Excerpt of Public Radio International clip that features GJC President Akila Radhakrishnan.
Organizations want to block the Trump administration's use of a commission that critics say could radically redefine human rights in US foreign policy along religious grounds.
NEW YORK – Yanghee Lee, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, released an advance version of her final report today. Lee was appointed by the UN Human Rights Council in 2014.
Grant Shubin, legal director of the Global Justice Center, had the following response:
“Special Rapporteur Lee has been a stalwart advocate for human rights and justice in Myanmar throughout her entire tenure. As expected, her final report conveys the gravity of the situation in Myanmar as well as the urgency of domestic and international action.”
“Backed up by years of investigation and documentation, Lee’s report recognizes that international action, whether at the International Criminal Court or the International Court of Justice, is critical to reversing the scourge of genocide and other grave crimes in the country. We hope the international community heeds her words. They’re more important now than ever.”
GJC President Akila Radhakrishnan spoke at this event hosted by the New York City Bar Association.
Description:
This exciting Conference will coincide with the 64th session of the Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations in New York City and the 25th Anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing where First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton historically proclaimed, “Women’s Rights are Human Rights.” Speakers, panelists and moderators at the Conference will address various topics, including: the status of women and the role of lawyers and the law in improving the status of women; United Nation’s initiatives to improve the status of women; global human rights concerns and abuses specifically impacting women; innovative approaches to improving the lives of women through the rule of law and government policy; elevating women lawyers and fostering diversity within the legal profession; and the role of legal societies, professional organizations and international NGOs in aiding women.
A Pro Bono Engagement Forum and Reception will kick off the Conference to allow attendees to connect with one another about potential opportunities to offer legal services on a pro bono basis to NGOs focused on serving women.
Moderators:
Robyn Griffin, Managing Director, The Huntington National Bank
Lauren McMillen Ormsbee, Partner, BLB&G
Welcoming Remarks:
Roger Juan Maldonado, President, New York City Bar Association
Speakers:
Fiona Bassett, Board Member, The Hopeland Charity Foundation
Julie E. Fink, Kaplan Hecker & Fink LLP
Francoise Girard, President, International Women’s Health Coalition
Barbara Hart, President and CEO, Lowey Dannenberg, P.C.
Stephanie Johanssen, Senior Advocacy Officer and UN Representative, Women's Refugee Commission
Laila Khoudeida, Co-Founder and Director of Women’s Affairs for YAZDA
Charlotte Laurent-Ottomane, Executive Director, Thirty Percent Coalition
Dr. Faith Mwangi-Powell, CEO, Girls Not Brides
Consolee Nishimwe, Author, Tested to the Limited, Educational and Motivational Speaker
Pramila Patten, Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, United Nations
Akila Radhakrishnan, President, Global Justice Center
Jessica Reijnders, Executive Director, Free A Girl USA
Excerpt of CNN article that features the Global Justice Center.
Pompeo unveiled the commission in July 2019, saying it would be tasked with examining the role of human rights in foreign policy and refocusing on which rights should be "honored." Lawmakers and human rights organizations had expressed concerns that the initiative was an effort to roll back protections for women, LGBTQ groups and minorities.
On Friday, Democracy Forward filed a lawsuit in the Southern District of New York on behalf of the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Human Rights, the Center for Health and Gender Equity, the Council for Global Equality and the Global Justice Center. It targets Pompeo, the State Department and the department's director of policy planning staff, Peter Berkowitz.
The groups allege that the commission was created and operated in violation of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the 1972 statute that establishes guidelines that such committees must adhere to.
Excerpt of McClatchy article that features the Global Justice Center.
They are suing Pompeo, in his capacity as secretary of state, in the Southern District of New York, as well as the State Department and its director of policy planning staff Peter Berkowitz, the executive director of the commission.
The other plaintiffs in the case are the Center for Health and Gender Equality, or CHANGE, the Council for Global Equality and the Global Justice Center.
Their lawsuit alleges members of the commission hold biased views, and they were selected by Pompeo to yield a predetermined outcome. It argues that the commission’s work is not in the public interest.
