“For the first time in nearly a decade, the US has a chance to regain its global credibility by turning the page on the abusive policies of the Bush administration," said Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch. "And not a moment too late. Today, the most energetic diplomacy on human rights comes from such places as Algiers, Cairo, and Islamabad, with backing from Beijing and Moscow, but these ‘spoilers' are pushing in the wrong direction."
Human Rights Watch (HRW), the global watchdog which takes no government funding, released its 2009 World Report on January 14, revealing that human rights have eroded over the past year. Exhaustive research in 90 nations concludes that the nations who are active in human rights are the ‘spoilers’ who work to limit human rights to avoid criticism of despotic regimes. Algeria, China, Egypt, India, Pakistan, and Russia lead this race to the bottom.
In The Disastrous Bush Years, HRW places the major responsibility for the decline in human rights squarely on the Bush administration which opted to renege on the Geneva Conventions and use torture, rendition, and illegal detention in the War on Terrorism. This US repudiation of international human rights abdicated its role as Leader of the Free World and Defender of Human Rights. In this vacuum of international leadership, smaller nations carried the torch of human rights (notably Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Mexico, Botswana, Ghana, Liberia, Zambia and Uruguay); however, these voices have minimal global effect without US support and leadership.
The US has been ethically crippled with the result that “…when the issue was human rights abuses that the Bush administration practiced itself, the United States was forced to cede the field.” Further, the US has failed to address human rights abuses when they occur in nations considered allies in the War on Terror, notably Pakistan, Egypt, and India.
Human Rights Watch calls on President Obama “…to rejoin multilateral institutions such as the UN Human Rights Council and ratify key treaties such as those on women's and children's rights, enforced disappearances, cluster munitions, and antipersonnel landmines”. Additionally, HRW calls on Obama to embrace the International Criminal Court treaty, join with the Southern voices calling for human rights, and address human rights violations even when they occur in nations which are allies. HRW also calls for the US to return to the UN Human Rights Council and seek a seat. Further, a righting of the significant human rights violations occurring within the United States would confer the moral authority upon which the greatest nation in the world was founded.
Human Rights Watch stresses that the time for the United States to act to retake the high ground is now. No key human rights conventions have been fully embraced by the US. The peoples of the world are asking us to lead once again.
Let us answer their call.
TIP:
Enter the amount, and click "Tip" to submit!
Cranky Cuss
john tapley
Catnlion
WriteNOWMom
Colony of Losers
Jane Gideon
Salon.com
Comments
I posted my article, "We have it in our power to begin the world again" on January 10. This report was published on January 14. Plagerism? You tell me.
The best human rights happen right here in front of me, inside my cup of tea. Everyone lives peacefully in my cup of tea. Earl and Grey have never been mishandled.
Except that they're put in boiling water every morning.
We've abdicated our position of the moral high ground, we've equivocated on the issue of torture. Essentially, American policies have given cover for oppressive regimes throughout the world resulting in more terrorists and human rights violations throughout the world.
Now, I believe Bush was trying to do the right thing for America, but he was such a fundamental failure, his policies often so contrary to American values and principal that you almost have to wonder who's side he was really on.
Thanks. Yes, it was nauseating to see them all together when they have followed the same disatrous policies.
David,
Thank you for your unique take on this.
Juliet,
Yes, I had heard that folks steal your stuff online but never thought a reputable organization such as HRW would stoop to it.
MJwhycha,
Perhaps Bush forgot what country he was leading. I am sure he never read any Lincoln or FDR unless there is a comic book version.
Ironically, to understand this most clearly, suppose that Bush and Cheney were heading the international organization that was managing the International Criminal Court and suppose they somehow finessed a situation in which their preferred rule of the day was “if the head of [the overarching organization I happen to run] does it, that means it's legal.”
