Human Rights Watch, America, and Oppression

Recently Carroll Bogert, the Deputy Executive director of the Human Rights Watch, visited and gave a talk at Muhlenberg. She described the job of the Human Rights Watch and how it is performed.  She also discussed the work of the Human Rights Watch in many countries, including the United States. One of the most prolific workers for “Democracy” and “Human rights,” has many human rights questions to face.

Bogert emphasized the United States assistance to preventing a Genocide in the Central African Republic, as a very positive action by the United States in promoting Human Rights around the world. She also brought up the United States’ policy of supporting dictatorships and oppressive Regimes when they support U.S interests such as in the Kingdom of Bahrain, in which the Monarchy is brutally repressing any form opposition to the ruling family.

Bringing the criticism home, she proceeded to question the way we treat undocumented workers and illegal immigrants. The linkage between local law enforcement officers and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement has made it nearly impossible for undocumented Americans to report when they are victims of crime. She also criticized the detention centers used to house undocumented Americans when they are captured and pending deportation. They are reported as being too crowded and inappropriate for housing human beings. The increasing privatization of detention centers has provided a lack of oversight and many of the detained are denied basic human rights.

This evolved into a criticism of the American Prison System and its substandard level of ethics on a global scale, the focus of this criticism was about life sentences without parole for minors. Many countries have removed this penalty from their criminal codes, yet the United States still has it for theirs. Critiquing the Prison System moved on to Guantanamo Bay and the way the Legal system is perverted therein.  She critiqued the Military Commission form of a trial in which evidence gained by torture is technically allowed. This provides evidence of torture being committed within Guantanamo Bay and the denial of a civilian court makes it harder for defense lawyers to properly protect their clients rights.