Washington, D.C.—In response to reports that Sebastian Gorka, deputy assistant and senior counter-terrorism advisor to President Trump, will be reassigned from his White House role, Human Rights First’s Rob Berschinski, former deputy assistant secretary of state for democracy, human rights, and labor, issued the following statement:
Category: Human Rights First
A Woman’s Death in Italy Spotlights Modern Slavery
Wednesday, April 26, 2017 – 3:27pm
A Woman’s Death in Italy Spotlights Modern Slavery
Earlier this month the New York Tim
TVPRA Would Strengthen U.S. Efforts to Combat Human Trafficking
Human Rights First welcomed the introduction of The Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA) in the House. This[…]
Read moreBannon Removal from National Security Council a Victory for American Ideals
New York City—Human Rights First today welcomed reports that Stephen Bannon, chief strategist to President Trump, has been removed from the National Security Council. Prior to his White House appointment, Bannon served as the executive chairman of Breitbart News, a website that has promoted racist, antisemitic, and white-nationalist ideologies.
State Department Calls for Independent Investigation into LGBT Murders in Chechnya
Washington, D.C.—Human Rights First today welcomed comments from State Department officials calling on the Russian government to independently investigate the recent murders and mass arrests of gay men in Chechnya, and calls on Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to urge Russia to hold the perpetrators of the assault on the Chechen lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community accountable during his upcoming with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow on April 12. The State Department spokesman made the comment in response to a&n
German Social Media Law Threatens Free Speech
Monday, April 10, 2017 – 1:01pmGerman Social Media Law Threatens Free SpeechErika AsgeirssonOn Wednesday, the German cabinet approved a draft law that would fine social media companies for failing to remove hate speech and other content th
Read moreCoptic Church Bombings Show Sisi Isn’t Doing a “Fantastic Job”
Thursday, April 13, 2017 – 12:23pm
Coptic Church Bombings Show Sisi Isn’t Doing a “Fantastic Job”
Administration Urged to Appoint Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism
Washington, D.C.—Human Rights First today expressed alarm over reports that the Trump Administration may not fill the U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism position and plans to eliminate the staff positions of that office. The office, when filled and fully staffed, performs critical work documenting and preventing bias-motivated violations against Jewish communities. Human Rights First calls on President Trump to immediately appoint a new special envoy and maintain the office’s support staff and funding.
Former Businessman and Oldest Detainee Seeks Release from Gitmo
Tuesday, March 21, 2017 – 5:22pmFormer Businessman and Oldest Detainee Seeks Release from GitmoBy Camille Marrero
Read moreTrump’s Failure to Raise Human Rights with Sisi Harms U.S. Interests
Tuesday, April 4, 2017 – 3:24pm
Trump’s Failure to Raise Human Rights with Sisi Harms U.S. Interests
As expected, President Trump offered no public criticism of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s human rights record during their meeting at the White