The problem is that each of us assumes that touchy-feely names like International Criminal Court are going to go after what we think of as criminals. But under bad circumstances, McCarthyism and the Bush/Cheney regime being examples, even good organizations (which I presume the US to aspire to be) can be managed by people whose ethics and/or means can be subject to considerable challenge. And the US has generally, with some glaring and much objected-to exceptions, avoided placing its citizens into a situation where they are subject to foreign control with no option to vote on the agencies setting the policies.
I will say that by both failing to sign onto treaties like this and failing to clean house ourselves, there is considerable question left about both our motives and abilities.
I made a note to talk more about this in a blog post sometime soon. But hopefully that gives you the sense of how there could be an alternate "side" to this.
I haven't read this treaty and not having done so and thought about its specific implications, I can't in good conscience support rushing to re-sign the treaty without careful and highly skeptical thought. I do support prosecution of Bush/Cheney exactly to take pressure off of us for appearing to be failing to sign it for reasons that amount to “we don't care about ethics.”
Thank you for your response. I can always depend upon you for an intelligent take on everything.
"I will say that by both failing to sign onto treaties like this and failing to clean house ourselves, there is considerable question left about both our motives and abilities. "
This is exactly what we need to correct in our global image.
The ICC is set up to be fair. Political manipulation is rife in any organization but my knowledge of the UN has convinced me that the US has the greatest power to manipulate.
Of course, you are right that we do not want our actions judged by the world. Think of Henry Kissinger who can no longer travel outside the country for fear of arrest as he barely escaped in France when he fled his hotel without his luggage when he was tipped off that the authorities were hot on his trail.
If Obama will not prosecute these war criminals who are leaving office, perhaps we should hand it over to the world.
Thanks for your response.
I dropped this into the citizen's briefing book for Obama and it has attracted 180 points so far. Here is the link for those who wish to visit the site and have their say:
http://citizensbriefingbook.change.gov/ideas/viewIdea.apexp?id=087800000005AC7
(If anyone wishes to post on Obama's site, please see my post "President Obama's Ear" for helpful formating instructions.
Well done Steph.
Hugs
Greg
(rated)
human rights is yet another area where the bush administration has dropped the ball. and although it's not something people necessarily talk about every night around the dinner table (unlike our wars or our shattered economy) it's something for which history will judge us harshly. as you and HRW say, the time to rectify things is now.
Thanks for bring this much need debate to OS.
Thanks for your comment. The US has ignored the HRW in the past. We shall see if this challenge put forward on the international stage will be acknowledged.
NO No, Nana. It was me who published first! (it's all about me, me me...) Like you say, this is an idea whose time has come. In one act, we could reclaim American greatness.
gmgaston,
Yes, HRW is a great organiation. Even Amnesty International accepts US government money.
My post on the Obama briefing book is up to 210 now. They are shutting down any further contributions on Sunday at 6pm, so if you have something to say, do it now.
Thanks for coming back for seconds!
I agree that the US needs to rethink our position in the global community. The Bush abdication of high moral ground hurts our power in the world as surely as our shrinking economy.
Thank you for yet another posting of information that is vital while being nationally and globally patriotic at its best.
Your phrase, “The US has been ethically crippled” is perhaps the best summarization of a systemic evil.
Those who regard the Bush administration’s cavalier dismissals of the Geneva Conventions as necessary to protect our country forget one of the more personal consequences of such scorn. The refusal to accept such terms leaves us without moral recourse when our own troops are tortured.
Our next Administration must show unwavering support for human rights and should offer citizens a working understanding and knowledge regarding such treaties and why they are so necessary to comply with (I mean dear God the current administration even spoke of the Geneva Conventions in the singular tense as some sort of one time convention held in Geneva).
I wholly agree we must add our voices to the call. Protection of human rights both abroad and at home are the ultimate fail safe in regard to the preservation of human life and dignity in the nuclear age.
Great Post Stephanie. Rated.
I appreciate your considered response and apologize that I have not brought forward the reservations to these agreements. However, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is 60 years old this year and has been "under study" by the US in all that time.
