The United States sees itself as a leader in the call for human rights around the world. Yet, it has been exceptionally reluctant to recognize the legitimacy of universal human rights standards within the United States or as applied to conduct by the U.S government abroad. This double standard, with its strange assumption that human rights violations only occur outside U.S. borders, has done a great deal of damage to the U.S. global standing. More importantly, it has threatened and harmed the dignity and well-being of millions of people in the United States and even greater numbers elsewhere.
For this reason, it is critical that people of conscience in the United States from all communities join together to build a U.S. human rights movement. There has been growing work and interest in achieving this goal from a wide range of sectors. Indeed, in 2003 activists from around the country founded the U.S. Human Rights Network which is now constituted of hundreds of organizational members and many individuals. NESRI was founded the following year, in 2004, to support the economic and social rights wing of the U.S. human rights movement.
Human rights in the United States is a growing and vital conversation. We invite you to read the pieces on this blog that will offer basic information, analysis and reflection on this crucial debate.
