McGovern: U.S. Must Continue Support for Syria Ceasefire to Ensure Humanitarian Aid Reaches Syrian People

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Today Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA), co-chair of the bipartisan Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, held a hearing on Syria’s humanitarian crisis and additional steps the U.S. can take to address it and increase civilian protection. Click here for video of today’s hearing. Congressman McGovern has been a leading voice in the need for the U.S. to strengthen its response to…

McGovern Applauds Final Colombia Peace Agreement

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Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA), a senior House Democrat and leading voice in Congress for human rights, applauded the news that negotiators from the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrilla group will make a historic announcement tonight to end an armed conflict that began in 1964. “Today marks a historic step forward for peace in…

McGovern Leads 72 Lawmakers in Call for President Obama to Make Tibet a Priority in Final Months in Office

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This week Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA) led a group of 72 House lawmakers in a letter calling on President Obama to make Tibet a priority in his final months in office. Congressman McGovern has been a leading voice in Congress pushing for the United States to do more to support reforms that would strengthen human rights in Tibet. In November 2015, Congressman McGovern joined Democratic…

McGovern, Torres Lead 26 Members of Congress Calling for Obama to Declassify Records of the Disappeared in El Salvador Civil War

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Today Representatives Jim McGovern (MA-02) and Norma Torres (CA-35) led a group of 26 House lawmakers in a letter calling on President Obama to declassify U.S. military and intelligence records and reports that have not been previously released that relate to unresolved cases of disappearances and human rights abuses during the period of the civil war in El Salvador “The United…

McGovern Statement on Chinese Human Rights Activists' Conviction

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Congressman Jim McGovern (MA-02) today issued the following statement in response to the convictions of four Chinese human rights activists: “Last week, four courageous Chinese human rights activists, including a prominent lawyer, were convicted by a Chinese court of ‘subversion of state power’ for exercising their legal rights and defending those of…

Bipartisan Group of 24 Lawmakers Calls on Secretary Kerry to Strengthen Peace and Human Rights in Sri Lanka for War Victims

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Today, Congressmen Jim McGovern (D-MA) and Bill Johnson (R-OH) led a bipartisan group of 24 House lawmakers calling on Secretary John Kerry to continue U.S. efforts to strengthen human rights in Sri Lanka following a 26-year civil war between Sri Lankan government forces and the Tamil population. The bipartisan call comes ahead of a report this week to the U.N. Human Rights Council on…

U.S. Members of Congress Remember British MP Jo Cox, Stand United For Tolerance and Diversity

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Members of the United States Senate and House of Representatives, led by Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) and Congressman James P. McGovern (D-MA), released a statement yesterday, on the day that would have been MP Jo Cox’s 42nd birthday, expressing sadness at her brutal killing and warning against the fear, hate, and divisive rhetoric in our society today. This comes on the heels…

U.S. Rep. McGovern Statement on Colombia Bilateral Ceasefire Signing in Havana

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Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA), a senior House Democrat and co-chair of the bipartisan Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, released the following statement on the Colombia Bilateral Ceasefire signing expected to take place in Havana, Cuba tomorrow. “Today’s historic signing of a bilateral cease-fire between the Colombian government and the FARC guerrillas brings Colombia to…

Bipartisan Group of 120 Lawmakers Call on President Obama to Keep Sudan Humanitarian Crisis a High Priority

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Today a bipartisan group of 120 members of Congress is calling on President Obama to re-prioritize peace, accountability and protection of civilians in Sudan during his final year in office. The bipartisan letter is led by Congressmen Jim McGovern (D-MA) and Joseph Pitts (R-PA), co-chairs of a bipartisan Congressional human rights commission, and the co-chairs of the bipartisan Sudan and…

Members of Congress Urge Secretary Kerry to Push for Investigation of Murder of Honduran Human Rights Defender Berta Cceres

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Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA) – co-chair of a bipartisan Congressional human rights commission – and Representatives Norma J. Torres (D-CA), Sam Farr (D-CA), and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) are joined by 55 Members of Congress in calling for the involvement of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights in the investigation into the March 3, 2016 killing…