dojA004274.xml

dojA004274.xml

born-digital

email

yes

no

2001-12-20

Thursday, December 20, 2001 11:39 AM
Compensation and aid to victims of September 11

Kenneth L. Zwick, Director
Office of Management Programs
U.S. Department of Justice
Dear Sir,
On December 21, the Justice Department is scheduled to unveil rules related
to how the program will be administered, and who will be eligible to file
relief claims under the September 11 Victims Relief Fund. As a New Yorker
who lived through the horror of these attacks, I urge that you treat all
families equally, regardless of race, religion, marital status or sexual
orientation.
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 request 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. Please 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."
Remember: 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 yours,
Individual Comment
Brooklyn, NY

2001-12-20