State Department releases annual human rights reports; now needs to walk the talk

Today, the U.S. State Department released its annual country-by-country reports on human rights practices around the world.

Five themes were highlighted as particularly noteworthy:

• Increased crackdowns on civil society and the freedoms of association and assembly

• Restrictions on freedom of speech and press freedom

• Accountability deficits for security forces abuses

• Lack of effective labor rights protections

• The continued marginalization of vulnerable groups

It's good to see these issues exposed in detail by our government.

In some cases, however, seeing the U.S. judge other countries' human rights abuses looks somewhat like the proverbial pot calling the kettle black. (Consider, for example, our own ongoing history of extrajudicial killings.) And there is no section for the U.S. itself.

The reports show that the State Department can talk the talk. Now it needs to make an extra effort to walk the walk.

>> Browse the reports.

Yesterday was a bad day for homophobes

Yesterday, a federal judge ruled that Texas's ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional. This comes on the heels of a similar ruling earlier this month in Virginia.

Then, a few hours later, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer vetoed SB 1062, a highly controversial bill that would have legalized discrimination under the umbrella of "religious liberty". If this bill had become law, anyone could refuse service to any other individual(s) simply by citing religious sensitivities. And the LGBT community was widely considered to be a primary target.

While I'm generally not a big fan of Governor Brewer, I applaud her decision in this case, even though it was probably influenced by pressure from the Chamber of Commerce and other third-party groups who were concerned with the potential economic hit that the state could take if the bill became law.

The fact is that the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is meant to ensure the separation of church and state. SB 1062, if enacted, would have violated that clause, in my opinion. And it would have taken much too long for the whole thing to be overturned by the courts.

So thank you, Governor Brewer, for standing up to the homophobes in Arizona.

And thank you, District Judge Orlando Garcia, for your Texas ruling in favor of love over bigotry.

Texas same-sex marriage ban ruled unconstitutional; appeal pending

In another step forward for equality and fairness, a federal judge ruled today that Texas's ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional. This comes on the heels of a similar ruling earlier this month in Virginia.

However, as in the Virginia case, the same judge stayed the decision pending a likely appeal, meaning that same-sex marriages will not begin any time soon.

Still, it's nice to see that the momentum continues, and is spreading even to red states like Texas.

Stay tuned for updates, with fingers crossed for equality. Love between two adults should be encouraged and celebrated, not forbidden by bigotry.

Ugandan president signs "Jail the Gays" bill

Bad news from Uganda: Amnesty International reports that President Museveni has signed the infamous "Jail the Gays" bill into law. Under this draconian law, homosexual behavior could carry a penalty of life in prison.

Michelle Kagari, Amnesty's Africa Deputy Director, issued the following statement about this shameful development:

"This deeply offensive piece of legislation is an affront to the human rights of all Ugandans and should never have got this far.

"This legislation will institutionalize hatred and discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex people in Uganda. Its passage into law signals a very grave episode in the nation's history.

"The Anti-Homosexuality Bill will further criminalize consensual sexual activity between adults of the same sex, with some offences carrying life imprisonment. It also includes offences such as 'promotion of homosexuality', which will directly impact human rights defenders and healthcare providers. It makes a mockery of the rights enshrined in the Ugandan constitution."

Stay tuned for news on how we can fight this injustice.

Urgent petition: Stop Uganda's 'Jail the Gays' bill

Last month, I reported that Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni planned to veto a draconian anti-gay law under which homosexual behavior would carry a penalty of life in prison.

Now, however, he appears to have changed his mind, and plans to sign the bill tomorrow.

Accordingly, the group All Out is collecting signatures on a petition in a last-minute attempt to pressure Museveni and Ugandan politicians to "stop the bill from becoming law, prevent it from being used, and protect all Ugandans from violence, arrests, and discrimination." And more.

>> Please take a stand for human rights and sign the petition here.

