U.S. Refuses to Halt Imprisonment of Migrant Children, Denies Torture, in Response to U.N.

Photos: Migrant children in Texas prison. Native Americans hauling water in U.S. Protesters of U.S. torture and Guantanamo. Children hit during U.S. drone assassinations in Pakistan.

US denials: How to lie to the United Nations and avoid upholding human rights and international law

By Brenda Norrell
Censored News

The United States response to its Periodic Review by the United Nations is a lesson in how to lie, and avoid the truth.

It is the perpetual tap dance of U.S. politicians who refuse to be held accountable for torture, drone assassinations and the murder of civilians, the murder of migrants by US Border Patrol, the murder of blacks by racist white police officers, and a long list of daily human rights abuses within the United States.

Countries around the world expressed outrage over the U.S. human rights violations during the U.S. Periodic Review in Geneva in May of 2015. The United States executive branch has issued its written response to a long list of human rights violations expressed by the countries of the world.

US refuses to halt imprisonment of migrant children, and reunite families

The United States executive branch refused to agree to halt the imprisonment of migrant children, which continues in Texas prisons, and refused to admit this is a violation of international law. Further, the U.S. refused to guarantee the rights of migrant families to be reunited.

The U.S. executive branch said, reuniting migrant families is "not a right recognized under our domestic laws or in any international binding agreement."

The United States executive branch also refused to agree to pay reparations to victims of murder by US Border Patrol agents. The U.S. said it is a matter for the courts.

No guarantees of safe water and food for Indigenous and poor

Responding to the demand for safe water for Indigenous and migrants, the U.S. executive branch said it is not a party to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Once again, when pressed to ensure to meet the needs of housing, food, health and education for the 48 million poor in the United States, the U.S. said it is not a party to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

U.S Drone Assassinations and Murder of Innocent Civilians

When pressed to hold individuals responsible for torture, drone killings, and lethal force against African Americans, the U.S. denied it is carrying out torture in violation of international law. The U.S. said it continues to investigate and prosecute those responsible for lethal force against African-Americans.

The United States said it is complying with international law, following outrage from other countries over the targeted assassinations and killing of civilians with drones. The U.S. denied it illegally hold suspects without charges at Guantanamo.

Although countries pressed for the U.S. to pay compensation to innocent victims in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere, including victims of drone strikes, the U.S. said it would only offer condolences, and ex gratia (voluntary) payments based on individual cases. The U.S. said it has no responsibility to compensate all the innocent victims of war.

In its denial of racial inequality and systematic racism in the United States, the U.S. government denied it targets persons of Islamic heritage in airports.

U.S. Death Penalty, Sexual Assaults in Military

Further, the United States refused to halt the death penalty, following pressure from other countries to do so.

The U.S. said it can not ensure redress of those sexually assaulted within the U.S. military by fellow soldiers, and this is a matter for the courts.

Climate Change

In regards to climate change, the U.S. refused to list concrete steps to eliminate greenhouse gases and pollution.

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Inequality in the U.S.

After the countries of the world pressed the U.S. to end various forms of inequality, the United States said it can not realistically agree to guarantee equality within the United States. The U.S. said it "may never completely accomplish" equality for African-Americans, Muslims, Arabs, and indigenous persons.

The U.S. in Geneva in May 2015 Avoiding the truth

When the U.S. representatives were before the United Nations in May, the US did not reveal that it had carried out a systematic regime of spying on the American Indian Movement, Black Panthers and Chicano movements, by way of COINTELPRO, and that entrapment and provocateurs were used to silence and imprison activists in the US.

The US did not reveal the systematic abuse of Native American children in boarding schools, or the generations of kidnapping, torture and murder in US government boarding schools. The theft of Native American children continues today by social services and the sexual abuse continues in boarding schools and foster homes.

In Geneva in May, the Federation of Russia, Pakistan, China, Cuba, Democratic Republic of Korea, Ecuador and Mexico representatives gave passionate recommendations to the United States.

Pakistan urged the prosecution of CIA agents responsible for torture. Cuba also pressed for prosecution of those responsible for torture. Cuba also pressed for programs to reduce poverty in the US affecting 48 million people. Ecuador called for the prosecution of those responsible for torture and the use of drones for killing. Democratic Republic of Korea pressed for an end to racial discrimination and torture. Egypt called for an end to discrimination of Middle Easterners at airports.

