U.S. Shifts Policy on Geneva Conventions - Washington Post (July 12)
White House Says Terror Detainees Hold Basic Rights - New York Times (July 12)
Geneva Conventions Cover Gitmo Detainees - USA Today (July 12)

Dear Supporter,

Wednesday’s headlines about the rights of “war on terror” detainees were a welcome change.  You and I have been working tirelessly to ensure that human rights are protected in the “war on terror,” and our work is starting to pay off.

Two weeks ago today the Supreme Court struck down the Bush administration’s military commissions in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.  A key part of that decision held that Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions applies to the Guantanamo detainees, affirming the fundamental human rights of every person in U.S. custody. 
 
In response to the Supreme Court decision and pressure from activists like you, the Pentagon issued a memo directing all branches of the armed services to comply with the Geneva Conventions. For now this shift effectively ends the lawlessness that has marked the detention and interrogations of detainees in the "war on terror." 

It’s never been clearer that your voice and your efforts are starting to make a difference.

Now we must prepare for the next phase in our work.  Over the next couple of months, Congress will debate and vote on legislation that will either bring the U.S. back in line with the rule of law by affirming that all detainees in US custody have the rights guaranteed under Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions, or pass legislation that will revert the U.S. back down the slippery slope of lawlessness.

Take action now to ensure that your elected officials enforce Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions as the baseline for treatment of detainees held by the U.S. 

There will be more work for us to do over the coming months to shape these developments.  Only together can we ensure success!

Sincerely,

Larry Cox
Executive Director
Amnesty International USA

P.S.  Stay tuned for a national call-in week to encourage Congress to uphold the Geneva Convention protections.