FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 1, 2001
Groups Call for Liberty
and
Security in September 11th Aftermath
WASHINGTON
-- A
diverse coalition of 45 humanitarian, religious, human rights and civil
liberties organizations today released a set of recommendations for
responding to the September 11th attacks. The groups stressed the
importance of abiding by human rights and humanitarian law in acting to
bring the perpetrators to justice and preventing future attacks.
The groups
urged the United States to take "every reasonable step to ensure
security for everyone in the United States," and called on the
government to investigate and prosecute hate crimes and to uphold
democratic freedoms.
Looking
abroad, the groups said that "security and justice are mutually
reinforcing goals that ultimately depend upon the promotion of all human
rights for all people" and called on the United States to promote
fundamental rights around the world and to ensure that other countries do
not use the fight against terrorism as a pretext to justify repression.
As the war in
Afghanistan continues, the groups advocated for "exceptional
attention to protecting civilians and civilian objects from harm,"
and "safe access to humanitarian aid and security for humanitarian
workers in order to provide the urgent assistance required by the millions
of men, women and children inside Afghanistan."
Groups making
the recommendations include: the Alchemind Society, Alliance for Justice,
Amnesty International USA, CARE, Center for Reproductive Law and Policy,
Doctors of the World-USA, Human Rights Watch, Lawyers Committee for Human
Rights, Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, Muslim Public Affairs
Council, National Council of Churches, Open Society Institute, Oxfam
America, Physicians for Human Rights, Refugees International, Save the
Children/US, Union of American Hebrew Congregations, and the US Committee
for Refugees. The full statement and a complete list of signers is
attached.
STATEMENT
OF PRINCIPLES
Following the appalling attacks of September 11, the United States and
the international community face an historic challenge: to mount a
collective effort to achieve security in a world scarred by atrocities and
conflict. To meet this challenge we must recognize that security and
justice are mutually reinforcing goals that ultimately depend upon the
promotion of all human rights for all people. The principles established
in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights demand accountability for
those who violate its fundamental principles. More than that, they offer a
universal blueprint for just societies based on the values of liberty,
equality, democracy, development, and justice. These principles are not
the province of one civilization or culture but the shared birthright of
all human beings.
We therefore propose ten core principles that should
guide the response to these attacks, and to those responsible for them.
Condemn the Attacks
1. We condemn the
horrendous attacks of September 11. We urge all governments and all people
to stand against these and other indiscriminate attacks directed at
innocent civilians.
Mourn the Victims
2. We mourn the loss of
innocent lives and express our solidarity with the victims and their
families.
Bring the Perpetrators to Justice and Prevent New
Attacks
3. We urge all
governments to unite to investigate these crimes, to bring to justice
those who are responsible, and to prevent future attacks.
Safeguard Liberty while Protecting Security
4. In the aftermath of
the September 11 attacks the U.S. government has the authority and the
duty to take every reasonable step to ensure security for everyone in the
United States. Such steps can and must uphold the democratic freedoms
cherished by citizens and non-citizens alike. We are confident that we can
reconcile the requirements of security with the blessings of liberty.
Reject Scapegoating
5. We commend public
officials and civic and religious leaders who have called on the public
not to blame whole communities for the deeds of a few. These leaders and
the public at large should continue to work to prevent attacks,
harassment, and persecution of people based on their race, religion,
national origin, ethnic background, or appearance. Hate crimes must be
thoroughly investigated and prosecuted.
Promote and Respect Human Rights Worldwide
6. The United States and
its allies should not allow the current campaign to prevent them from
vigorously and consistently challenging violations of fundamental rights
by all governments. They must ensure that governments do not use the fight
against terrorism as a pretext to justify repression or the curtailment of
rights. And of course they themselves must avoid support for or complicity
in abuses.
Respect the Laws of War
7. The military responses that
have been or may be undertaken must pay exceptional attention to
protecting civilians and civilian objects from harm as required by
international humanitarian law such as the Geneva Conventions.
Perpetrators and their accomplices must be distinguished from the civilian
population at large and from those who may simply share their religion,
ethnicity or national origin. Efforts should also be undertaken to
minimize displacement of civilians.
