News from MCHR

CHICAGO, July 18 -- On June 25, 2008, the Center for Victims of Torture, the National Religious Campaign Against Torture, and Evangelicals for Human Rights launched the Campaign to Ban Torture: American Voices for American Values. Today, we are happy to announce that the Midwest Coalition for Human Rights has officially endorsed the campaign.

The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Racism, Mr. Doudou Diene of Senegal, has been on a three week mission to the U.S. since May 19 to meet with government officials, non-governmental organizations, and victims of racial discrimination.

During his three-week tour, the Rapporteur will visit New York City, Washington, DC, Chicago, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Miami, Omaha, Honolulu, and San Juan, Puerto Rico. Mr. Diene will meet with federal and local officials, lawmakers, and judicial authorities, along with representatives from civil society organizations and victims.

The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is holding its 72nd session in Geneva, Switzerland this week to review anti-discrimination efforts undertaken by various parties to the Convention, including the United States. The 18-member Committee will review the report submitted by the U.S. State Department on the government's efforts to comply with the Convention. Government representatives will be on hand to answer the Committee's questions as well.

Committee to Consider Human Rights Situation in United States

The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination will hold its 72nd session in Geneva, Switzerland from February 18 to March 7 to review anti-discrimination efforts undertaken by the various parties to the Convention, including the Government of the United States.

This Wednesday, January 9, 2008, the Chicago City Council is set to approve the settlement in the four of Chicago Police torture civil rights cases of Leroy Orange, Madison Hobley, Stanley Howard and Aaron Patterson (all four were pardoned on the basis of their innocence in 2003). This is indeed a great victory, but we must fight on and push for continued justice and accountability in these cases.  Join us in calling for:

DEC. 20 - Yesterday, Congress passed an omnibus appropriations bill (H.R.2764) for fiscal year 2008 for most major federal agencies. The president is expected to sign the omnibus bill into law.

CHICAGO, Dec. 10 – A broad coalition of community and city-wide organizations, including two MCHR organizations, the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs and the Coalition to Protect Public Housing,  released a groundbreaking report today to the UN committee responsible for overseeing the U.S.’ compliance with the International Convention for the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination.

NEW YORK, Dec. 10 - A coalition of more than 200 not-for-profit human rights and social justice organizations, including various MCHR members, charge that the George W. Bush administration is contributing to racial, religious and ethnic discrimination in the U.S. -- and attempting to cover up its violations in a report to the United Nations they term "a complete whitewash".

MIAMI, Nov. 30 - Farmworkers, union members and activists marched through city streets to Burger King headquarters Friday to protest low wages for tomato pickers and alleged exploitation of field workers.

On Their Own: Protecting the Rights of Immigrant Children
The Third Annual Conference on Unaccompanied Immigrant Children

The National Immigrant Justice Center is organizing the 3rd annual conference on cutting edge issues involving unaccompanied immigrant children.