Americans for Human Rights (AHR)
Contact: Martha Dominguez 505-275-0597


The volunteers of Americans for Human Rights have organized a claim suit against the US government this is being done because the present administration does not think is important to listen to the people. Therefore the people have to act to get their attention in a variety of ways. We developed this claim suit as an additional tool in collaboration with the world protests, prayer vigils, and national strikes for peace and the efforts of Ramsey Clark, with the Articles of Impeachment. This effort is to say, we don’t agree with the US government decision to go to war ingnoring the voices of most of the world. Having the support of only 30 countries for the war. This is as mentioned by various media sources is 1/6 of the people of the world something is out balance, if the US has such limited support. And for this reason we feel is important to show that the actions by the US government are in violation of International Law and our own US Constitution.

Our claim suit is supported by:
1.
The Universal Declalaration of Human Rights was gained by the work and leadership of Eleanor Rosevelt who developed the idea and the consensus to pass this in 1948.

In 1950 the human rights document was extended to include the legal notion that individuals have inherent rights under International Law, to make claims against their governments and other entities and be recognized on their own not just as part of their nation or state. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is not a treaty but has attained the status of “customary Law “ and has the strength of having been signed by every single members of the United Nations.

2. The International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide

This convention bans acts committed with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group. It declares genocide a crime under international law, whether committed during war or peacetime, and binds all signators of the convention to take measures to prevent and punish any acts of genocide. Iraq has been under 12 years of Sanctions this has created conditions not only by limiting the availability of food and medicines, but also by disrupting the whole economy, impoverishing Iraqi citizens. They also reduced the national capacity of water treatment, electrical and other infrastructure systems critical for health and life". (Security Council Report: Iraq Sanctions: Humanitarian Implications)

3 . International covenant of Civil and Political Rights which is a treaty was signed by the US clearly and it states: Human beings need to have freedom from fear,want and this can only be achieved if conditions are created where every one has economic, social and cultural, civil and political rights. Article-5 of this covenant treaty states: State, groups or persons do have any right to engage or to perform any activity or to perform . any acts aimed at the destruction of any of the rights or freedoms recognized herein. Article 7 No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

4. The UN Charter law which all members covers the authorization of a war. UN Charter Article 39 states: the Security Council shall determine what measures to take in the case of breach of peace or acts of aggression against a member country and work to maintain or restore international peace and security.

And Article 51 states: Security Council has the authority and responsibility to decide the course of action in the case of Self defence of a member nation. This clearly shows that the US is acting in vioilation of the UN Charter by saying they go to war alone without a resolution from the UN. Secondly the war with Iraq is not related according international law to either Self-Defence or an act of agression or breach of the peace against the US because if it was they would not only be 30 countries supporting this war and rest of the nations including France, Germany, Russia, China, Mexico, spain saying, “we will not vote for a resolution of war”

We need your help with:

1. Petitions contact Martha at 275-0597. I can get petitions to you. Petitions are still needed to fax and email directly to the UN while the process continues.

2. Please write personal letters to all your local media in full force and send emails and faxes to United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and his name is Sergio de Mello .at the UN at -  udhr@ohchr.org

We need to invade the media and television stations stating support for the International Suit and in support of Americans for Human Rights (AHR) efforts to hold the US government accountable. Ask the UN members to stop the war now, before thousands of children, and families are killed in Iraq. And to bring our soldiers home before many of them die in a war that is inhuman. We want the US to know that even though they have started the war we are all continuing to work towards putting an end to it. Please write, letters, send faxes and emails to get as much publicity which is very important to add visibility to the international Claim suit. Why? to let people know in the nation and the world that we are still working against this Bush war.

3. If you can send donations or collect them so we can place a couple small ads announcing the international suit on some papers. $1 a piece from 500 of us would help us accomplish this effort. Mail checks to 10805 Ralph NE Albq. NM 87112. Why is this important? because the US needs to continue to see and hear from all of us that we are serious about stopping this war and that they do not represent all of the people in America. Publicity will be very important to gain further support and to further increase bad press for this administration in any way we can. Please help! help.

4. We have started to set appointments to speak at several organizations and will be taping a show in Rio Rancho on Channel 51. If you have organizations you can speak with and want to help us get the word our to a variety of organizations let us know. We want to be able to explain and have dialogue about the US actions and the International Suit process. Call Martha At 275- 0597.

The Covenant of Civil and Political Rights wich according to JennieMoore, International Human Rights Attorney who has lent her support to edit and recommend for this international suit; has explained tha this is the important one because it is a treaty ratified by the US. What this means is that this is a covenant that can bring our claim to the world court and, if this is done the US will have to respond because of the fact that this treaty was ratified and signed by this country. There is already talk from several UN members about the possibility of holding the US responsible for having gone to war alone and not waiting for the collective resolution of the UN. Secondly many of these countries have proposed that war crimes could be considered. We the people have an unusual opportunity with this suit considering the climate and world voices who right now finally are standing up to the US. Our spirits have to have the strength to continue all efforts to stop this war and this international claim suit is an important component to voice our concerns.







This is what Kofi Annan and it is an example of the division that has been created by US actions and desicion to go to War.

20.03.2003 - 16:15 UNITED NATIONS U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan has expressed regret that war has again come to Iraq and has called on combatants to do everything possible to protect civilians during the fighting. "My thoughts today are with the Iraqi people, who face yet another ordeal. I hope that all parties will scrupulously observe the requirements of international humanitarian law and will do everything in their power to shield the civilian population from the grim consequences of war," Annan said this morning.

Annan, in a statement he read for television cameras, said it was possible Iraq could have been disarmed peacefully had diplomacy gone on longer."Or, if not, the world could have taken action to solve this problem by a collective decision, endowing it with greater legitimacy, and therefore commanding wider support, than is now the case," he said. "Today, despite the best efforts of the international community and the United Nations, war has come to Iraq for the third time in a quarter of a century," he said. Annan had pressed for months for the United States and Britain to seek the backing of the15-nation Security Council for any military action against Baghdad, to give it the cover of international law.But Washington and London dropped efforts on Monday to obtain passage of a council resolution paving the way for war after failing to get the needed nine "yes" votes and no veto from any permanent council member. The council's five permanent members include France, Russia and China as well as the United States and Britain.

Please, lets believe we can stop this war, this small group can not do it without your support, we need your help. Please contact Martha with any ideas, questions or just to say hi. May the Creator give us strength and let us walk in peace. Keep on speaking to the light, and the creator and our hearts must be peaceful to unite with the energy of the world in this crisis of humanity. We must have the courage, faith that we can stop this madness with protests, vigils, and supporting the articles of Impeachment of Bush and this international suit. We need support also because right now is not safe to be doing or voicing discontent of the US government. The first Patriot Act has taken away civil rights of people and the second Patriot Act of Mr. Ashcroft is working to pass will affect us all, people who are citizens could stop being citizens if you are declared by Mr. Ashcroft a potential enemy of the state. For this reason we are aksing everyone to speak about what we are doing and support our efforts there is safety when we are not alone.

We would appreciate any assistance in getting the word out to your networks and webpages of organizations that you connect with.