N000433
Friday, December 21, 2001 12:13 PM
compensation
Dear Mr. Zwick,
International human rights standards including
the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights and the International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights
prohibit arbitrary discrimination and the US
government is obligated to
respect these rights.
I am requesting that the Justice Department,
consistent with such international
human rights standards, and the general principle
of equality, include 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.
I would like the Justice Department to follow the
positive example of New York state
in 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.
Real justice is only served when
all families and all types of families
impacted by the human rights
tragedy of September 11 are treated with dignity
and equality.
sincerely,
Individual Comment
Chicago,IL