N000072
Thursday, December 20, 2001 6:09 PM
Subject: eqaul access to relief funds for surviving partners of the 9/11
tragedy victims
December 20, 2001
Dear Mr. Kenneth Zwick,
I write as a member of Amnesty International, a worldwide human rights
movement committed to ensuring indiscriminate respect for all basic human
rights without regard to petty distinctions. I write in support of equal
access to benefits under the September 11 Victims Relief Fund for all
victims, regardless of sexual orientation or marital status. As you know,
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, I ask that you
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. The State of New
York 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 members of the gay, lesbian, and bisexual community 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. To me, this issue extends beyond
disaster relief for those who have had personal tragedy touch their lives;
if equal access to the relief fund is granted, a strong stance is taken on
equal human rights as a whole. I am much appreciative of any endeavours to
better the societies we live in, and I would like to thank you again for
any consideration.
Sincerely,
Individual Comment
Bailey, CO