Human Rights Watch Supports Juvenile Justice Delinquency and Prevention Reauthorization Act of 2008; U.S. to Investigate Deaths of Labor Union Leaders in the Philippines; U.S. to Fund Long-term Growth in Haiti

By Gabrielle Meury
Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

WASHINGTON, U.S.- This week, the Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to consider reauthorizing an updated version of a 1974 bill that required that juveniles picked up for breaking the law be kept separate from alleged adult offenders. Juveniles held in adult facilities are more likely to be attacked, more likely to commit crimes once released and more likely to commit suicide than those held in facilities that house only minors.
The Juvenile Justice Delinquency and Prevention Reauthorization Act of 2008 strengthens protections for juveniles while safeguarding judicial discretion to deal with exceptional cases. It also calls for preservation and expansion of programs that have been particularly effective in combating delinquency and crime among youth, including mentoring and after-school supervision.
Over the past decade, an increasing number of states have adopted laws allowing juveniles to be charged as adults for specific serious crimes. Under the proposed bill, even juveniles charged as adults must be held in juvenile facilities or “out of sound and sight” of adults in adult facilities unless a juvenile specifically orders otherwise.
Human Rights Watch supports the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act of 2008. The bill takes clear steps to reduce structural ethnic and racial discrimination in the justice system, bringing the US closer to compliance with its obligation under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD), a treaty ratified by the United States in 1994.

For more information, please see:
Washington Post- Juvenile Justice- 13 2008

Human Rights Watch- Human Rights Watch Supports the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act of 2008- 3 July 2008

MANILA, Philippines- The United States Trade Representative (USTR) will conduct separate investigations into the situation of human rights and alleged labor malpractices in the Philippines. Among the issues to be examined is increase the killings of labor union leaders since 2001. Thirty-three labor and trade union leaders were reportedly abducted and killed since the government intensified its campaign against labor groups.
The U.S. government’s initiative was be launched after the USTR received a petition from the International Labor Rights Forum, where the Philippine government was accused of having a “no union, no strike” policy.
The USTR has informed the Philippine government that it must comply with the US law upholding internationally recognized worker rights. If the Philippine government does not comply, the trade relationship between the U.S. and the Philippines will be jeopardized.

For more information, please see:
ABS CBN- RP, US to probe labor rights abuses- 11 July 2008

Global Nation- “Concerned” government to respond to USTR Review of Labor Rights- 14 July 2008

MIAMI, U.S.- The U.S. Agency for International Development came to South Florida on Friday with a $170 million budget to find local groups to help them rebuild Haiti. South Florida is home to the U.S.’ largest Haitian population.
Jose Cardenas, acting administrator of USAID’S Latin American and Caribbean bureau stated, “Emergency food is not what we want to talk about, we’re promoting long-term growth so we don’t have to lurch from crisis to crisis.”

For more information, please see:
Dominican Today- USAID Offers $170 Million to Groups Rebuilding Haiti- 13 July 2008

PR News Wire- USAID Officials Will Hold Forum With Miami’s Haitian Community- 7 July 2008