USA: President-elect Joe Biden must make human rights a priority

Following reports that Joe Biden will become the 46th president of the United States of America, Bob Goodfellow, Amnesty International USA’s Interim Executive Director, said:

“As an organisation dedicated to defending everyone’s human rights in the US and around the world, Amnesty International USA calls on the new Biden administration to act immediately to end human rights violations perpetrated by the US Government, including the detention and separation of children and their families seeking safety.    

“While the current administration has committed numerous human rights violations, many preceded Donald Trump.

“In order to begin to turn the tide on the long history of US human right violations, President-elect Biden and Congress must prioritise a bold human rights agenda.

“We have developed eleven key human rights priorities and will be working with our members to ensure they are implemented and upheld, including police violence, gun violence, refugees, gender, arms sales, and free expression.  

“We will work to build momentum around these changes we are demanding of the US Government and hold the Biden administration accountable to US human rights obligations.”