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NEWS RELEASES Human Rights Watch Criticizes Anti-Terrorism Legislation (New York, October 22, 2001) In a letter to Congressional leaders released today, Human Rights Watch criticized the anti-terrorism bills that have emerged from the House and Senate for failing to safeguard the rights of non-citizens. U.S.: Halt Texas Execution of Juvenile Offender (New York, October 18, 2001) Human Rights Watch called today on the state of Texas to commute the death sentence of Gerald Lee Mitchell, convicted of murder at the age of seventeen. Mitchell's execution is scheduled for Monday. U.S.: Letter to Attorney General John Ashcroft (September 28, 2001) -- As the United States considers the most effective means to address urgent law enforcement concerns arising from the September 11 attacks, we write to caution against ill-considered changes to U.S. law and policy that would erode basic rights to personal liberty. U.S. Should Oppose Allies' Misuse of "Anti-Terror" (New York, September 25, 2001) -- The Bush Administration should signal its allies not to use the fight against terrorism as cover for their own domestic campaigns against political opponents, Human Rights Watch urged today in a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell. U.S. Policy on Assassinations, CIA (New York, September 20, 2001) The U.S. government should not relax its current policies on assassinating foreign enemies and recruiting CIA sources with records of serious human rights abuse, Human Rights Watch said in a letter to U.S. President George Bush today. Human Rights Watch Response to Attacks on the U.S. (New York, September 12, 2001) -- We profoundly condemn yesterday's cruel attacks in the United States and express our condolences to the victims and their loved ones. This was an assault not merely on one nation or one people, but on principles of respect for civilian life cherished by all people. We urge all governments to unite to investigate this crime, to prevent its recurrence, and to bring to justice those who are responsible. U.S.: Commute Texas Death Sentence (New York, August 13, 2001)- Human Rights Watch today urged the state of Texas to commute the death sentence of Napoleon Beazley, who was convicted of murder at the age of seventeen. Bush Urged to Support Anti-Racism Summit (New York, July 31, 2001) Human Rights Watch today called on the United States to throw its support behind an upcoming United Nations-sponsored World Conference Against Racism. U.S.: Pataki Drug Reform No Improvement (New York, July 16, 2001) New York Governor George Pataki's proposed drug law reforms would leave drug offenders vulnerable to excessive prison sentences and maintain prosecutors' undue power over sentencing decisions, Human Rights Watch charged today. U.S. State Department Trafficking Report a “Mixed Bag” (Washington, July 12, 2001) — The U.S. State Department’s first annual report on trafficking in persons contains serious flaws, Human Rights Watch said today. U.S.: Bush Urged to File Anti-Death Penalty Brief (New York, June 22, 2001) Human Rights Watch urged the federal government to file a friend-of-the-court brief with the U.S. Supreme Court supporting a constitutional ban on the execution of offenders with mental retardation. Bush Urged to Stop Federal Execution (New York, June 18, 2001) Human Rights Watch urged President Bush to halt Tuesday's scheduled federal execution of Juan Raul Garza. Citing continuing concerns over racial and geographic disparities in the application of the federal death penalty, Human Rights Watch today sent letters to the president and the Department of Justice calling for a stay of execution until the government can guarantee that race plays no role in the federal death penalty. Oklahoma Urged to Stop Executions (New York, June 14, 2001) Governor Frank Keating should halt executions in his state, Human Rights Watch said in a letter to the governor released today. Recent reports that an Oklahoma City police forensic scientist may have offered misleading and improper testimony in a number of capital cases underscore the need to reconsider the death penalty. Migrant Domestic Workers Face Abuse in the U.S. (New York, June 14, 2001) The special visas granted to foreigners who work as household domestics in the U.S. leave them vulnerable to serious abuse, Human Rights Watch charged in a report released today. U.S. President Must Press Russia on Chechnya Abuses Criminal Investigation Urged on Role of Top General in Massacre (New York, June 14, 2001) U.S. President George W. Bush should make Chechnya a top priority in his summit talks with President Vladimir Putin, Human Rights Watch said today. In a June 8 letter to President Bush, Human Rights Watch urged him to press for robust investigations into Russian abuses in Chechnya and access to the region for international monitors. U.S.: President Urged to Commute McVeigh's Sentence (New York, June 8, 2001) President George W. Bush should grant clemency to Timothy McVeigh, Human Rights Watch said in a letter to the president. McVeigh's execution, scheduled for June 11, would mark the first federal death sentence carried out since 1963. U.S.: Bush Administration Energy Policy Criticized (New York, June 4, 2001) The Bush administration's new energy policy proposes no strategy to keep energy investment from perpetuating dictatorships or fueling conflicts, as has happened from Angola to Sudan to Central Asia, Human Rights Watch charged today. U.S. Gets "Failing Grade" Protecting Gay Students (May 30, 2001) -- Gay teenagers are often subject to so much bullying in U.S. schools that they are not receiving an adequate education, Human Rights Watch charged in a new report released today. The problem affects as many as two million school-age youth nationwide. Texas Governor Urged to Sign Legislation Banning the Execution of the Mentally Retarded (May 30, 2001) Human Rights Watch writes to urge you to sign legislation passed by the Texas legislature that would prohibit the state of Texas from executing capital offenders with mental retardation. Federal Legislation to Support Improvements in Voting Procedures Ignores the Disenfranchisement of Million Ex-Felons (Extracts from Human Rights Watch Letters (05/23/01) to US Senator Robert G. Torricelli , Mitch McConnell , Charles Schumer and Sam Brownback ) (May 23, 2001 ) We commend your sponsorship of federal legislation to support improvements in voting procedures. We are concerned, however, that the legislation as currently proposed ignores