10 years ago today, Texas executed an innocent man

February 17, 2014, marks the 10th anniversary of the execution of Cameron Todd Willingham by the state of Texas.

Given the fact that Texas is known as the execution capital of the country, another execution anniversary would normally come as no surprise. But what sets Willingham's situation apart is that he was likely innocent of the crime for which he was sentenced to death.

Willingham had been convicted of an alleged arson that claimed the lives of his three daughters in 1991. However, a later forensic review of the case led to the conclusion that "a finding of arson could not be sustained." In other words, the fire for which Willingham was executed was probably just an accident. David Grann wrote an excellent in-depth article about the case for the New Yorker, which can be found online here.

Willingham's case is not the only one in which an innocent person was likely put to death. There is evidence of at least a few more.

In addition, according to the Amnesty International, "over 130 people have been released from death rows throughout the country due to evidence of their wrongful convictions. In 2003 alone, 10 wrongfully convicted defendants were released from death row."

I cannot think of a better argument against the use of capital punishment. Death is permanent, and you cannot resurrect an executed individual if you later discover that you killed the wrong person. Would you want to be the juror or the executioner who made it happen?

Given the fallibility of the criminal justice system, the continued use of the death penalty is reckless and irresponsible. We as a nation should be above this kind of thing.

Virginia's same-sex marriage ban ruled unconstitutional; appeal pending

In another step forward for equality and fairness, a federal judge ruled last night that Virginia's ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional.

However, according to the Washington Post, the same judge "stayed her decision pending appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit in Richmond, meaning same-sex marriages will be not be immediately available in the commonwealth."

Stay tuned for updates.

Marriage equality goes to court in Virginia

A tourism slogan says: "Virginia is for lovers."

But is it really?

Today, a hearing was held in the Federal District Court of Eastern Virginia in a case of two couples who are challenging Virginia's ban on same-sex marriage.

The plaintiffs were represented by Ted Olson and David Boies, who had successfully argued against California's Proposition 8.

At the end of the hearing, Judge Arenda L. Wright Allen told the court: "You'll be hearing from me soon."

Stay tuned, with fingers crossed in hopes that she rules in favor of equality, not discrimination.

A victory would mean that the tourism slogan will finally speak to everyone.

Dreadlocks don't make you stupid (or a lowlife)

I am not a sports fan, so I don't know much about Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman, aside from the recent controversy in the media about Sherman's recent adrenaline-fueled post-game rant. (As if we haven't all had our overly excited moments.)

And, given my general lack of interest in the world of sports, I haven't said anything about that controversy. Until tonight.

Tonight, I ran into my ultra-conservative neighbor, who was complaining about the fact that this "stupid lowlife" cornerback would be glamorized via his participation in the Super Bowl despite his recent "thuggery".

I asked this neighbor why he called Sherman a stupid lowlife.

The response: Just look at him!

Um, OK. I've seen photos. Sherman is black and he wears his hair in dreadlocks. Bingo!

Despite my sports apathy, I had read enough about Richard Sherman to know that he is a Stanford graduate. I pointed out this fact to my neighbor, and noted that it seemed rather incongruous to refer to a graduate of such a prestigious university as either stupid or a lowlife.

In response, my neighbor angrily muttered something about Affirmative Action, and stomped away. Typical.

This was a prime example of prejudice, which literally means "prejudgment" or "preconceived opinion" - in this case, that someone with dark skin and dreads doesn't fit the profile of a properly entitled Stanford grad.

And it seemed so desperate and pathetic.

Help stop human trafficking

January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month.

According to the organization Free the Slaves, 21-30 million people are enslaved in the world today. They're used as child soldiers, sweatshop workers, sex slaves, and more. They are given no rights, no dignity, and no compensation for their labors or their pain and suffering. They are powerless, even here in 2014.

According to an article by J.J. Gould in The Atlantic, "[t]here are now twice as many people enslaved in the world as there were in the 350 years of the transatlantic slave trade."

