For Immediate Release
March 2, 2015
CONTACTS: Sue Walitsky 202-224-4524/Tim Zink 410-962-4436
Cardin Discusses International Human Rights at University of Baltimore School of Law Symposium
Senator calls for passage of Global Magnitsky Act, aid to Central America to reduce surge of unaccompanied children attempting to emigrate
BALTIMORE — U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) today provided the keynote address at a University of Baltimore School of Law (UB Law) symposium that explored the role of the United States in international human rights. Senator Cardin explored a variety of topics with considerable human rights implications, including the underlying causes behind the surge in unaccompanied minors emigrating from Central America and the need for the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act to combat gross violations of human rights and corruption.
“Promoting human rights and the rule of law is critical to our national security and to global stability. The fight against corruption and human rights violations must be central to our diplomatic efforts around the world, this is why we must pass the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act,” said Senator Cardin. “This legislation would put gross violators of human rights on notice that they cannot escape the consequences of their actions even when their home country fails to act.”
Senator Cardin’s remarks to the standing-room only audience of more than 100 UB Law students, faculty and community members focused in particular on how the next generation of lawyers and policy makers needs to be creative and determined to advance and defend human rights. “Young lawyers and policymakers need to understand the cross-cutting nature of human rights,” said Senator Cardin, “There are opportunities to advance human rights in virtually every American foreign policy decision.”
Senator Cardin also focused on several international human rights crises involving children. “In many places in Central America, parents face the daily prospect of losing their children to gang membership, violence or kidnapping for ransom. If kids survive these challenges, they are met with dismal employment prospects. Parents hear there is a chance for success in the U.S., so they let their children travel alone, subject to all kinds of predators, with the chance that they might somehow make it over the border or be granted asylum,” said Senator Cardin. “One way for us to do better as a nation is to invest in the economies and infrastructure of Central America to help combat the underlying conditions that are driving emigration.”
Despite the growing international human rights challenges, Senator Cardin noted that he was optimistic for the future. He pointed to the work of law students like the editorial staff at the UB Journal of International Law, which sponsored the symposium, as reason to be hopeful that global human rights conditions would improve over time. To make continued progress on these issues, said Senator Cardin, “We must stand together in condemnation of injustice and continue the urgent task of fostering an international community where every person truly has the same equal opportunities.”