 2009

The legal constraints national security laws impose of U.S. charitable organizations cause tensions with international law and codes for humanitarian aid and development programs. The standards and principles expressed in the Geneva Conventions and International Red Cross Code of Conduct could be emulated by the U.S and incorporated into future polices.

This panel discussion featured NGO leaders and experts from the U.S. who shared their expertise on humanitarian codes, charitable groups and donors affected by U.S. laws and regulations.

Book: Civil Rights in Wartime

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December 30, 2009

In their December 2009 book, Civil Rights in Wartime: The Post 9/11 Sikh Experience, Dawinder S. Sidhu and Singh Gohil expose the civil rights challenges faced by Sikh-Americans after Sept. 11, 2001. According to the authors, misunderstanding and confusion has lead to wide-spread discrimination for Sikh-Americans. First-person essays by Sikh-Americans relay a variety of issues including the marginalization experienced by many for wearing traditional garments (turbans) for religious reasons. Sidhu and Gohil offer ways that laws and improved cultural understanding can help ease the tensions and ensure their civil rights are upheld.

State Department Leaders Promote Human Rights as an Antidote to Violence

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December 15, 2009

In two speeches marking the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Daniel Benjamin, State Department Coordinator for Counterterrorism, acknowledged the role of poverty and injustice in leading people to violence. They said the Obama administration will have a "wide focus" in addressing these issues. To be successful, this focus will need to address counterproductive rules for charities and charitable giving.  

Thoughts about Charities on Human Rights Day 2009

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December 10, 2009
Author: 
Kay Guinane

Human Rights Day, December 10, is an important reminder of our shared values supporting and protecting the most vulnerable in the world and sustaining a democratic society.  The mission of the organizations that make up the Charity and Security Network is to make these values be more than a mission statement by putting them into practice.  When U.S. security policy creates unnecessary and unreasonable barriers to practicing these values, we seek to remove them. 
 

60 Years Later, Universal Declaration of Human Rights Endures

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December 11, 2008

The United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights sixty years ago on December 10, 1948. A revolutionary document in its scope and language, its impact on promoting and protecting human rights of every individual around the world cannot be understated. 

International Commission of Jurists Report Calls for Change in Counterterrorism Laws

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May 11, 2009

After a three year investigation of the worldwide impact of counterterrorism laws in 40 countries, including 16 hearings, the prestigious International Commission of Jurists released a report Assessing the Damage, Urging Action.  It finds that many governments, including the U.S., have "confronted the threat of terrorism with ill-conceived measures that have undermined cherished values and resulted in serious human rights violations."  It calls on governments to re-asses their strategies and not let temporary measures become permanent.&n

National Security Advisor Stresses Need to Address Drivers of Violent Extremism

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August 12, 2009
Author: 
Kay Guinane

In an Aug. 6, 2009 speech at the Center for Strategic and International Studies John Brennan, Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism, addressed "the new thinking and the new approach that President Obama brings to the task of safeguarding the American people from violent extremism and terrorism."

300,000 Sri Lankans Urgently Need Aid; Nonprofit Funds Seized by Government

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December 9, 2008

Amnesty International (AI) is calling for urgent humanitarian aid for more than 300,000 people displaced by the ongoing conflict in the northern Wanni region of Sri Lanka. Turmoil between the government and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) has left thousands of people, "in desperate need of shelter, food and sanitation."

Sri Lankan Government Denies Entry to Aid Groups, Raising Humanitarian Law Questions

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June 8, 2009

Even as the catastrophic human tragedy unfolds in Sri Lanka, the island's government is refusing to allow aid workers or journalists into the country, banning the delivery of humanitarian relief outside of the official camps. With at least 50,000 civilians unable to escape the exchange of gunfire and shelling between the military and the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) along the northeastern coast of Sri Lanka, a UN spokesman described the disintegrating situation as a "bloodbath." The Sri Lankan government's actions have directly jeopardized the lives and security of tens of thousands of citizens, violating long accepted standards for humanitarian aid. 

Report: Red Cross Task Force Defines "Direct Participation in Hostilities" and Protected Civilian Status

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June 29, 2009

As warfare moves away from the battlefield and armed forces of nation-states and is often conducted in densely populated cities and regions by organized armed groups, including terrorist organizations, the line between combatants and civilians has become increasingly blurred. To address the pertinent distinction, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) released Interpretive Guidance on June 2, 2009 that clarifies the meaning of "direct participation in hostilities."