Mexico pointed out the murder of its citizens by border immigration agents and the need for reparations. The Russian Federation quickly stated a long list of concerns and recommendations, including police arbitrary procedures, need to close Guantanamo, need to halt extrajudicial killings including drones, cruel treatment of adoptive children, and the racial profiling of Indigenous.

China pointed out the racial discrimination, spying, torture and abuse of blacks and Indigenous by the United States government.

The U.S. response to the Periodic Review is at: 
http://lib.ohchr.org/HRBodies/UPR/Documents/Session22/US/AdditionalInfo_US_22session.pdf

Previous article at Censored News:
Keith Harper, Cherokee, leads U.S. delegation in Geneva and defends U.S. human rights record as countries of world press concerns:
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2015/05/un-world-concerned-over-racial.html

Photos of U.S. torture: https://www.google.com/search?q=torture+US&rlz=1CAACAJ_enUS646US646&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjur8qWm9_NAhVBziYKHbS-ANkQ_AUICSgC&biw=1366&bih=631#imgrc=_

Most Censored: US tragic fictional theater before UN Human Rights Council

By Brenda Norrell
Censored News
English and Dutch

The United States is like that pretty girl in high school that thrives on her own self-promotion. But eventually the stardom wanes, the wrinkles take over, and well, its all down hill from there.

The US has a partner in self promotion at the United Nations, an ally in its cheerleading to distract from its human rights violations. Its fellow chum is Saudi Arabia, oozing in oil dollars and with an abhorrent human rights record. Both the US and Saudi Arabia want you to believe that they are standard bearers for human rights. Saudi Arabia even wants to head the UN Human Rights Council.

Of course the rest of the world sees clearly through both the US and Saudi Arabia, and their strange relationship. The rest of the world sees through the theater of these two countries before the UN Human Rights Council. It is theater -- tragic fictional theater.

During the recent United States Periodic Review at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, there were so many lies and half-truths presented by the US that it would take too much space to replicate all of those lies regarding kidnapping and torture, massive spying, secret detentions, death by police, private prison profiteering, incarceration of migrant children, institutionalized racial profiling, rape in the US military, failure to provide services to veterans, targeted assassinations by drones, and violations of Native American rights.

The spin masters were there at the review, including Keith Harper, Cherokee, to try and make it all look good. But outside the United States, where there is not the constant bombardment of US government public relations presented as news, and corporate US media, the other countries can see the truth.

Lakota Russell Means often called these reviews, "another dog and pony show." In the US, there is a growing widespread lack of faith in these United Nations reviews. Increasingly, the UN is viewed as impotent to bring about change in the ongoing human rights violations of the US.

One of the outcomes that was censored by the media was the pressure for the US to prosecute CIA operatives responsible for torture.

The US death penalty, and execution of innocents, and abusive solitary confinement, were also issues avoided in the US media coverage of the UN review. The US media avoided discussions of the US role in child trafficking; homelessness and poverty; and the high rate of rape by fellow soldiers in the US military.

During the review, Bolivia pressed for implementation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, while Cuba pointed out the staggering poverty in the US which has resulted in widespread homelessness. Mexico pressed the US to halt illegal deadly force by US Border Patrol agents.

During the review, the US representatives attempted to distract from the truth in Indian country. They avoided mentioning the ongoing targeting of Indian lands for coal mines, uranium mines, oil and gas drilling and pipelines, copper mines, and nuclear dumping. There was no exposure of the widespread devastation and disease from mining, drilling and dumping in Indian country. The severe devastation spans from Navajo and Pueblo lands in the Southwest to the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara in North Dakota, Lakota in South Dakota and numerous Indian Nations in the Northwest. The US representatives avoided discussing how US mining companies are responsible for the assassinations, rape and disappearances of Indigenous Peoples around the world who are struggling to protect their homes, families, land, air and water.

The US representatives avoided discussing the unjust and high rate of the incarceration of American Indians in the US private-prison-for-profit empire.

The US representatives did not discuss the decades of spying and provocateurs in operations like COINTELPRO targeting American Indians, blacks and Chicanos, or the sterilization of American Indian women in Indian Health Service hospitals without their knowledge. There was no discussion of the ongoing theft of American Indian water rights being carried out by the US and states with Congressmen. There was no discussion of the generations of kidnapping, abuse and murder of Native American children in US government boarding schools, or the desecration of sacred land and incarceration of political prisoners.