And this isn't just happening in third-world countries. According to Covenant House, which helps homeless kids in North America, human trafficking is "a $9.8 billion industry that forces over 100,000 American children into prostitution each year."

What you can do:

• Urge your members of Congress to cosponsor the bipartisan House and Senate versions of the Strengthening the Child Welfare Response to Trafficking Act.

• Explore these online resources from UNICEF's End Trafficking Project.

• Donate to Free the Slaves, Covenant House, and/or UNICEF's child protection programs.

Thank you.

Texas executes Mexican citizen, violates international law

On Wednesday, January 22, the state of Texas executed Edgar Arias Tamayo, who had been convicted of a 1994 murder.

But this was no ordinary execution - even for the death penalty capital of the U.S.

Tamayo was a Mexican citizen, and his attorneys argued that he was denied his right to seek help from the Mexican consulate, which may have assisted in his defense.

Psychological testing was also allegedly inadequate. As a result, said Andrea Hall, Mid Atlantic Regional Death Penalty Abolition Coordinator for Amnesty International USA, "the jury did not hear significant evidence of Tamayo’s intellectual disabilities, information that could well have tipped the scales towards life imprisonment."

Nevertheless, regardless of pressure from the International Criminal Court, the U.S. State Department, and elsewhere, the courts declined to stay the execution.

Hall characterized the execution as "a blatant affront to the United States' obligations under international law."

"The price [of this execution] may be much higher," she said. "We may very well have put our relationships with foreign countries, as well as the safety of Americans living and traveling overseas, at risk."

But, apparently, Texas is too bloodthirsty to care about such things.

Uganda president vetoes anti-gay law, but still hates gays

I recently posted a link to an online action urging Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni to veto a draconian anti-gay law under which homosexual behavior would carry a penalty of life in prison.

It appears that the international pressure has made a difference - sort of.

First, the good news: President Museveni has refused to sign the bill into law.

Now, the not-so-good news: Museveni still believes that gays are "abnormal" and unacceptable, and he still wants to eradicate them. But he says he wants to employ other methods, specifically economic ones, to address the perceived problem.

I'm not entirely sure what economics has to do with sexual orientation, but a friend pointed out to me that the U.S. and other countries threatened to stop aid to Uganda if the anti-gay bill were to pass.

I guess that shows that money is more powerful than even deeply entrenched bigotry - at least to some extent.

Amnesty says NSA revisions fall short

After months of revelations and controversy, President Obama has called for some changes to the NSA's surveillance program.

However, Amnesty International USA (AIUSA) believes that the revised policy still falls far short on safeguards.

Steven W. Hawkins, AIUSA's executive director, explained:

"The big picture takeaway from [the president's] speech is that the right to privacy remains under grave threat both here at home and around the world. President Obama's recognition of the need to safeguard the privacy of people around the world is significant, but insufficient to end serious global concern over mass surveillance, which by its very nature constitutes abuse.

"President Obama took welcome steps to increase transparency, institute additional safeguards for citizens and non-citizens alike, and restrain his administration's bulk collection of some types of information. However, he failed to acknowledge the abusive nature of mass surveillance or put international human rights standards at the center of U.S. policy.

"President Obama's surveillance adjustments will be remembered as music on the Titanic unless his administration adopts deeper reforms.

"The President's recognition of the need to restrain surveillance of people around the world, while welcome, falls short of what's needed to protect the right to privacy and prevent targeting of people based on their beliefs or background. Furthermore, executive Order 12333 [enacted by Ronald Reagan to extend powers and responsibilities of US intelligence agencies] remains a potential blank check for abuse.

"Shifting the storage of information does not address the fundamental problem: the collection of mass personal data in the first place. Even if additional checks are put in place, ordinary people remain at risk of secret rulings by a secret court, and national security letters still evade judicial review.

"Regardless of citizenship or location, all people have the right to privacy under international law, and government surveillance must comport with human rights principles, including necessity, proportionality, and due process. Furthermore, people have the right to blow the whistle on evidence of abuse.

