N000811
Sunday, December 23, 2001 3:15 PM
Equal access to benefits under 9/11 Victims Relief Fund for
ALL!!
December 23, 2001
Dear Mr. Kenneth Zwick,
As a member of Amnesty International, I am writing to help ensure worldwide
human rights. A.I. is an international movement committed to ensuring
respect for the basic human rights of people without discrimination, in
support of equal access to benefits under the 9/11 Victims Relief Fund for
ALL victims, regardless of their sexual orientation or marital status. As
I assume you know, the U.S.A 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 ways to administer the relief fund, I ask solemnly that you
keep basic international human rights standards in mind, 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 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 the victims have had
mixed results in getting 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 heartfelt concerns. I look forward to a
response from you about your efforts to ensure that all surviving victims
of the September 11 attacks have equal access to the much-needed relief
fund.
Sincerely,
Individual Comment
Castro Valley, CA