There was no discussion of the fact that the Israeli Apartheid contractor Elbit Systems was given the US border contract and is now responsible for US spy towers aimed at traditional O'odham homes on Tohono O'odham land. There was no mention of the copper mine on sacred Apache land, promoted by Sen. John McCain, that was recently slipped in the defense bill.

The US representatives went to lengths to distract from the imprisonment of migrant children, a violation of international law, and the widespread neglect of sick and injured veterans. Further, rape in the US military, torture and spying were the focus of cover-ups by the US representatives during the review.


First off, while looking at the following Periodic Review, you might ask yourself, 'Where the heck is Azerbaijan and why do they know so much more than me about the United States human rights violations?' See map on left.

Here are the questions of Azerbaijan to the US at the UN Human Rights Council. Those questions are followed by advance questions from other countries.

UN: World Concerned over Racial Discrimination in US

Keith Harper, member of the Cherokee Nation, opens address from US delegation to Human Rights Council today

Watch video below: 3 hours and 30 minutes:

http://webtv.un.org/watch/usa-review-22nd-session-of-universal-periodic-review/4229106421001

Countries of the world detail US human rights abuses -- while US officials paint a picture of OZ

By Brenda Norrell

Censored News

The world is watching, as evidenced in the concerns expressed from countries around the world during the UN Human Rights Council Periodic Review of the United States human rights record in Geneva today.

Racial discrimination; the need to eliminate the death penalty; excessive use of force by police toward minorities; hate crimes; inequality of pay for women; US torture; the need to close Guantanamo; executions by drones; spying and the need to protect children and youths top the list of US human rights concerns by the governments of the world.

The Russian Federation, Pakistan and Mexico expressed the most passion in their concerns over human rights violations in the US, including police profiling; assassinations with drones and the murder of migrants by immigration officers.

Pakistan urges prosecution of CIA officers responsible for torture.

Keith Harper, member of the Cherokee Nation and US representative to the Human Rights Council, opened the address of the US delegation to the UN Human Rights Council today, during the Universal Periodic Review of the US human rights record.

The US provided the UN with a fantasy version of how it
treats migrant children. Photo: Detainees sleep in a holding cell
 at a U.S. Customs and Border Protection processing facility, 
Wednesday, June 18, 2014, in Brownsville,Texas.
 (AP Photo/Eric Gay, Pool)

As the US attempted to defend its human rights record, Harper said that the US is not perfect, but it has made progress in Indigenous rights, particularly in the areas of Indian youths, domestic violence, and law enforcement.

At the start of this morning's review, one member of the US delegation claimed that the US has made changes to assure that torture will no longer be allowed. 

However, at the conclusion, another member of the US delegation from the Joint Chiefs of Staff assured the United Nations that everything done in Guantanamo was in accordance with domestic and international law. There was no admission of torture, kidnapping and unlawful imprisonment. He assured he UN that everyone in Guantanamo was able to get a fair trial.

During the review, the US detailed its efforts to enforce laws that protect the public from excessive force by police.

Homeland Security's assurance that the US is protecting the rights of immigrants crossing the border, however, makes one want to click their heels together, for surely this is OZ. 

The US made extensive claims about benefits and services to migrant children, without mentioning the imprisoned migrant children in the US, in violation of international law, as shown in these photos.

i

Migrant children detained at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Nogales Placement  Center on Wednesday, June 18, 2014, in
Nogales, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, Pool)

The claims by the US of fair housing for people of color, the homeless, and veterans, is another venture in fantasy. 

The US also claims it has undertaken reforms in regards to sexual assaults in the US military. The US detailed an array of services available to soldiers being raped by fellow soldiers.

Further, the US attempts to make its drone strikes appear lawful. There was no mention of the number of citizens -- women and children -- murdered by US drone assassinations.

The United States made broad claims about protecting and supporting Native American rights, including the return of sacred items.

Many members of the predominately docile Human Rights Council seemed to believe that the United States has made great strides in guaranteeing the rights of Indigenous Peoples. The United States presented an array of cosmetic repairs, and typical public relations spin, without addressing the widespread atrocities being carried out across Indian country for grassroots people. 