"To protect privacy and ensure security, the Obama administration and Congress should put human rights principles at the center of surveillance reform. Human rights safeguards allow for lawful, effective surveillance while protecting against unchecked executive power."

Amen.

This brings to mind the words of one of this nation’s great Founding Fathers:

"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
-- Benjamin Franklin

President Obama would do well to remember this.

Vatican faces UN committee on child sexual abuse (and disappoints)

This morning in Geneva, the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child formally questioned Vatican officials on its record of child sexual abuse.

The Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR), which represents the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) in the case, was less than satisfied with the Vatican's performance today, pointing out that "the committee had requested concrete data and facts, which the Vatican refused to provide."

Pam Spees, CCR's Senior Staff Attorney, had this to say about the proceedings:

"The Vatican has consistently refused to accept responsibility for its role in perpetuating rape and sexual violence against children in the Church and further enabling it by protecting offending priests. So its performance at the United Nations this morning was not surprising. The Vatican attempted to relegate the issue to the past and claim it is a new era, that they now 'get it', but they continue to refuse to turn over records for prosecution, punish higher-ups that covered up the crimes, or provide any real evidence that they are now putting the safety of children above the reputation of the Church. Nonetheless, today's hearing is a milestone in calling for an end to these days of impunity. The international community is demanding answers, and that is the first step toward true accountability and, we hope, an end to the widespread violence against children.”

Fingers crossed for continuing progress on this heartbreaking - and infuriating - issue.

>> Read more about the case.

Nigeria adopts strict new anti-gay law; help stop Uganda from doing the same

A strict anti-gay bill became law in Nigeria earlier this week.

Per Reuters (my former employer):

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan signed a bill on Monday that criminalizes same-sex relationships, defying Western pressure over gay rights and provoking criticism from the United States.

The bill, which contains penalties of up to 14 years in prison and bans gay marriage, same-sex 'amorous relationships' and membership of gay rights groups, was passed by the national assembly last May but Jonathan had delayed signing it into law.

Meantime, homophobes in Uganda are trying to adopt their own draconian anti-gay law. The Ugandan Parliament has already passed a bill that would carry a punishment of life in prison for "aggravated homosexuality".

In fact, the Ugandan bill goes beyond outlawing homosexual behavior.

Amnesty International summarizes the bill's other provisions and implications as follows:

• A person who provides HIV counseling could be convicted of "promoting" homosexuality.
• A person who officiates a same-sex marriage could be put in prison for life.
• A person suspected of being gay could face forced HIV testing.

If enacted into law, this bill would send a clear message that people who violently attack others because of their perceived or actual sexual orientation will not be held accountable for such attacks.

This law will go into effect as soon as Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni signs it.

What you can do:

>> Click here to urge President Museveni to veto the bill.

Thursday: UN committee to question the Vatican on child sexual abuse

On Thursday, January 16, the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child will formally question the Vatican on its record of child sexual abuse. The session will take place in Geneva.

According to Pam Spees, Senior Staff Attorney at the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR), "[t]his is the first time the Vatican has been called by an international body to account for its handling of the crisis of sexual violence throughout the Catholic Church."

CCR represents the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) in the case.

"Throughout the world, children and vulnerable adults have been and continue to be subjected to widespread and systemic rape and sexual violence by priests and others associated with the Roman Catholic Church," said Spees. "The Vatican’s policies and practices enable this violence."

>> Learn more about the case.

>> Watch the livestream of the UN session and/or CCR's follow-up review.

Judge rules Oklahoma same-sex marriage ban unconstitutional - BUT...

Today, a federal judge ruled that Oklahoma's ban on same-sex marriage is in violation of the U.S. Constitution.

Unfortunately, this decision will not take effect immediately, as the same judge then immediately stayed his ruling, pending appeals.

As with the similar recent case in Utah, stay tuned, with fingers crossed for equality. The general momentum seems to be growing in favor of fairness and love.

