August 20, 2003
Dear Mr. Secretary-General,
With enormous sadness, we write on behalf of the board and entire staff of Human Rights Watch to convey our deepest sympathy upon the loss of your Special Representative in Iraq and High Commissioner for Human Rights, Sergio Vieira de Mello and the other United Nations staff members who were killed or injured in the attack in Baghdad.
Sergio’s death is a terrible loss to his family, to the Iraqi people, to the United Nations and to the international community as a whole. But it is particularly devastating to the human rights and humanitarian communities to which he showed such vision, leadership and commitment.
Sergio was a true humanitarian, willing to risk his life to bring help and relief to those in need. It is a tragedy that he should fall victim to the type of war crime he fought so hard to prevent. He was one of a kind and will be acutely missed. We must all renew our commitment to protect human rights in these difficult days.
Please accept our deepest condolences.
Yours truly,
Jonathan F. Fanton Chair Board of Directors |
Kenneth Roth Executive Director |
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