I must clarify that those these ageements are "international law", there is no international enforcement which makes all of these legally non-binding. Their value lies in providing a base upon which peoples may challenge violations of human rights globally. This is why Sami Samar, Director of Human Rights in Afhganistan, begged in vain for the US to ratify CEDAW and show our international support for women's rights. Ratification of these documents means something for every human being on Earth.
Thank you, I value your opinion.
This is our window of opportunity to bring real change to ourselves and the world.
I bring my best writing skills to topics related to justice, my most deeply felt core of being. I can be faulted for not always elucidating the opposing views (and I admire those who do like Saturn Smith and Kent Pitman), but my voice is one that should exist. I want these ideas to be accessible and clear and felt in the heart.
Let's grab the brass ring.
Thanks for the points, guys. Over at Obama's site, it is up to 280. I hope that gets it glanced at... And, Chicago, please put your excellent suggestion in for a writer's program! Great idea!
Juliet,
Thanks for staying engaged in the topic. I so much appreciate the information you have brought.
Kent is correct. I admire his careful thinking. I had promised him in an earlier post that I would post these reservations but have not. (Grad school calls again...)
I just think it is an opportunity to make good intentions known. All Obama would need to do is to suggest to Congress that they actively review all of these for "re-signing". Jawboning can work when a President has a good character and motivation.
You are so right, too. The leaders of nations are at odds with their people as at no other time. Look at the Arab states in this regard. But you can feel the ferment. Make no mistake, if these are embraced by the US, it may mean revolution in many places. Leadership matters right down to the ground.
I've "upped" and commented on our post on the citizens board. I've also spent a few hours going through other posts to comment and rate. People identify many good ideas, as well as many flaky ones. It is sad that so many of the weird ones ("Have the Government Admit that Aliens are Among us"; "Reveal and use Alien technology") are so popular. Nonetheless, it is entertaining.
Haahaahaa. Yes, the alien ones are entertaining but many of the ideas are quite good. The rating system lets you see what folks are interested in too. A real slice of Americana.
They are ending this site on Sunday at 6 PM but reopening it after Obama is sworn in as whitehouse.gov. Presumably, they will compile these. There has been some response by a few Obama team members on some topics so far.
I like their compilation of each user's ideas, voting, comments and replies. It is more extensive than the one available on OS, and lets me more easily return to follow active commentary. I had an interesting morning browsing on the Citizen's Board, while watching "West Wing" on DVD.
Here is a link to the blog page where the Obama team members respond in video.
http://change.gov/newsroom/blog/
War crimes are violations of US law as well as our treaty obligations, and we'll never restore our standing in the world comuunity until we fully investigate and prosecute crimes commited by government officials.
I don't have much hope for Obama to pursue this, but I'm keeping my eye on John Conyers', Henry Waxman's, and Patrick Leahy's congressional committees; investigations may come from there. Also I have no doubt that the international community will pursue American war criminals if we fail to prosecute.
I quite agree that the US needs to clean house. I am hoping that we get some satisfaction; however, our experience has certainly been negative in this respect with various pardons and looking the other way.
I checked my post on the Obama site, and it is rated at roughly 850 out of 3,300 in the political policy topic. They claim 70,000 hits.
How also would your human rights organization view Bushs overthrow of Afghanistan which has thus resulted in the country run by a much more progressive government that has certainly improved human rights in significant fashion.
while your cute little organizations talk fluff bush has actually taken actions that have brought a much better way of life to real people in the world.
I am not disputing that America has done good in the world; it has. But the saddest thing for me about the Bush years was the absolute squandering of massive international goodwill with ass-licking bullies like John Bolton at the helm. And then we had our very own bully, U.S. amabassador to Canada Paul Cellucci, who seemed oblivious that Canada was a sovereign nation and didn't have to adopt a radical war on drugs just because the U.S. did. I could get into all kinds of issues, such as the U.S.'s complete disregard for the Free Trade agreement (softwood lumber anyone?) when decisions didn't go its way because they refused to follow the legislation, and our very own Bush toady, Prime Minister Stephen Harper, but I won't.
