Conditions at Tamms fail to respect the human rights of the men confined there. These conditions constitute torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment, and are therefor inconsistent with international human rights standards. Supermaximum security confinement such as provided at Tamms is unnecessary. States like Mississippi and Ohio have shown that reductions to their supermax populations have improved the treatment of their inmates, saved money, and have not diminished prison security.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) will hold meetings in Chicago from May 20-21. As the announced departure of US and NATO forces in 2014 draws closer, many Afghan women look to the future with fear. They worry that the troop pullout signals the end of interest in Afghanistan, and with it the international commitment to push the Afghan government to promote and protect women's rights. Stay informed about the situation in Afghanistan and help us keep women's rights at the top of the agenda.

From May 18 through 30, the Gene Siskel Film Center collaborates with Human Rights Watch to present the 2012 Human Rights Watch Film Festival. All five films are Chicago Premieres! Discussion with filmmakers, HRW researchers, and local leaders are part of the program for one of each of two screenings for each film. For confirmed guest appearances or to purchase tickets, please visit www.siskelfilmcenter.org.

The Chicago Committee of Human Rights Watch is a member of the Illinois Coalition for the Fair Sentencing of Children, a project of the Northwestern Children and Family Justice Clinic. Learn more about how you can get involved to address mandatory life sentences for youth. The Supreme Court recently ruled that the young are indeed different, but what needs to be done at the state level to address the issue?