Ensure Humanitarian Access and Protect Those Seeking
Refuge
8.
Governments and other parties must ensure safe access to
humanitarian aid and security for humanitarian workers in order to provide
the urgent assistance required by the millions of men, women and children
inside Afghanistan. Refugees and others in need of international
protection must be allowed to leave Afghanistan or other countries to seek
safety. Governments should work together to ensure that countries
receiving refugees have the necessary resources to screen the arriving
population and to provide them with the required standards of protection,
food, water, shelter and other basic needs.
Promote Human Development
9. Freedom from fear must go
hand in hand with freedom from want. A key to security lies in
safeguarding and promoting just and equitable societies where people's
basic civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights are
respected. Today, more than ever, our search for security must include an
affirmative commitment to advance this broader rights agenda.
Promote and Defend Open Societies
10.
Global security is enhanced by the success of open societies that
foster respect for the rule of law and promote tolerance and guarantee
people's rights of free expression and peaceful dissent. We applaud
political leaders, in the U.S. and elsewhere, who champion human rights
and democratic government.
SIGNERS
[For
the latest update on signers, see www.hrw.org]
Alchemind
Society: The International Association for Cognitive Liberty
Alliance for
Justice
American
Friends Service Committee
Amnesty
International - USA
Ashay:
Educational Resources for a Multicultural World
Bahá'ís of
the United States
CARE
Center for
Democracy & Technology
Center for
Economic and Social Rights
Center for
Reproductive Law and Policy
Church World
Service
Doctors of the
World-USA
Food for the
Hungry
Human Rights
Watch
Immigration
and Refugee Services of America
International
Human Rights Law Group
International
Institute of New Jersey
International
League for Human Rights
Jesuit Refugee
Service/USA
Lawyers
Committee for Human Rights
Leadership
Conference on Civil Rights
Minnesota
Advocates for Human Rights
Muslim Public
Affairs Council
National
Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA
National
Immigration Forum
Nuremburg
Legacy Project
Open Society
Institute
Oxfam America
Pacific
Gateway Center
Pact
Physicians for
Human Rights
Physicians For
Peace
Population
Communications
Refugees
International
Robert F.
Kennedy Memorial Center for Human Rights
Save the
Children USA
Sikh Dharma
International
Sikh
Mediawatch and Resource Task Force
Students for a
Free Tibet
U.S. Committee
for Refugees
Union of
American Hebrew Congregations
Unitarian
Universalists Association of Congregations
Volunteers in
Technical Assistance
Western
Kentucky Refugee MAA, Inc.
World
Organization Against Torture USA
World Relief
Youth
International
Youth Speaks
NY
For
Further Information, Please Contact:
Alchemind
Society, Richard Glen Boire, Esq. (530) 750-7912
Alliance for
Justice, Nan Aron, (202) 822-6070, x 241
Amnesty
International USA, Gwen Fitzgerald, (202) 544-0200 x 302
CARE, Andrew
Pugh, (404) 979 9341
Center for
Reproductive Law and Policy, Margie Kelly, (917) 637-3617
Doctors of the
World-USA, Robert Kushen, (212) 226-9890 x 226
Human Rights
Watch, Ken Roth, (212) 216-1201
Lawyers
Committee for Human Rights, Mike Posner, (212) 845-5210
Leadership
Conference on Civil Rights, Wade Henderson, (202) 466-3311
Muslim Public
Affairs Council, Salam Al-Marayati, (213) 383-3443
National
Council of Churches, Carol Fouke, 212-870-2252
Open Society
Institute, Aryeh Neier, (212) 548 0650
Oxfam America,
Adrienne Smith , (617) 728-2406
Physicians for
Human Rights, Len Rubenstein, (202) 728-5335
Refugees
International, Ken Bacon, (202) 828-0110
Save the
Children/US, Colleen Barton, (203) 221-4187
Union of
American Hebrew Congregations, Lauren Schumer, (202) 387.2800
US Committee
for Refugees, Bill Frelick, (202) 347-3507
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