dojN000537.xml

dojN000537.xml

born-digital

email

yes

no

2001-12-21

Friday, December 21, 2001 2:42 PM
Victims Rights


December 21, 2001

Dear Mr. Kenneth Zwick,



As a citizen of the United States of America, I would like to express my
sympathy for the victims and their survivors of the September 11th attacks.
I am a proud citizen because of the way this great nation has come
together in such a time of crisis. However, now more than ever it is
important for us not to loose the strength to act out of such a feeling of
love. As a way to find more strength as a nation committed to human
rights, and to create further acts of love and justice, I urge you to
include monies for all the victims of September 11th attacks.

Some of the many lesbian and gay surviving partners of those killed on that
tragic day have not been receiving equal distribution of the monies from
the Victims Relief Fund. Along with you I support a United States
dedicated to upholding the highest standard of human rights. I strongly
support actions that uphold our adherence to the human rights standards in
the Constitution, in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. If, however, the
United States does not ensure that each individual receives equal
compensation under the Victims Relief Fund, the United State will fall
short of its commitment to such humanistic standards of equality.

I commend the State of New York for setting a human rights standard by
including wording that will grant compensation benefits to anyone ?showing
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.?

I, along with Amnesty International, believe that including such wording to
the compensation policy-as New York has done-will apply a basic standard of
international human rights in American, and enforce a general principle of
equality.

Thank you for your consideration and I will look forward to hearing from
you on how equality has been upheld in America at such a crucial time.


Sincerely,

Individual Comment
Greenville, MI

2001-12-21