I congratulate the Colombian government and the FARC negotiating teams for reaching this historic agreement to begin the removal of anti-personnel landmines throughout Colombia. After Afghanistan, Colombia is the most mine-affected country in conflict in the world, and it will take many years to fully remove all landmines from Colombia. This concrete agreement also contributes to even greater confidence that the negotiations are serious, are moving forward and that a final peace accord will be achieved. Read more »
Today, Congressman Jim McGovern released a bipartisan letter signed by 67 Members of Congress to King Salman, the new King of Saudi Arabia, encouraging him to advocate for human rights and democratic reforms in his country. Read more »
The recent news out of Nigeria is appalling, with Boko Haram murdering thousands of innocent civilians. The government of Nigeria and its regional neighbors must increase and coordinate their efforts to stop the violence against defenseless villages. The international community, including the United States, should do all it can to protect and provide humanitarian assistance to the Nigerian people – especially those who have fled or escaped Boko Haram. The U.S., in particular, should help northeastern Nigeria establish early warning systems and other proven methods that help local communities avoid violent attacks. And even though other events may dominate the news, I call on every person of conscience to keep the people of Nigeria in their thoughts. Read more »
Today is a historic, long-overdue day. At long last, the Cold War policies of the past five decades are almost over. I look forward to working with the President to consolidate and advance the measures announced today, and I commend him and his Administration for choosing to create a better future for the people of the United States and the people of Cuba.
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The Senate Intelligence Committee’s report is deeply disturbing. The United States should never use torture. Period. It’s morally wrong, it’s ineffective and it puts our own troops at risk. We should do whatever it takes to make sure this sad chapter in American history is never repeated. Read more »
The following are the remarks given by U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern (MA02) during a panel, The Legacy of the Jesuits on U.S. Foreign Policy toward El Salvador and Central America and on the Society of Jesus, at University of Central America José Simeón Cañas on Saturday, November, 15, 2014. Read more »
The 53-year-old economic embargo against Cuba has not worked. It has not overturned the Cuban government. But it has done grave harm to the lives of ordinary Cubans and increasingly isolated the United States in the region, the hemisphere and the world. The Cold War is over. It’s time to change. Read more »
I was pleased to meet Minister Garzón, whom I have admired and respected for many years. We had a wide-ranging discussion about the importance of labor rights to the peace process and how much remains to be done in Colombia to guarantee labor rights and protect workers and labor activists. Read more »
I strongly protest the detention of Nabeel Rajab, president of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, and I call upon the Government of Bahrain to release him immediately. Read more »
“I welcome the Administration’s announcement today on landmines. It brings the United States that much closer to full compliance and becoming a party to the international landmine ban treaty. I will continue to press for changes on the Korean Peninsula, because I believe that appropriate ‘material and operational solutions’ can be developed and are within… Read more »
