WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Amnesty International USA awarded Representative Edward J. Markey (D-MA), a senior member of the Homeland Security Committee, with their Human Rights Advocacy Honor. The award was presented to Rep. Markey in appreciation for his work to end extraordinary renditions and to restore human rights in U.S. counterterrorism policy.
Kerry Kennedy, Chair of Amnesty’s Executive Director’s Leadership Council, presenting the Human Rights Advocacy Honor to Rep. Markey this afternoon.
Rep. Markey said, “I am honored to be recognized by an organization like Amnesty International that has worked tirelessly to end human rights abuses around the world. Every single person deserves to be treated humanely no matter who they are, where they come from or what they have done and torture is wrong, period. Outsourcing torture through extraordinary rendition has no place in the policy tool-kit of the United States, and I am hopeful that the Congress will act on my legislation to end this repugnant and counterproductive practice during the 110th Congress.”
Earlier this year, Rep. Markey reintroduced the “Torture Outsourcing Prevention Act”, H.R. 1352, which would end to the Administration’s practice of “extraordinary rendition,” whereby prisoners captured or detained by the US government are transferred for interrogation or detention to countries known to use torture. The bill currently has 50 co-sponsors.
Extraordinary rendition violates the guarantees enshrined in the Convention Against Torture as well as the 1998 Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act, both which state that no individual can be transferred to a country likely to use torture. However, the Bush Administration continues to ignore such provisions.
More information on Rep. Markey’s efforts on banning torture can be found here.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 3, 2007 |
CONTACT: Jessica Schafer |