Senators Coons, Tillis introduce resolution calling for release of political prisoners around the world on Human Rights Day

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Co-Chairs of the Senate Human Rights Caucus, introduced a bipartisan resolution recognizing the contributions of civil society in advancing human rights and calling for the release of political prisoners on Human Rights Day.

This resolution, introduced on the 76th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, emphasizes the troubling rise of political imprisonment as a tool of repression and calls for the immediate release of political prisoners across the globe. The U.S. Department of State estimates that around 1 million people are political prisoners worldwide due to their race, religion, ethnicity, private relationship, or for exercising human rights and fundamental freedoms.

"The increased use of political imprisonment by authoritarian regimes to harass and punish activists, journalists, and ordinary citizens as a tool of repression is a major threat to human rights globally," said Senator Coons. "I'm proud my resolution with Senator Tillis lays out clear steps on how to secure the release of political prisoners, including urging the Department of State to coordinate with other executive agencies on priority cases, collaborate with Congress and human rights groups, and engage with international partners. The United States must be a leading voice in advocating for the release of all political prisoners."

"I am proud to introduce this resolution condemning the use of political imprisonment and reiterating our support for the protection of civil liberties worldwide," said Senator Tillis. "This is of critical importance and we call on governments worldwide to release political prisoners and uphold their obligations to respect human rights."

"We are grateful to Senator Coons and Senator Tillis for their leadership on this issue and for the bipartisan commitment to addressing it," said Brian Tronic, Director, the Fred Hiatt Program to Free Political Prisoners, Freedom House. "This resolution is important not only because it highlights the increasing use of political imprisonment by authoritarian regimes, but also because it provides specific, actionable guidance on how a variety of U.S. agencies can help secure the release of political prisoners. The United States already plays a leading role in combating political imprisonment throughout the world; it should build on this success by implementing the concrete proposals set forth in this resolution."

"As we commemorate the enduring promise of the Universal Declaration on this Human Rights Day, we also acknowledge the sobering global headwinds human rights face," said Laura Schroeder, Congressional Affairs Lead, PEN America. "Writers who bear the torch of human rights in autocratic societies are exceedingly singled out for harassment, surveillance, and arbitrary imprisonment. On this solemn occasion, we reaffirm our calls for the Congress and the executive branch to support and defend writers at risk and human rights defenders writ large who speak truth to power. In this spirit, PEN America is proud to endorse Senator Coons and Senator Tillis' resolution."

The resolution seeks to:

• Recognize the importance of Human Rights Day;
• Call on governments to immediately and unconditionally release individuals unjustly detained for their human rights and civil society advocacy work;
• Encourage the State Department to continue to advocate for the release of political prisoners by:

Throughout the past year, Senator Coons and Senator Tillis have jointly called for the release of wrongfully imprisoned human rights defenders and journalists across Africa, Europe, and Latin America as Co-Chairs of the Senate Human Rights Caucus. Senator Coons has also advocated for Americans held hostage or wrongfully detained by oppressive regimes around the world, including introducing the Countering Wrongful Detention Act with Senator James Risch (R-Idaho), which would create new tools for the U.S. government to deter states from wrongfully detaining Americans abroad and support wrongful detainees upon their return home.

The full text of the resolution can be read here.