Human Rights

"[R]ecognition 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

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.  

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

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."   

Report: Afghanistan: Humanitarianism Under Threat

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May 11, 2009

As the Obama administration heightens military and humanitarian operations in Afghanistan, a new briefing paper links the success of national reconstruction to maintaining a demonstrable separation between humanitarian groups and the military. Presenting information collected over several years, Afghanistan: Humanitarianism Under Threat, written by Antonio Donini of the Feinstein International Center at Tufts University, calls for swift action to prevent the misperceptions of local populations that result in violence toward aid workers and volunteers who are working for their benefit.

Abstract:Humanitarianism and the Muslim World

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October 16, 2007
External Link: 
OMB Watch

This abstract summarizes the Journal of Humanitarian Assistance articleHumanitarianism and the Muslim World, by Masood Hyder, who worked for the United Nations Food Programme (WFP) for over twenty years. The article points out that the majority of those receiving humanitarian assistance worldwide are Muslim. However, treating aid recipients as an undifferentiated mass has resulted in less effective aid delivery and further strained the West's relations with the Muslim world.