Human Rights

U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA) today introduced the "Sudan Peace, Security, and Accountability Act of 2012." The bill, H.R. 4169, would create a truly comprehensive strategy for ending serious human rights violations, promoting democratic reform, and est Read more »

THE SUDAN PEACE, SECURITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2012 M. Speaker, just yesterday, the former top U.N. humanitarian official in Sudan - Mukesh Kapila - issued a warning to the world. He said that the Government of Sudan's military is carrying out crimes against humanity in the country's southern Nuba Mountains, in the Sudanese state of South Kordofan. He said that these acts… Read more »

U.S. REP. JIM MCGOVERN CALLS FOR POLITICAL REFORM AND REJECTION OF VIOLENCE IN BAHRAIN As the Bahraini opposition plans a major demonstration for this Friday, Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA) called on the Bahraini government to allow Bahrainis to gather peaceably and express their political views. He urged both the Bahraini government and the Bahraini opposition to reject the use of… Read more »

James P. McGovern (MA) 5-Minute Special Order Wednesday, February 29, 2012 TOO SILENT ON SUDAN M. Speaker, once again, the world is standing by, silent and passive, while the Government of Sudan wages war on its own people. We have been here before, M. Speaker, when hundreds of thousands of people perished in Darfur before the international community finally woke up and… Read more »

Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission Co-Chairmen Condemn Massive Human Rights Abuses by the Syrian Government and Call on the United Nations to Place Strong Pressure on the Assad Regime to Stop the Violence Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission Co-Chairmen James P. McGovern (D-MA) and Frank R. Wolf (R-VA) today strongly condemned the Syrian government for continuing to commit massive… Read more »

For Immediate Release Congressman James P. McGovern (D-MA) denounced the Bahraini government's use of force to prevent Bahrainis from assembling yesterday in commemoration of the one-year anniversary of the outbreak of major demonstrations in Bahrain. Bahraini security forces yesterday used tear gas, armored personnel carriers, and other forceful means to block Bahrainis from… Read more »

Congressman James P. McGovern (D-MA) today urged the Bahraini government to allow Bahrainis to assemble and express their political views on February 14 in commemoration of the one-year anniversary of the outbreak of major demonstrations in Bahrain. Congressman McGovern also urged the Bahraini security forces and Bahraini protesters to refrain from the use of violence on the… Read more »

The following OpEd, cowritten with Free Speech for People co-founder Jeff Clements, appeared in the Boston Globe on Saturday January 21st. "THE FIRST three words of the preamble of our Constitution are -We the People.'' Two years ago today the US Supreme Court in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission upended that promising vision. Corporations — which do not… Read more »

"While internet piracy is an issue that should be addressed, HR 3261 (SOPA), as written is unwise, unfair, and against what I believe are fundamental rights for all Americans. I plan on voting against the current legislation, although the GOP is now indicating that they will not bring SOPA to the floor for a vote at all." Read more »

Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission Co-Chairmen Call for Immediate and Unconditional Release of Gao Zhisheng Following news reports that Chinese human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng was returned to prison, Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission Co-Chairmen Frank R. Wolf (R-VA) and James P. McGovern (D-MA) today called for his immediate and unconditional release. Gao, a tireless advocate… Read more »