There was no mention of Native American political prisoners. There was no mention of COINTELPRO targeting the Black Panthers, American Indian Movement and Chicanos. There was mention of the sterilization of Native American women in US government hospitals. There was no mention of the widespread abuse, kidnapping, rape and murder of Native American children in US boarding schools, or the fact that the theft of Native American children continues today illegally by social service agencies.

There was no mention of the fact that Homeland Security gave the contract to build US spy towers on the border to Israel's Apartheid contractor Elbit Systems in 2014, including the spy towers on the Tohono O'odham Nation.

The United States did not address how corporations are poisoning the air, land and water of Native Americans with coal-fired power plants and uranium mining. The US did not admit that corporations have built a prison-for-profit empire in the United States, and migrants, American Indians, blacks and Chicanos are imprisoned for profit, and denied their rights while incarcerated.

Chad's Awada Angui told the UN Human Rights Council that recent events have tarnished the image of the United States.

The US human rights atrocity that the representatives of the UN Human Rights Council were aware of was the fact that police in the United States are murdering unarmed black men.

During the review, the recommendations from countries included: The elimination of racial discrimination and excessive force in policing; halt to NSA spying; ensure the rights of women; the need to close Guantanamo; elimination of corporal punishment of children; the need to abolish the death penalty; the need to halt drone strikes; the need for access to abortions for victims of rape.

Mexico points out the deaths of migrants by immigration officials and the need for reparations. Honduras urges the US to protect the rights of immigrants, especially children.

Bolivia urges implementation of the Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and a halt to forced labor of migrants.

Montenegro is among the countries urging an end to the death penalty. 

New Zealand urges a moratorium on executions and an end to the death penalty.

Niger urges protections against hate crimes and hate speech.

Paraguay urges protection of migrants.

Portugal points out the cruel death by injections carried out by the US and the need for training for law enforcement. Portugal was among those urging new protections for migrants and the rights of the child.

Moldova expressed concern over the incarceration of youths in adult facilities, and the need to consult Indigenous Peoples in regards to decisions related to their lands and issues impacting them.

The Federation of Russia, Pakistan, China, Cuba, Democratic Republic of Korea, Ecuador and Mexico representatives gave passionate recommendations to the United States.

Pakistan urged the prosecution of CIA agents responsible for torture. Cuba also pressed for prosecution of those responsible for torture. Cuba also pressed for programs to reduce poverty in the US affecting 48 million people. Ecuador called for the prosecution of those responsible for torture and the use of drones for killing. Democratic Republic of Korea pressed for an end to racial discrimination and torture. Egypt called for an end to discrimination of Middle Easterners at airports.

Mexico pointed out the murder of its citizens by border immigration agents and the need for reparations. 

The Russian Federation quickly stated a long list of concerns and recommendations, including police arbitrary procedures, need to close Guantanamo, need to halt extrajudicial killings including drones, cruel treatment of adoptive children, and the racial profiling of Indigenous.

Senegal points out the need to improve the rights of immigrants.

Serbia points out the gender gap in the rights of women.

Singapore points out the need to eliminate hate crimes, including those based on religion.

Slovakia is among those urging the US to ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Slovenia expressed concern over the lack of prosecution for those committing sex crimes within the US military.

Ireland urges the US to do more to protect its citizens from police brutality of African Americans and abolish death penalty.

In response, the US delegation said President Obama has ended the harsh rendition and torture program. 

The US denies it uses intelligence gathering for the suppression of dissent, and for business advantage. 

In both cases, the facts prove otherwise. The US has used spying to infiltrate, entrap and prosecute activists. It has also been exposed that the US intelligence gathering has been used for the purpose of insider business and trade knowledge.

Even Native Americans have been lured into the US massive spy network, as evidenced by the multi-million dollar US contract for domestic and international spying to Ho Chunk, Inc., in Nebraska, owner of the American Indian news website www.indianz.com

The US attempts to defend the US record of the imprisonment of people of color.

South Africa urged more measures to combat racial discrimination. Iran also urged the US to prevent racial discrimination and investigate claims of torture.

Thailand points out the need to protect the rights of migrants and prevent human trafficking.

Bosnia said it is encouraged by the US consultation with Native Americans.

Botswana expressed concerns over discrimination against women in the US.

Canada expressed concerns of those of forced trafficking and sexual exploitation.

Israel said the US needs to do more to eliminate racial discrimination and hate crimes.

Maldives urged the US not to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries.

In response, the US claims it is protecting the rights of migrant child workers. The US claims it is protecting migrant children from forced child labor.

