In Letter to Biden Administration, UPR Task Force Urges Meaningful Participation in March Session
Updated: Feb 10, 2021
In a February 9, 2021 letter addressed to Mr. Scott Busby, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Human Rights of the Bureau of Democracy Human Rights and Labor at the U.S. Department of State, a coalition of UPR Task Force members urged the Biden Administration to meaningfully engage with the more than 300 recommendations issued by member states in November's Universal Periodic Review, on issues including police violence and racial justice, access to universal healthcare, capital punishment, LGBTQ+ rights, sex workers' rights, housing access, women's reproductive rights and more. The letter states:
We applaud the steps that the Biden Administration has taken in its first month to reengage with the international community such as reentering the Paris Climate Accord and rejoining the World Health Organization. We welcome the concrete steps to address urgent public policy matters such as revoking the Keystone XL Pipeline permit, repealing the Muslim Ban, extending the eviction moratorium, and prioritizing equity across the federal government, among others. Where Biden Administration actions align with the UPR recommendations, there is a chance for the U.S to show progress.
The letter also calls for the prioritization of domestic human rights implementation, and for the meaningful participation of civil society in U.S. human rights engagement.