Wellstone devoted much of his time in the Senate to promoting human rights, humanitarian law, civil liberties and the protection of refugees. The legislation he crafted brought attention to often-ignored tragedies, and sought to protect the forgotten victims of torture, repression and conflict in every part of the world.

“Paul Wellstone was a real leader on human rights issues,” said Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch. “His voice was among the first to be heard when victims of persecution needed help. It didn´t matter if he was in the majority, or in a minority of one. You could always count on him to do the right thing.”

In the Senate, Wellstone took a strong, principled position on human rights in China, arguing that trade with China should be linked to human rights improvements, and sponsoring resolutions urging action on China by the United Nations Human Rights Commission in Geneva. As chair of the South Asia subcommittee of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, he consistently decried human rights abuses throughout the region, was deeply concerned about the plight of those displaced by conflict and violence in Asia, and held hearings to draw attention to the urgent humanitarian and human rights crisis in Afghanistan.

Wellstone often spoke out against the human rights violations resulting from the conflict in Colombia. He introduced resolutions and repeatedly raised concerns regarding violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in Chechnya, and was one of the first members of the U.S. Congress to call for greater attention to human rights in Central Asia following the attacks of September 11th. He played an instrumental role in the creation and enactment of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, which gave added protections to the victims of human trafficking and strengthened law enforcement mechanisms to prevent this crime. Together with his wife Sheila, Wellstone campaigned against domestic and sexual violence, and supported the Violence Against Women Act.

Human Rights Watch extends its deepest sympathies to the surviving members of the Wellstone family and his staff.