ABA Files Submission with U.N. Human Rights Council Regarding Current Human Rights Efforts

WASHINGTON, D.C., April. 29, 2010 — The American Bar Association filed a submission with the United Nations Human Rights Council, commenting on four key human rights issues: Torture and cruel, inhuman punishment (“CID”); trials of suspected terrorists; indefinite detention of suspected terrorists; and capital punishment.

The submission highlighted several of the positive steps that have been taken in recent years to improve human rights and called for further commitments in the future.

The submission, filed April 19, can be found at the following link:
http://www.abanet.org/poladv/letters/intlaw/2010apr19_uprsubmission_o.pdf

ABA President Carolyn Lamm said, “The American Bar Association commends the President for the actions taken to strengthen compliance with international human rights commitments.  The association welcomes the opportunity to work with the administration on advancing human rights in the 21^st Century, both within the United States and around the world.”

With nearly 400,000 members, the American Bar Association is the largest voluntary professional membership organization in the world.  As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law.

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