Utah same-sex marriages on hold

Marriage equality was short-lived in Utah. Same-sex marriage is now on hold in that state pending an appeal of the recent ruling that legalized it.

Stay tuned, with fingers crossed for equality.

Protest Gitmo on Saturday, January 11

Saturday, January 11, 2014, will mark the 12th anniversary of the arrival of the first prisoners at the U .S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba.

According to the Center for Constitutional Rights, "155 men remain detained at Guantánamo; most should never have been detained in the first place and are entering their 13th year of being deprived of their liberty without any charge or trial."

This is a national embarrassment, at best.

What you can do:

• If you are in the Washington, DC, area, or can get there this weekend: Join a rally and procession organized by a coalition of human rights organizations to mark the anniversary of Gitmo and to demand its closure. More info here.

• Whether or not you will be in DC: Sign this letter to President Obama urging him to free Yemeni prisoners who have been cleared for release, and to take further action to close Guantanamo.

Federal judge says NSA phone surveillance is legal; ACLU responds

Today, a federal judge in New York ruled that the National Security Agency's phone surveillance program is lawful.

The suit had been brought by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) after the mass spying program was revealed via NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden.

Jameel Jaffer, the ACLU's deputy legal director, issued the following statement in response to today's ruling:

"We are extremely disappointed with this decision, which misinterprets the relevant statutes, understates the privacy implications of the government's surveillance, and misapplies a narrow and outdated precedent to read away core constitutional protections. As another federal judge and the president's own review group concluded last week, the National Security Agency's bulk collection of telephony data constitutes a serious invasion of Americans' privacy."

The ACLU plans to appeal the decision. Stay tuned.

Judge legalizes same-sex marriage in Utah - BUT...

The good news:

Today, a federal judge ruled that Utah's ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional. Same-sex couples in that state responded by racing to the altar. Love is in the air in Utah, and it's a beautiful thing.

This is particularly satisfying because the Mormon Church, which is headquartered in Utah, spent so much money and other resources towards passing Proposition 8, which banned same-sex marriage in California. Today, poetic justice, as more than one person tweeted.

Now, the bad news:

Homophobic Utah officials will appeal today's ruling.

Stay tuned for updates.

What you can do for Human Rights Day

Today, December 10, is Human Rights Day. It is the 65th anniversary of the adoption in 1948 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) by the United Nations General Assembly. This project was led by Eleanor Roosevelt in the wake of World War II, to define a worldwide, inter-cultural set of non-derogable human rights.

It wasn't an easy undertaking. There were lots of disagreements, lots of arguments. But, in the end, this inter-cultural group, representing virtually all regions and cultures of the world, agreed on the 30 articles set forth in the Declaration.

These rights were determined to be the fair universal standards required to ensure the inherent dignity and equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family, which is the foundation of freedom, justice, and peace in the world.

The cultural diversity involved in developing this Declaration is a testament to its universality and lack of bias.

Still, however, human rights continue to be violated - right here in the USA and all around the world.

What you can do:

Here are some things you can do today - or anytime - to help advance the cause of human rights worldwide:

• Read the UDHR and share its message with your friends, family, and social networks.

• Take action online to fight human rights violations. Individuals can make a difference!

and/or

• Make a year-end donation to a human rights organization. Here are some of my favorites:
     Amnesty International
     Human Rights First
     Human Rights Watch

Just say no to the Salvation Army

The holiday shopping season is in full swing, and so is the Salvation Army's annual fundraising campaign, with SA troops ringing their bells and begging for donations in shopping centers across the country.

And shoppers, without thinking and without researching where their money is going, again naively throw their money away into the SA's little red kettles.

Please don't do that.

You see, the Salvation Army is not the kind and generous operation it purports to be. The organization - and its leaders at all levels - have a long and disturbing history of religious coercion, abuse, intolerance, and dishonesty.

I wrote a a piece in December of 2008 that addressed the organization's history of religious intolerance and coercion. You have to pray to their particular god to qualify for help, no matter how dire your needs.

