News Archives » human rights
Human Rights Groups Urge Investigation of Sri Lanka War Crimes May 21st, 2010
Human Rights groups, from Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International to the International Crisis Group, are calling for an independent investigation into war crimes by both sides during the traumatic end of the war between the LTTE and government forces one year ago.
In a report released on May 17th, a year after the war’s end, the International Crisis Group cited “reasonable grounds to believe the Sri Lankan security forces committed war crimes” by intentionally shelling civilians, hospitals and humanitarian operations in a final push to destroy the separatist Tigers. In turn, the Tigers reportedly shot civilians who tried to flee rebel areas and held others captive in a bid to raise international pressure for a ceasefire.
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Zimbabwe Transition to Democracy and Economic Recovery Act of 2010 Introduced in the US Senate May 14th, 2010
The Zimbabwe Transition to Democracy and Economic Recovery Act of 2010 (S.3297) has been introduced in the US Senate by a bi-partisan group: Senators Russ Feingold (D-WI), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), and John Kerry (D-MA). The bill seeks to create new United States policy towards Zimbabwe.
Current U.S. policy towards Zimbabwe is characterized by the Zimbabwe Economic and Democracy Recovery Act of 2001 (ZEDERA) and an Executive Order declared by President Bush in 2003. Extended by President Obama until March 2011, this lists more than 200 individuals and business entities subject to a travel ban and whose assets have been frozen.
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US JPIC Committee, Oblate Students Attend JPIC, VIVAT and AFJN Meetings in Washington April 22nd, 2010
The US JPIC Committee and the JPIC staff met in Washington, DC from April 14 through the 15th to discuss the JPIC policies and priorities.
Nearly all of the Committee members were able to stay to attend 
a meeting on Friday and Saturday that introduced VIVAT International to North American members of the association. VIVAT is an advocacy effort at the United Nations. The Oblates are presently Associate 
Members , with Daniel LeBlanc, OMI working closely with the group.
Several Oblate students from Zambia then arrived on Friday for the weekend meeting of the Africa Faith and Justice 
Network.
Recent Developments at the United Nations April 14th, 2010
Daniel LeBlanc, OMI – Oblate representative at the United Nations – shares about recent meetings at the UN. His report focuses on:
- Two High Level Meetings on the Global Financial Crisis
- Summit on MDGs + 10 Review
- Extreme Poverty: An Affront to Human Rights
Read the Report (Download PDF)
Loyola Students in Sri Lanka visit War Victims March 12th, 2010
Real reconciliation in war-torn Sri Lanka will take place in large part through people-to-people connection and collaboration. The Churches are working to foster such exchanges. Loyola College students recently visited northern Sri Lanka and learned first hand of suffering from the recent war.
