Human Rights

Publication Date: 2007/03/09

Publication / Source: The Los Angeles Times

Author: Rosa Brooks

The U.S. Department of State recently released its 2006 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. The annual reports detail "the status of internationally recognized human rights" in virtually every country in the world — except, of course, the U.S. itself.

Publication Date: 2007/02/08

Publication / Source: The Brookings Institution

Author: Susan E. Rice

In testimony submitted to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs on the vital importance of the escalating crisis in Darfur, Susan E. Rice calls for swift action in implementing the administration's "Plan B" and for strong punitive measures to compel the government of Sudan to allow a United Nations force into Darfur.

This morning the House International Relations Committee held a full committee hearing on human trafficking worldwide. Witnesses included officials at the departments of State and Health and Human Services. To draw maximal attention to the issue, the initial briefing at the hearing was given by pop singer Ricky Martin, a goodwill ambassador on behalf of UNICEF and the president of a four-year-old foundation named for him that advocates causes for the well-being of children. Below is a verbatim transcript of interchange between Tom Lantos and Mr. Martin in the Q-and-A session: Lantos: Let me first commend you on a very eloquent statement, and let me remind all of us that one of the great statesmen of this nation, Hubert Humphrey, said that you measure the quality of a society by how it treats its members who are at the dawn of life, children; in the twilight of life, the elderly; and the shadows of life – the poor, the sick, the disadvantaged. And you are living out this dream of Hubert Humphrey because you are trying to deal with the children who are in danger of not growing up as healthy human beings. But you have also avoided answering my question. (Martin and crowd laugh.) So I will take you back because while everybody’s impressed by your celebrity status, to us you are just a witness. My question – Martin: Oh, Mr. Lantos ... Lantos: My question, Ricky, is why is it that only such a small percentage of your fellow celebrities who have the capability of transforming so many ugly aspects of this globe into positive realities? Why don’t they respond, and how could you and Bono and others who have made this your life’s work assist them in moving in a direction that they, too, would find rewarding and enriching? Martin: I believe they have no idea the power they have in their hands and they just don’t know how to use it. When you enter the world of music, it tends to be really intense, the amount of work you have to do to become someone noticeable around the world and you get caught up in the long days of promotion, long hours locked in a studio creating music, finding that vulnerability to find something that is accepted by the masses of people that eventually, later on – Mr. Lantos, I started when I was 12 years old and – I’m 34 years old and I started only five years ago, six years ago – I guess the time for me was six years ago, not before. Actually, six years ago I took the time, I stepped out of the limelight, I needed to decompress. Everything that I had lived through music was so intense that, I can be honest, I was exhausted. And in that moment of silence, that’s, that’s when information of things that I really need to be concerned about, that’s when everything came into my being. And that’s when I started. I hope my answer is the one you were waiting for, and – Lantos: It’s much better – Martin: Thank you very much – Lantos: And let me just say that while my wife of 56 years considers you devastatingly handsome, I think your true beauty lies inside. Thank you very much, Ricky.

Publication Date: 2006/09/29

Publication / Source: LA Times

Author: Rosa Brooks

President Bush may or may not be a bad person; that's besides the point. Columnist Rosa Brooks is angry with him because of his policies. She believes they have made us more vulnerable to attack, tarnished our image abroad, and reduced the civil rights of American citizens. An honest examination of America's path, without any partisan name-calling, would reveal that we need to change direction in order to secure our future.

Publication Date: 9/22/2006

Publication / Source: Los Angeles Times

Author: Rosa Brooks

Until Bush took office, the U.S. had no problem defining what is cruel and inhuman.

Publication Date: 08/30/2006

Publication / Source: Washington Post

Author: Michael Schiffer

Iran, Lebanon and North Korea may top the list of daunting challenges facing the international community, but the U.N. Security Council should make room on its agenda for one additional problem that warrants immediate attention: Burma.

Publication Date: 2006/08/21

Publication / Source: International Herald Tribune

Author: Nick Grono and John Prendergast

Hard though it is to believe, the horrific humanitarian situation in Darfur is getting worse. Sudan is run by a calculating and pragmatic Islamist party that will do whatever it must to survive. Only when it has been subject to real pressure has the regime changed its behavior.

Publication Date: 06/30/2006

Publication / Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; Center for American Progress

Author: Ken Gude

The Supreme Court could not have been any clearer: President Bush's military commissions are illegal because they were not authorized by Congress and the procedures violate the Uniform Code of Military Justice. But the Supreme Court's decision will have an impact far beyond the walls of Guantanamo.