Human Rights on Capitol Hill – December 2022 Newsletter

An older woman with a disability being evacuated in Kharkiv region, Ukraine. October 2022. To accompany Amnesty Internationals report: ‘I used to have a home’: Older people’s experience of war, displacement, and access to housing in Ukraine, that documents how older people in Ukraine have been disproportionately impacted by death and injury during Russia’s invasion. The report details that older people often remain in dangerous housing or are unable to flee conflict-affected areas. Those who do flee often cannot afford to cover rental costs, and shelters cannot provide appropriate care for older people with disabilities, forcing thousands into overstretched state institutions. A total of 226 people were interviewed for this report, including during in-person visits to seven state institutions during a four-week trip to Ukraine in June and July 2022.

HUMAN RIGHTS ON CAPITOL HILL

december 2022 NEWSLETTER

FEATURED: New Report from Amnesty on Ukraine

An older woman with a disability being evacuated in Kharkiv region, Ukraine. October 2022. (Photo by Amnesty International)

NEW AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL REPORT ON THE IMPACTS OF THE RUSSIAN INVASION ON OLDER UKRAINIANS

On December 6, Amnesty International released a report chronicling the disproportionate risks faced by older civilians in Ukraine in the aftermath of the Russian invasion. “I Used to Have a Home” documents how the Russian government’s act of aggression against Ukraine has resulted in massive consequences for older Ukrainians who are unable to flee conflict-affected areas. Older Ukrainians are more likely to live on below-subsistence earnings, thereby often relegating them to substandard housing after their displacement. They are relatively more likely to depend on the medical infrastructure, which has been battered by sustained Russian attacks in Ukraine as hospitals lack electricity or running water and are sometimes forced to operate under candlelight. Older Ukrainians have also made up a disproportionate number of civilians killed in the hostilities. To support older Ukrainians at grave risk, Congress should:

  • Increase humanitarian and development assistance to Ukraine and require that older people are prioritized in the distribution of cash assistance;
  • Support targeted programs to ensure that older Ukrainians are able to access adequate housing, medical cost, and survival goods; and
  • Ensure that any long-term reconstruction support similarly considers the needs faced by vulnerable populations such as older Ukrainians.

domestic updates


CONGRESS MUST INCREASE FEMA FUNDING AND PASS THE AFGHAN ADJUSTMENT ACT TO PROTECT PEOPLE SEEKING SAFETY

As Congress moves to pass a spending bill prior to the end of this year, Amnesty International USA encourages Congress to ensure the following priorities are included in any funding package in order to ensure the protection of people seeking safety:

  • Passing the Afghan Adjustment Act (H.R.8685, S.4787), a critical mechanism to provide a roadmap to citizenship for Afghans in the United States and expand humanitarian pathways for Afghans left behind in Afghanistan;
  • Appropriating $200 Million for FEMA’s Emergency Food and Shelter Program to meet the needs of local communities providing critical services for families and individuals encountered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security;
  • Implementing requirements for the Department of Homeland Security to track race and ethnicity data throughout the immigration system in order to fully understand racial disparities within the system; and
  • Rejecting all attempts to undermine the human right to seek asylum through the appropriations process, including by extending or codifying Title 42.

international updates


CONGRESS SHOULD ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF PRISONERS OF CONSCIENCE THROUGH THE DEFENDING FREEDOMS PROJECT

In 2012, the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, in conjunction with the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom and Amnesty International USA, created the Defending Freedoms Project (DFP) to support Prisoners of Conscience around the world. The DFP aims to increase attention to human rights abuses by encouraging members of Congress to advocate on behalf of Prisoners of Conscience wherever they may be found. Amnesty International urges Congress to take on a prisoner’s case by contacting the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission at [email protected]

amnesty campaigns


NEW CAMPAIGN ON ACCOUNTABILITY FOR SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN ETHIOPIA

On November 25th, Amnesty International launched a campaign called “I Don’t Know If They Realized I Was A Person” – Survivors of sexual violence in the conflict in Northern Ethiopia speak out. The campaign stems from Amnesty’s reporting, and it highlights the stories of ten survivors of sexual violence. Amnesty International welcomes the signing of the peace agreement as an important step but continues to advocate for accountability for the many crimes committed during the conflict. On December 2nd, Amnesty held an exhibition on the Hill highlighting the stories of survivors. The exhibition can be viewed virtually here. Amnesty calls on Congress to prioritize accountability for crimes committed during the conflict in Congressional action on Ethiopia.

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regions

Eurasia: Daniel Balson
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Americas: Amy Fischer
Africa, COVID-19: Kate Hixon 
U.S, Mid East: Tarah Demant 

issues

Digital Rights: Michael Kleinman
National Security: Daphne Eviatar
Human Rights Defenders: Andrew Fandino
Gun Violence: Ernest Coverson
Gender/Indigenous Rights and all other issues: Tarah Demant

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