Letter on the Ten Steps to Restore the United States' Moral Authority

A Common Sense Agenda for the 110th Congress

Human Rights Watch joined together with a broad coalition of groups to propose to Congress a ten-step plan to restore the United States' moral authority.

February 22, 2006

Dear Senator Reid, Senator McConnell, Speaker Pelosi, and Congressman Boehner:

Over the last several years, the moral authority of the United States has been undermined by the federal government’s unprecedented and illegal assertion of authority to subject detainees to abusive interrogations, indefinite detention without charge – often in secret locations – and rendition to torture. The last Congress and the Supreme Court took some important steps to right these wrongs (with the passage of the McCain amendment and the Supreme Court’s rulings in the cases of Rasul and Hamdan). But much remains to be done to restore America’s reputation as a champion of human rights and the rule of law.

We have joined together to propose to Congress a ten-step plan as a way forward. Not only does this plan lay out the right thing to do, but it also sets forth an effective counterterrorism policy – one that ensures that the United States is holding the right people, promotes respect for the rule of law, and puts an end to policies and practices that undermine American interests at home and abroad.

Thank you for your consideration. We look forward to working with you to begin implementing these proposals.

Sincerely,

Alliance for Justice

American Civil Liberties Union

Amnesty International

Center for American Progress Action Fund

Center for Constitutional Rights

Center for Financial Privacy and Human Rights

Concerned Foreign Service Officers

Friends Committee on National Legislation

Holy Name Province Franciscan, Office for Justice, Peace & Integrity of Creation

Human Rights First