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February 26, 2018

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressmen Jim McGovern (D-MA) and Randy Hultgren (R-IL), Co-Chairs of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, commend the government of Ethiopia for its decision to release some 6,000 political prisoners in recent weeks, including Bekele Gerba, the Secretary General of the Oromo Federalist Congress, and journalists Eskinder Nega and Woubshet Taye.

The Co-Chairs hope this move signals an increased commitment by the government of Ethiopia to protect and promote its citizens' fundamental civil and political rights, and to foster democratic pluralism.


February 22, 2018

The Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission hosted a hearing on February 15 highlighting the Commission's Defending Freedoms Project, which allows members of Congress to take the personal initiative to become advocates for persons unjustly incarcerated by repressive governments around the world.


February 20, 2018

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressmen Randy Hultgren (R-IL) and James P. McGovern (D-MA), Co-Chairs of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, expressed disappointment and concern in response to reports that the Department of Homeland Security has denied refugee status in the United States for some Iranians who are Christians or members of other religious minorities in Iran.


February 1, 2018

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressmen Randy Hultgren (R-IL) and James P. McGovern (D-MA), Co-Chairs of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, have written to Dr. József Tóth, Mayor of Budapest's 13th district, to express their appreciation for the statue of the Commission's namesake, Tom Lantos, which was unveiled in Budapest today.


January 30, 2018
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Congressmen Randy Hultgren (R-IL) and James P. McGovern (D-MA), Co-Chairs of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, have released a bipartisan letter sent to Vice President Michael R. Pence requesting his assistance in resolving the cases of roughly 100 Iranian refugees – all Christians or members of other Iranian religious minorities – seeking refugee status in the United States.

January 18, 2018

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressmen Randy Hultgren and Jim McGovern, Co-Chairs of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, issued the following statement regarding the Department of State's announcement designating "Countries of Particular Concern" (CPCs) with regard to religious freedom.


January 5, 2018
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Congressmen Randy Hultgren (R-IL) and Jim McGovern (D-MA), Co-Chairs of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, have written to Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis asking him not to transfer the Bells of Balangiga to the Philippines due to ongoing human rights violations by the government of Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte.

December 22, 2017

A bipartisan quartet of lawmakers is imploring Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to end a blockade on war-ravaged Yemen. The letter was organized by Reps. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) and Steve Chabot (R-Ohio), who are members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and co-signed by Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission co-chairmen Reps. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) and Randy Hultgren (R-Ill.).


December 13, 2017
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Congressmen James P. McGovern (D-MA) and Randy Hultgren (R-IL), Co-Chairs of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, have released a bipartisan letter sent to President Donald J. Trump urging him to publicly call on Turkey to halt the prosecution of the “Istanbul 10”and Mr. Taner Kılıç, the Chair of Amnesty International Turkey, drop all charges against them, and immediately and unconditionally release those still in detention.

November 14, 2017

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Congressmen Randy Hultgren and James P. McGovern, Co-Chairs of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, today sent a letter to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson urging him to designate Pakistan a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) this year under the terms of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (IRFA). IRFA mandates that such a designation shall be made for countries that have engaged in systematic, ongoing, egregious violations of religious freedom.


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Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission
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