As the son of a diplomat, Obama has already exuded diplomatic charm and ability in excess of anything the Bush cabal could do put together.
o'steph. The best selling war game in American board game history was stolen from me and a guy who worked for one of the companies which reviewed four of my games stole them all and didn't even bother to change the rules much. I am happy he was able to feed his family based on a lie. But heck in his career he never came up with anything else, just various versions of my games. There is only justice in the other world, seldom here. That's life,].
Yes, Juliet really brought some great ideas in. I quite agree with you that US has long pursued an international agenda designed for (and often by) corporate interests.
John Bolton was such a buffoon at the UN that he was very ineffective, despite his bombast. In the world of diplomacy, he was an unarmed man. I have hopes that we will once again love the UN. Seeking a seat on the UN Human Rights Council would be directly taking on those 'spoiler' nations as they are running it now.
The US has not been a good neighbor on either border. Glad to get your perspective on this.
Yes, Obama has a great deal of good will right now, despite the grim situation. (Not sure that he had a diplomat for a parent, however. He does have the grace. See Oahusurfer for Obama's high school in Hawaii--a special place which may explain this.)
Now I am not sure. I don't know about his mother's later marriages. But, you know, he sure carries himself like one.
Catamite,
My favorite bastard. Thanks for the drink. I like the tiny umbrella which leads me to...
Umbrellakinesis!
Love your sentiments--it is all but over. Finally. The relief is palpable.
You are so right that the harm done can never be recouped. Withholding the funds for UNIFEM killed many women in underdeveloped nations by less reproductive services. This is one of the 300 presidential directives that Obama will sign on day one. I saw it on the list.
Professor,
I am so sorry that you had your writing and ideas stolen. Personal justice can be hard to come by over a lifetime.
Saying that Human Rights Watch plagerized me was a joke just based on the fact that I came up with these ideas in another post four days before their report came out, and it seemed to mirror my suggestions. This report of theirs is a year-long process involving a lot of data and analysis. I am just proud that I came up with it independently beforehand.
So, I did not mean to imply that HRW plagerized me. If they had, I would have been ecstatic.
It is an idea whose time has come.
He never failed to tell it like it isn't.
I love that! you should sponsor a site where we can all put in our epitaths for this dishonest man...
1.20.2009
I wouldn't advise breathing very deeply. We've got the skunk out of the house, but not the stink. That will start to dissipate only when charges are brought against the criminals of the Bush/Cheney administration.
The perfect metaphor for a mink farmer's daughter!
In my rummaging around the president's briefing book, this topic was one of the highest rated. No one wants to see them get a free pass. We shall see if our wants get discarded.
I do breath easier tho since Obama has 300 presidential directives ready for signing on Day One. These will override as much of Bush's stink as can be by his signature, including ending his 8-year-long global war on women on reproductive rights.
Thanks, man, for stopping by.
Thanks for reading my post first. I have great hope.
(rated)
I so agree.
It is our insistence on wearing the white hat and letting others do our dirty work that is so disgusting. Even when this is out in the open, we still insist on being called Leader of the Free World. I am hoping that Obama injects ethics back into the US character.
The U.S. must be a force for good.
You are the best! One reason I love the univeristy enviroment is the professors who live their principles and ethics. Good luck on your organizing!
Delia,
Thanks for your thanks. I am heartened because Obama took the time to call all sides on this travesty of human rights. He is engaged and there is hope in the Muslim world that there might be a difference in how the United States acts.
One of my favoreite Jordan trimes editorial cartoons showed bush looking through binoculars. On one side, there were Israeli children and he could see them. On the other side were Palestinian children and the lens was blacked out. Those we refuse to see, we refuse to help.
Here's to a better world.
Thanks for your compliments. It has been an exciting thread with many bringing their considered opinions. This is my favorite kind of post.