A004230
Thursday, December 20, 2001 10:39 AM
Equal Relief Standards
December 20, 2001
Dear Mr. Kenneth Zwick,
I am a member of Amnesty International, a worldwide human rights movement
committed to ensuring respect for the basic human rights of people without
discrimination, in support of equal access to benefits under the September
11 Victims Relief Fund for all victims, regardless of sexual orientation or
marital status. The United States has committed to uphold international
human rights standards, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which
prohibit arbitrary discrimination.
As you consider rules for administering the relief fund, please apply basic
international human rights standards, and the general principle of
equality, by including among relatives eligible for compensation those who
lost their life partners, as well as de facto parents or children, without
regard to sexual orientation or marital status. New York State has already
adopted such a policy, granting compensation benefits "on a showing of
mutual interdependence with the victim, in recognition that anyone who
shared with the victim living expenses, day to day activities and the
emotional bonds of family deserves help in this time of need."
Many lesbian and gay people were killed in the September 11th attacks.
Since then, lesbian and gay surviving partners of those killed have had
mixed results in obtaining equal treatment at the local level in the
distribution of relief funds by private and state agencies. An inclusive
policy on the part of the federal government would help establish an
important principle for other such funds. In compensating victims, real
justice will be served only when all families - and all types of families -
impacted by the human rights tragedy of September 11 are treated with
dignity and equality.
Thank you for considering my concerns. I look forward to hearing from you
about your efforts to ensure that all surviving victims of the September 11
attacks have equal access to the relief fund.
Sincerely,
Individual Comment
Phoenix, AZ