Human Rights in the United States

Taser Abuse | Human Rights for Katrina Survivors | Individuals at Risk: Criminal Justice | Individuals at Risk: Conscientious Objectors | Other

Human rights don't start at the water's edge—there's urgent work to be done here at home.

Amnesty International works to protect human rights in the United States. Amnesty International combats Taser abuse, works towards rebuilding New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, and advocates for individuals at risk.

Taser Abuse: Since June 2001, more than 334 individuals in the United States have died after being struck by police Tasers. AI is concerned that Tasers are being used as tools of routine force, rather than as weapons of last resort. Rigorous, independent, impartial study of their use and effects is urgently needed.
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Human Rights for Katrina Survivors: Thousands of New Orleans residents are still displaced over two years after the human rights disaster of Hurricane Katrina. Due to a dearth in affordable housing stock, and with the majority of public housing still shuttered and facing demolition, long-term healthy alternatives remain elusive for those who wish to return.
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Individuals at Risk: Criminal Justice: Amnesty International campaigns against violations of individual human rights at every stage of the U.S. criminal justice system. Current cases include Gary Tyler, the Angola Two, and the Jena Six.
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Individuals at Risk: Conscientious Objectors: In recent years, more soldiers are refusing to participate in the war and occupation in Iraq. They have applied for conscientious objector (CO) status, which would allow them exemption from participation in war. However, the US government has denied most of these petitions, denying the freedom of thought, conscience and religion guaranteed by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. These men and women become prisoners of conscience.
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Other Domestic Human Rights Issues

Racial profiling has impacted nearly 32 million people in the United States. When law enforcement uses race as a proxy for criminal suspicion, it puts all of us at risk, especially among recent rises in hate crimes and social and economic discrimination.

There are more than 2,000 child offenders serving life without parole (LWOP) sentences in U.S. prisons for crimes committed before they were age 18.

Policies of the US government have become increasing focused on tracking and persecuting individuals expressing their right to free expression, disregarding longstanding US and international law guaranteeing that right.