President Obama’s first 100 days: Report introduction
29 April 2009, 09:58AM
Legacy of torture, impunity and unlawful detention
When he took office on 20 January 2009, President Barack Obama inherited a legacy of torture, impunity and unlawful detention. The legacy is the result of the USA's response to the attacks of 11 September 2001, a response that has been marked by an assault on the framework of international human rights law.
- Read the Mixed Messages Report [pdf size = 1.5MB]
Human rights violations – including the crimes under international law of torture and enforced disappearance – were not only committed but were also justified by the US Government as necessary and legal.
Images of caged, shackled detainees in the US naval base at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, of torture and other ill-treatment at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, of Gulfstream jets used to transfer detainees to secret prisons around the world, have been seared into the public consciousness and become indelibly linked to the USA's response to the attacks of 11 September 2001.
During his campaign for the presidency, Barack Obama committed himself to closing the Guantanamo detention facility and ending torture by US personnel. To what extent these commitments would mark a real shift towards bringing the USA into compliance with its international human rights obligations in the struggle against terrorism remained to be seen.
What next?
In its checklist, Amnesty International urged 17 steps to be taken in three areas – Guantanamo and illegal detention; torture and other ill-treatment; and impunity. The executive orders on President Obama's third day in office marked significant steps forward on the first two areas, but failed to address the impunity for human rights violations already committed in the name of countering terrorism.
Regrettably, the initial positive indications on Guantanamo and illegal detention have not lead to any substantive progress, at least publicly, and a marked tolerance for impunity has extended throughout President Obama's first 100 days in office.
Symbolic gestures and half measures are not enough
Amnesty International's assessment of the checklist [pdf=84kb] identified five action points for the administration to take in its first 100 days to end impunity and ensure accountability. At the end of 100 days, under each point it reads "no action taken", and notes that if anything impunity has been reinforced for at least some of those responsible for serious abuses.
President Obama must begin to address the crimes and widespread violations of human rights that have stained the USA's response to the 11 September 2001 attacks.
Read more
To find out more read our new report on President Obama's first 100 days in office:
Features and analysis
Healthy homelands
An Aboriginal community in the Northern Territory is showing the government how to close the health gap.
Childbirth in Sierra Leone
Many women in Sierra Leone spend the final months of pregnancy and agonising hours of childbirth fearing for their lives.
Harming Children
Professor Louise Newman explains how detaining children on Christmas Island is likely to affect their mental health.
These features are taken from our Human Rights Defender magazine - subscribe free now
Make an impact
© US Dept of Defence
One year ago President Obama pledged to close Guantanamo Bay. Tell Prime Minister Kevin Rudd you support its' closure and the resettlement of detainees.
3428 others have taken this action. Be the next:
Stay Informed
Get Involved
© David Herthnek
The 'war on terror' has been used by the US and its allies as an excuse to condone torture. Help to build a secure community - by donating today.
Sitewide information
- Copyright © Amnesty International Australia
- ABN: 640 0280 6233
- Phone: 1300 300 920
Comments
Comments are submitted by members of the public and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or positions of Amnesty International Australia. If you find a comment objectionable please contact the web editor.
Philip Kidner
4 May 2009, 01:43PM
I have appealed several times to the Sri Lankan Government for an end to the killing and repression of Tamil civilians, but it is still happening and I can only appeal again for an end to these war crimes being commited by the Sri Lankan Government and its military. Please bring justice and integrity to the reputation of your nation and its Government.
Peter (Trapp)
1 May 2009, 11:30AM
To ever bring Cheney, Rice and Rumsfeld to justice you need a political will, and I don’t think the US (specifically the people) have that. Like most nations Americans are proud of their country and to bring these criminals to justice requires dragging the US through the mud, it won’t happen in the USA and (has been said before) the US does not recognise the International Court of Justice so it will never happen there. Obama has too many other distractions, as our (ex) PM said ‘it wasn’t a core promise’ - justice will be sidelined until it can be addressed (or forgotten). I doubt international pressure will work (even by governments) - and they have the same distractions as the USA - many of them are also implicated (UK used for transit flights of prisoners - did HM Govt know? - or suspect?)
Janet.S
1 May 2009, 01:12AM
Tamils are being killed, injured, raped, tortured in Sri Lanka.I STRONGLY CONDEMN for assisting the Genocidal Sri Lankan government by banned the LTTE. LTTE is freedom fighters,who fight for our rights.
Malarmani Chelliah
1 May 2009, 12:56AM
Don’t delay,take action.Stop the genocide in Sri Lanka This humanitarian catastrophe is the latest test for the international community. By all accounts, and not unlike most other conflicts, the international community has failed to play a meaningful role in bringing the humanitarian crisis in northeast Sri Lanka to an end. Instead, it sits idle as the Sri Lankan armed forces continue to bomb and shell civilians.
Allan Bruce
30 April 2009, 10:57PM
Remember Obama can only achieve what he’s allowed to, and I actually think he’s started well.
