Current:Home > StocksActivists turn backs on US officials as UN-backed human rights review of United States wraps up-LoTradeCoin
Activists turn backs on US officials as UN-backed human rights review of United States wraps up
View Date:2024-12-25 00:30:03
GENEVA (AP) — Dozens of U.S. activists who champion LGBTQ, indigenous, reproductive and other rights and who campaign against discrimination turned their backs Wednesday in a silent protest against what they called insufficient U.S. government responses to their human rights concerns.
The protesters, who came from places as diverse as Guam, Puerto Rico, Hawaii and beyond, led the demonstration before the independent Human Rights Committee as U.S. Ambassador Michele Taylor wrapped up a two-day hearing on the United States. It was part of a regular human rights review for all U.N. member countries by the committee.
Six other countries including Haiti, Iran and Venezuela also were undergoing public sessions this autumn in Geneva to see how well countries are adhering to their commitments under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights — one of only a handful of international human rights treaties that the United States has ratified.
The protest came as Taylor said the U.S. commitment to the treaty was “a moral imperative at the very heart of our democracy” and her country “leads by example through our transparency, our openness and our humble approach to our own human rights challenges.”
“You have heard over the past two days about many of the concrete ways we are meeting our obligations under the convention, and you have also heard our pledge to do more,” said Taylor, who is U.S. ambassador to the Human Rights Council. “I recognize that the topics raised are often painful for all of us to discuss.”
Jamil Dakwar, director of the human rights program at the American Civil Liberties Union, said the U.S. delegation “decided to stick to scripted, general, and often meaningless responses” to questions from the committee.
“At times it seemed that AI generated responses would have been more qualitative,” he said.
Andrea Guerrero, executive director of community group Alliance San Diego, said the U.S. responses were “deeply disappointing” and consisted of a simple reiteration, defense and justification of use-of-force standards by U.S. police.
“For that reason, we walked out of the U.S. consultations (with civil society) two days ago, and we protested today,” said Guerrero, whose group began a “Start With Dignity” campaign in southwestern states to decry law enforcement abuse, discrimination and impunity.
Some 140 activists from an array of groups traveled to Geneva for the first such review of U.S. compliance to the covenant in nine years.
Ki’I Kaho’ohanohano, a traditional midwife from Hawaii, said she came to speak to the maternal health care crisis in Hawaii and beyond, and faulted U.S. officials for having “deflected” the committee’s repeat questions.
“Stonewall -- as usual,” she said, “Again we don’t have any responses, and it’s very infuriating.”
veryGood! (77831)
Related
- Trump has promised to ‘save TikTok’. What happens next is less clear
- Orioles wonder what's next after another playoff flop against Royals in wild-card series
- School of Rock Costars Caitlin Hale and Angelo Massagli Hint at Engagement
- On the road: Plenty of NBA teams mixing the grind of training camp with resort life
- Guns smuggled from the US are blamed for a surge in killings on more Caribbean islands
- Why Zendaya Hasn’t Watched Dancing With the Stars Since Appearing on the Show
- Kim Kardashian calls to free Erik and Lyle Menendez after brutal 1996 killings of parents
- 'Devastating consequences': Climate change likely worsened floods after Helene
- Jason Kelce Offers Up NSFW Explanation for Why Men Have Beards
- Florida's new homeless law bans sleeping in public, mandates camps for unhoused people
Ranking
- Eva Longoria calls US 'dystopian' under Trump, has moved with husband and son
- 'Love is Blind' star Hannah says she doesn’t feel ‘love bombed’ by Nick
- For Pittsburgh Jews, attack anniversary adds to an already grim October
- Why Andrew Garfield Doesn't Think He Wants Kids
- 3 Iraqis tortured at Abu Ghraib win $42M judgement against defense contractor
- Saoirse Ronan made a life for herself. Now, she's 'ready to be out there again.'
- Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark a near-unanimous choice as WNBA’s Rookie of the Year
- Jurors in trial of Salman Rushdie’s attacker likely won’t hear about his motive
Recommendation
-
Isiah Pacheco injury updates: When will Chiefs RB return?
-
Armed person broke into Michigan home of rabbi hosting Jewish students, authorities say
-
Greening of Antarctica is Another Sign of Significant Climate Shift on the Frozen Continent
-
Joe Jonas Has Cheeky Response to Fan Hoping to Start a Romance With Him
-
Conviction and 7-year sentence for Alex Murdaugh’s banker overturned in appeal of juror’s dismissal
-
Jobs report is likely to show another month of modest but steady hiring gains
-
Helene’s powerful storm surge killed 12 near Tampa. They didn’t have to die
-
Watch: Pete Alonso – the 'Polar Bear' – sends Mets to NLDS with ninth-inning home run