That article generated a lot of other stories from readers who showed me that the Salvation Army was even worse than the racket I had exposed in 2008. So I wrote a follow-up piece the next year highlighting questionable activity including cases where donations didn't go where expected, but instead were taken by SA staff. Employees and volunteers who complained about these things were disciplined. There were enough reports to suggest a pattern.

Here are links to those two pieces:

• December 2008: The Salvation Army's red kettle of trouble

• December 2009: The Salvation Army: It gets worse

And similar stories continue to roll in.

So now, armed with the truth, please just say no to the Salvation Army - this holiday season and every year. And also warn everyone you know.

Support striking fast food workers on Thursday, Dec. 5

On Black Friday, Nov. 29, people around the U.S. came out in support of low-paid and oppressed Walmart workers.

This week, on Thursday, Dec. 5, we need to stand with striking fast food workers, many of whom are also unable to make ends meet.

>> Read more and find a protest location near you.

Remembering Martina Davis-Correia

Today is a sad anniversary: Martina Davis-Correia died on December 1, 2011, after a long battle with breast cancer.

Despite her illness, Martina fought tirelessly and selflessly to prove that her brother, Georgia death row inmate Troy Davis, was innocent.

Sadly, Georgia executed Troy anyway on September 21, 2011, despite compelling evidence that he may indeed have been innocent. Martina followed him to her own grave shortly thereafter.

I generally don't believe in an afterlife. However, at times like this, I wish there were one, so that Martina and Troy could be together forever, enjoying their strong and inspiring sibling bond through eternity. Maybe they are.

HIV/AIDS and Obamacare

Today, December 1, is World AIDS Day. And this year I'm thinking of how the Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare) is so important in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Under Obamacare, HIV/AIDS patients can no longer be denied medical insurance coverage due to their preexisting condition.

Furthermore, many Americans who are currently unaware that they carry the HIV virus can now take advantage of their better insurance coverage and get tested and treated.

With those challenges out of the way, we can now put more resources towards finding a cure and conquering the stigma that HIV/AIDS patients still face.

Boycott SodaStream this holiday season

Today, November 29, is the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, who have for so long been subjected to horrible human rights abuses.

This holiday season, peace and justice groups are calling for a boycott of SodaStream, which makes and sells a kitchen appliance that turns still water into carbonated seltzer and soda.

SodaStream appliances are produced in one of the largest illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. The company is also accused of exploiting Palestinian workers. To purchase their product is to be complicit in these crimes.

>> Read more here.

Stand with Walmart strikers on Black Friday

Black Friday, the busiest shopping day of the year in the U.S., is just two days away.

On this Black Friday, brave Walmart workers will be picketing in protest of their low wages and the retaliation they experience for speaking out.

What you can do:

Find a protest near you, and stand in solidarity with these brave Walmart workers.

Every worker deserves fair treatment and a living wage.

My close encounter with JFK

Today is a sad anniversary - 50 years since President John F. Kennedy was assassinated.

On this anniversary, I recall the time I happened to come face-to-face with JFK, while he was in the White House and I was barely in kindergarten.

My family was taking the standard White House tour, when we came to a room with a curtain blocking the entrance. The guide indicated that the president was in a meeting behind that curtain.

Being a curious child, and standing very near one end of the curtain, I pulled the corner back slightly and peeked in. The president noticed me - a little girl Caroline's age - and he smiled and waved.

He radiated friendliness and charm. That day, he became my first crush.

I will never forget that brief moment when I learned at a very young age that great people are human and can be so down-to-earth.

And I think that lesson emboldens me in my human rights work today.

November 20 is National Transgender Day of Remembrance; find a vigil near you

Today, November 20, is National Transgender Day of Remembrance. Equality Pennsylvania describes this day as an occasion "to remember transgender people who have been the victims of violence that often turns fatal."

Vigils are scheduled around the country to mark this occasion.

>> Click here to find an event near you.