Cardin, Colleagues Release Letter Opposing New Commission Set to ‘Redefine’ Human Rights
Senator
"Attempts to veil this initiative as protecting America's founding principles or to 'revitalize' international human rights protections are absurd, particularly from an administration that has taken a wrecking ball to America's global leadership on promoting human rights across the world," wrote the Senators. "The President's personal affection for those who have trampled on human rights has stained America's moral fabric. No
The Senators requested information from the Secretary about the process behind the establishment of the Commission, which excluded the
A copy of the letter can be found here (https://www.cardin.senate.gov/download/administration-proposal-to-redefine-human-rights-letter) and below:
Honorable
Dear Secretary Pompeo:
We write to express our deep concern about your announcement on
When asserting that the new commission is needed, you said that proliferating human-rights claims have created confusion over what "rights are" and that it will provide you with "fresh thinking" about human rights discourse. We vehemently disagree that there is any "confusion" over what human rights are. The 1948
Rather, it seems that the administration is reluctant--or even hostile--to protecting established, internationally recognized definitions of human rights, particularly those requiring it to uphold protections for reproductive rights and the rights of marginalized communities, including LGBT persons. The assertion that decades of well-defined agreement on human rights has sown confusion over what rights are is simply an Orwellian twist to defend the indefensible.
Attempts to veil this initiative as protecting America's founding principles or to "revitalize" international human rights protections are absurd, particularly from an administration that has taken a wrecking ball to America's global leadership on promoting human rights across the world. Indeed, the list is stunning: the administration continues to support despotic governments abroad while simultaneously ignoring the devastating abuses and rights of children and families on our border. Instead of condemning gross human rights violators,
The President's personal affection for those who have trampled on human rights has stained America's moral fabric. No
As the Department is surely aware, advisory committees "must be fairly balanced in its membership and in terms of the points of view represented and functions to be performed." 41 C.F.R. Sections 102-3.30. We are alarmed that a significant majority of the 10 members of the Commission do not reflect the diversity of views required for anybody tasked with advising the Secretary on human rights. The Commission's chair and members are overwhelmingly clergy or scholars known to support discriminatory policies towards LGBT persons, hold views hostile to women's rights and reproductive freedoms, and/or support positions at odds with
We are also concerned that during the many months before the Commission was announced, there was no consultation or input from career human rights experts working in the
As part of
1. A detailed explanation of how the Commission's purpose is different from DRL's purpose;
2. A description of DRL's prior and planned involvement in the Commission;
3. The criteria the Department used to select the Commission Members; and
4. According to your statement on
We will continue to stand up for the critical mission of protecting human rights for all people. We hope that under your leadership, the Department will protect and advance human rights consistent with long-standing American values, and will demonstrate the global leadership that the world can and should expect from
Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
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