I do believe the architects of the disgraceful treatment of prisoners of war should be brought to book, but can you imagine the really bad guys such as Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeldt being charged in the US ( and the US won’t allow them to be charged anywhere else)? The culture of impunity is so entrenched in the US thatI can’t see Obama being allowed to deal with it to the satisfaction of the global community.
shalomahee
30 April 2009, 08:09PM
Whilst I support Deb for pointing out how how much more needs to be done in terms of the atavism left by the previous government.
It needs to be said that Obama not only inherited the human rights legacy of his predecessor he inherited the War Debt as well, and the American People have voted 3 times for change, twice at the polls and then the man they made the President voted for them and appointed the Secretary of State after taking note of their sentiments. 100 Days is not very long in Government and change requires a budget, so in terms of the amount of change we need to see in the United Nations I think firstly we should give some moral support to the American people who have born the brunt of the economic cost. so I congratulate President Obama and his team for the first 100 days and may the next 600 days be as a road that continually shines brighter.
Nicholas Gysi
30 April 2009, 07:43PM
Obama need to bring the torturers to justice. Closing Guantanamo is not enough.
Gopal Prasad Bhusal
30 April 2009, 04:51PM
If you believe in Democracy you deserve right to fight against human right and the people of Srilanka do the same. The GVT of Srilanka need to understand if their people are satisfied with their governmence or not? How can a government kill their citizen? The countries like US immediately stop helping such countries who are not following the rule of democracy.
The Country like America should stop the business of Ballet and guns. It should fallow the path of Peace and freedom if believe in real democracy
Thankk you and best wishes for your 100 days.
Deb
30 April 2009, 12:45PM
Hi everyone, you can continue to take action on the crisis in Sri Lanka here: http://www.amnesty.org.au/action/action/20852/
James
30 April 2009, 11:40AM
Hi all, please note: this is an article on US President Obama’s first 100 days in office. Please post your valued comments on the humanitarian crisis in Sri Lanka at http://www.amnesty.org.au/news/comments/20849/.
thambiah thangaratnam
30 April 2009, 09:25AM
Sinhalese government is continuing their genocide of tamils with the support of many countries. The IC should intervene immediately and stop the killing and to help tamils to achieve their freedom.
Jasi Vijay
30 April 2009, 09:15AM
Severe shortage of food is affecting all Tamils and many of them are children and elders. UN, ICRC, NGOs, all medical staff have been pull out from Vanni region by the Government of SriLanka…
no independent media is allowed
Sri Lanka is commiting war crimes has a long list
SriLanka is using cluster bombs daily.
hospitals are legitimate target.
“safety zones” shelled, bombed.
medicine and food used as a weapon. Tamils life are under great risk
murugesan
29 April 2009, 11:12PM
i agreed
R. Chelliah
29 April 2009, 04:19PM
Severe shortage of food is affecting all people and many children and elders. UN, ICRC, NGOs, all medical staff have been removed.
no independent media is allowed
Sri Lanka’s war crimes has a long list yet it enjoys impunity:
cluster bombs are dropped daily.
hospitals are attacked.
“safety zones” shelled, bombed.
medicine used as a weapon.life are under great risk
sornaruban Ponniah
29 April 2009, 04:00PM
2. The welfare villages are a disguise used for ‘concentration camps’ holding over 30,000 Tamils without freedom of movement. This is similar to Hitler and the Jews during the Holocaust.
3. The Sri Lankan government has allowed mobs to attack the ICRC (Red Cross) office whenever they accuse the government of any wrong doing, so the ICRC is now being intimidated to not report accurately.
4. The German and Swiss Ambassadors in have been threatened in Sri Lanka for speaking out against the Governments current treatment of Tamils.
5. Hospitals have been shelled by the Government, and the Defence Minister Gotabhaya has said that hospitals are ‘legitimate military targets’ to SkyNews during an interview.
6. Government declared safe zone where civilians rush to are then shelled by the SL Air Force.
Anita Sornaruban
29 April 2009, 03:45PM
I am a tamil Canadian Living in ontario. my humble request is to urge the Srilankan government to stop killing innocent tamil civilians in north east of Sri Lanka. Please help us. Save the lives of our people.LTTE is freedom fighters.Prabakaran is our national leader.
M.Christy
29 April 2009, 02:34PM
RE: Tamils are crucified for decades. Please raise us from the cross (Sri Lankan state terrorism).
How we can stay silent when our brothers and sisters murdered by Singhalese Government Forces for the only reason of their Tamil nationality.Because of that, all Tamil communities around the world peacefully protesting against Sri Lankan Genocide on Tamils and showing our strong support for our freedom fighters(LTTE) and sovereignty of our homeland “Tamil Eelam”.
We are crying from our dead brothers’ and sisters’ grave yard. Please hear our voices. Please better to save us today from Genocide than apologizing after 15 years as happened to Rwanda. I herewith attached some web site links for documents how Tamils are affected at present ethnic cleansing. Your heart feels our voiceless cries and intolerable pain.
www.warwithoutvitness.com
www.tamilnational.com
www.srilankanatrocities.com
www.tamilnet.com
http://www.haltgenocide.org/
Thank you.
Christy
Page 1 of 1 pages