The Illinois Attorney General makes passionate statements about protecting human rights in Illinois. Discrimination in home lending for people of color resulted in lawsuits and compensation. Twenty people on death row were exonerated. The death penalty was eliminated. Chicago police issued an apology to recent victims. Illinois provides low tuition for undocumented college students, she says.

The session was broadcast live on the web, making possible this coverage.


Brenda Norrell has been a reporter in Indian country for 33 years, beginning at the Navajo Times during the 18 years that she lived on the Navajo Nation. After serving as a longtime staff reporter for Indian Country Today, she was censored and terminated by Indian Country Today. She created Censored News in 2006. Now in its 9th year with no advertising, grants or sponsors, Censored News is approaching 4 million pageviews.

brendanorrell@gmail.com

US lies to UN about spying on activists

By Brenda Norrell
Censored News
Update: 'World concerned over racial discrimination in the US'
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2015/05/un-world-concerned-over-racial.html

The United Nations Human Rights Council reviewed the United States human rights record today. The US lied about its spying. The US responded that the US "doesn't collect intelligence to suppress dissents or to give U.S. businesses a competitive advantage ..."
In both cases, the facts prove otherwise.
It is a fact that the US spies on activists and stalks them, imprisons whistleblowers, and uses provocateurs and entrapment to jail activists. Further, the US uses intelligence gathering for business and trade insider knowledge.
During the Universal Periodic Review of the US Human Rights Council in Geneva, the response of countries proved that the world is watching.
Foremost, the US was pressed  by many countries to halt police violence toward ethnic minorities.
The United States admitted its failures in regards to civil rights, in response to the murder of unarmed black men by police. However, the US did not admit its role in torture and kidnappings in violation of the Geneva Conventions. The US did not justify its drone assassinations or its widespread prison-for-profit scheme, where corporations enrich themselves from the capture and imprisonment of migrants at the border, including women and children.
The United States did not explain COINTELPRO which targeted Black Panthers, American Indians and Chicanos. The US did not explain why it selected Israel's defense contractor Elbit Systems to build spy towers on the US border in Arizona, including spy towers on the Tohono O'odham Nation. Elbit is responsible for Apartheid security surrounding Palestine.
Further, the issue was not raised of the US ATF (Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms) which has been arming the drug cartels in Mexico since 2005, in Project Gunrunner, Operation Wide Receiver and Fast and Furious. There was no mention of the hundreds of US Border Patrol agents and ICE agents arrested for drug smuggling and serving as "spotters" for the cartels to cross the border with their loads. The US did not discuss how US Border Patrol agents have committed rape, and the murder of teenage rock throwers.
Earlier, after the UN review of the United States human rights record in 2010, the United States rejected the recommendation to "Recognize the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples without conditions or reservations," as recommended by Bolivia.
After the review in 2010, the US accepted 171 recommendations and rejected 71.
As for denying the facts at the UN today about NSA spying regarding activists and spying to benefit US trade and business,

AP reports: Several countries including Brazil and Kenya voiced concern over the extent of U.S. surveillance in the light of reports about the National Security Agency's activities.

David Bitkower, a deputy assistant attorney general, responded that "U.S. intelligence collection programs and activities are subject to stringent and multilayered oversight mechanisms." He added that the country doesn't collect intelligence to suppress dissents or to give U.S. businesses a competitive advantage, and that there is "extensive and effective oversight to prevent abuse."

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2015/05/11/world/europe/ap-eu-united-nations-us-rights.html?_r=0
In fact, the US not only targets activists with spying, but also targets world leaders.
While Sec. of State, Hillary Clinton ordered US Ambassadors to collect DNA and iris scans on world leaders and activists from the Americas and Africa, as exposed by Wikileaks.
Indigenous activists in the Americas, including Mohawks and Mapuche, were targeted by US State Dept. spying. Bolivian President Evo Morales and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez were constant targets of US spying.
The US was questioned on the widespread imprisonment of migrants, including children, and drone assassinations.
http://www.dailysabah.com/americas/2015/05/11/us-admits-failure-of-commitment-to-civil-rights
The United States was not honest about its treatment of migrants. The U.S. delegation said that every effort is being made to protect their rights, including those to avoid the exploitation of children.
As Al Jazeera points out, international law bars the imprisonment of children for immigration purposes, and the US has not been held responsible for torture.