In The News
Mar 25, 2021
In The News
Experts told the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, a House body that focuses on human rights around the world, that the Global Magnitsky Act had been a game-changer since it was passed in 2016. The law provides sweeping human-rights and anti-corruption sanctions authorities to the executive branch, but it will expire in late 2022.
Mar 14, 2021
In The News
The bipartisan Human Rights Commission of the U.S. House of Representatives has urged the government of Belarus to immediately release jailed blogger and RFE/RL consultant Ihar Losik and other "political prisoners."
Feb 22, 2021
In The News
Representatives Jim McGovern (D-MA) and Chris Smith (D-NJ), the co-chairs of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission in the House, sponsored an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act that requires the Department of Defense to report to Congress on actions taken in response to a request by then-Defense Secretary Ash Carter in 2016 to review rules of engagement, directives, and practices to ensure that they conform to principles of protection of medical care in armed conflict based on the Geneva Conventions.
Feb 27, 2020
In The News
Russia’s human rights record, including its history of mistreating religious minorities, is worsening, according to testimony at a hearing on Capitol Hill Thursday (Feb. 27).
Nov 15, 2019
In The News
Lawyers and human rights advocates have testified at a Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission hearing on Kashmir, demanding the release of detainees, giving foreign journalists and legal observers access to the majority-Muslim region, and calling for an end to the communication blackout that has been in place since August 5.
Dec 10, 2018
In The News
A discussion on human rights defenders and the risks and opportunities of new technology, featuring a number of legislators including Rep. Jim McGovern, Co-Chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, brought together human rights defenders, organizations as well as those involved in technology, to gain a better understanding of the promise and perils new technology has for human rights.
Dec 5, 2018
In The News
A group of members of the US Congress are calling on the Rwandan government to drop charges against Diane Rwigara, a fierce government critic who is facing up to 22 years in prison on charges of incitement and fraud.
Nov 29, 2018
In The News
U.S. congressional lawmakers are pressing Rwanda's government against incarcerating dissident politician Diane Rwigara, who faces up to 22 years in prison after being convicted of inciting insurrection and forgery.
Oct 14, 2018
In The News
E.J. Dionne Jr., columnist for The Washington Post, interviewed Reps. Jim McGovern and Randy Hultgren, Co-Chairs of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, on the Trump Administration's decision to limit the number of refugees admitted for resettlement in the United States in 2019 to 30,000, down from 45,000 for 2018 and the lowest level since the refugee resettlement program was created in 1980.
Jul 17, 2018
In The News
The tiny and sometimes troubled Persian Gulf nation of Bahrain, which hosts the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet, must allow its electorate to “express themselves peacefully” during an election in the wake of pro-democracy uprisings, heads of a bipartisan congressional human rights commission have warned.