Contact: Sharon Singh, [email protected], 202-675-8579, @spksingh
(Washington, D.C.) – Frank Jannuzi, Amnesty International USA deputy executive director, issued the following statement as President Barack Obama began the first full working day of his final term:
“In his inaugural address, the president laid out his vision for a United States where everyone enjoys equal rights regardless of race, class, religion, national origin, gender identity or sexual orientation. By placing the struggle for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights in historical perspective, President Obama marked a pivotal moment in the struggle for equality.
“But, the journey is far from complete. President Obama should embrace his ambitious rights agenda by enhancing the nation’s security without trampling on human rights, implementing a foreign policy that holds friends and foes alike accountable for human rights violations and leading global efforts to protect those individuals whose rights are most at risk.
“The most extraordinary thing about being president is having an unparalleled opportunity to make decisions that can transform the lives of seven billion people. President Obama’s inaugural address offered inspiration and aspirations that must be made real by deeds. There is not a moment to lose on this journey.”
Amnesty International is a Nobel Peace Prize-winning grassroots activist organization with more than 3 million supporters, activists and volunteers in more than 150 countries campaigning for human rights worldwide. The organization investigates and exposes abuses, educates and mobilizes the public, and works to protect people wherever justice, freedom, truth and dignity are denied.