the greatest flaw in the nation's electoral process: the disenfranchisement of at least 1.4 million ex-felons. Testimony for Senate Foreign Relations Committee on the US and the UNCHR (May 23, 2001 ) Just because the United States has legitimate concerns about the approach its allies take in Geneva does not mean its allies do not have legitimate concerns about the U.S. America's self-image as the world's leading champion of human rights is simply not shared by many of its closest democratic friends on the Commission. Rights Groups Urge Engagement with U.N. Commission (New York, May 10, 2001) The United States should not hold back payment of its United Nations dues because of the loss of its seat on the U.N. Commission on Human Rights, major human rights groups said in letters to Senators Jesse Helms and Joseph Biden and Representatives Tom Lantos and Henry Hyde. U.S. Must Investigate Alleged War Crimes (New York, May 8, 2001) United States Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld should launch an independent investigation into allegations of possible war crimes by U.S. troops during the Vietnam War, Human Rights Watch said today. U.N. Rights Body Admits Abusive Members (New York, May 3, 2001) Several countries with poor human rights records should not have been voted onto the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, Human Rights Watch said today. Rape Crisis in U.S. Prisons (New York, April 19, 2001) A ground-breaking new report by Human Rights Watch, No Escape: Male Rape in U.S. Prisons, charges that state authorities are responsible for widespread prisoner-on-prisoner sexual abuse in U.S. men's prisons. Yugoslavia: U.S. Aid Decision "Premature" (New York, April 2, 2001) Today's decision by the Bush administration to certify conditions for continued economic assistance to Yugoslavia is "premature," Human Rights Watch said today. Belgrade's Action Against Milosevic Not Basis for Certification (New York, March 30, 2001) Reports from Belgrade indicate that security forces may have taken Slobodan Milosevic, former president of Yugoslavia, in for questioning on Friday night (Belgrade Time). US: A Human Rights Agenda for the Justice Department (New York, March 29, 2001) In a letter released today, Human Rights Watch called on the Bush Administration's Justice Department to promote and protect human rights in the United States. U.S. Execution of Mentally Retarded Condemned (New York, March 20, 2001) Twenty-five U.S. states still permit the execution of offenders with mental retardation and should pass laws to ban the practice without delay, Human Rights Watch said in releasing today the first comprehensive human rights-based analysis of such executions. U.S.: Missouri Gov. Urged Not to Execute Juvenile Offender With Mental Retardation (New York, March 5, 2001) -- Human Rights Watch today called on Missouri Governor Bob Holden to grant clemency for Antonio Richardson, who was sentenced to death for murders committed when he was sixteen years old. Richardson is scheduled for execution by lethal injection on March 7. U.S. Also Bears Responsibility for Landmines Crisis (Washington, March 5, 2001) At the outset of "Ban Landmines Week" in Washington, D.C., Human Rights Watch said that nearly eighty percent of the Pentagon's $25 million budget for humanitarian demining is used for travel costs and other logistical aspects of moving personnel and equipment around the world. U.S. Urged to Help Avert Famine in Sudan (New York, March 3, 2001) -- The factional fighting in southern Sudan could widen into a devastating famine unless the U.S. intervenes diplomatically with rebel forces and others, Human Rights Watch said today. Bush Administration Urged To Deny Aid to Yugoslavia (New York, March 1, 2001) The Bush administration should not resume U.S. economic assistance to Yugoslavia, because Belgrade has failed to cooperate with the war crimes court in The Hague, Human Rights Watch said today. Bush and Senate Must End Use of Child Soldiers (Washington, February 14, 2001) More than 40 leaders of religious, veterans, human rights, child advocacy and other organizations today called on President Bush and the members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to support U.S. ratification of a new international agreement to end the use of children as soldiers. U.S.: Bush Assails Freedom of Expression (New York, January 23, 2001) On his first business day in office, President George W. Bush flouted free expression by reinstating a U.S. government policy, known alternatively as the Mexico City Policy and the Global Gag Rule, that requires international women's health advocates to sacrifice their right to free expression in exchange for U.S. funding. US: Bush Urged to Promote Human Rights (New York, January 18, 2001) Human Rights Watch today highlighted 31 specific steps that President-elect George W. Bush should take to improve human rights in the United States and the world. Leading Human Rights Groups Oppose Renewed Funding for Colombia (Washington, DC, January 12, 2001) Three leading human rights groups called on President Bill Clinton to enforce congressionally-mandated human rights conditions on Colombia, thereby blocking delivery of the final funds from last year's $1.3 billion aid package. Clinton Signature on War Crimes Court Praised (New York, December 31, 2000) Human Rights Watch today welcomed U.S. President Bill Clinton's signing the treaty for the international criminal court. Sharp Increase in Support for War Crimes Court (New York, December 29, 2000) Human Rights Watch today applauded the recent dramatic increase in signatures on the treaty establishing the international criminal court. News Releases 2000-1999 | |  | |
WORLD REPORT 2001 2000 1999 CURRENT EVENTS BACKGROUNDERS PUBLICATIONS BY COUNTRIES RECENT PUBLICATIONS Hidden in the Home: Abuse of Domestic Workers with Special Visas in the United States June 2001 Hatred in the Hallways: Violence and Discrimination Against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Students in U.S. Schools May 2001 No Escape: Male Rape in U.S. Prisons April 2001 Beyond Reason: The Death Penalty and Offenders with Mental Retardation March 2001 Unfair Advantage: Workers' Freedom of Association in the United States under International Human Rights Standards September 2000 Fingers to the Bone: United States Failure to Protect Child Farmworkers June 2000 Punishment and Prejudice: Racial Disparities in the War on Drugs May 2000 US: Out of Sight: Super-Maximum Security Confinement in the US February 2000 |