Human Rights

Lantos Foundation Statement on Discrimination by Turkish Airlines

The recently announced partnership between the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice and the Roosevelt Institute to re-establish the FDR International Disability Rights Award (FDRIDRA) is intended to raise awareness of the needs and rights of persons with disabilities. The recent experience of FDRIDRA Advisory Board Member Kersen DeJong onboard Turkish Airlines tangibly demonstrates the vital need for greater support and understanding this Award is meant to encourage.

When Mr. DeJong boarded a Turkish Airlines flight from Istanbul to Amsterdam this past week, he was refused a seat that would accommodate his disability: two artificial legs. After being denied both bulkhead seating and an aisle seat, he was forced to separate his artificial legs from his upper body and drag himself to his seat with his hands. His artificial limbs were then stored by airline staff in an overhead compartment away from his assigned seat. All of this occurred while the flight crew and passengers looked on. At the end of the flight, Dutch customs officers had to assist him in literally putting himself back together before he could leave the airport.

“This incident is a shocking reminder of the challenges people with disabilities face every day. Mr. DeJong is a man of stature and well informed about disability laws, including laws governing public transportation and persons with disabilities. While he handled this deplorable incident with strength and determination, one shudders to think how a less informed and experienced person with a disability would be able to endure such a mortifying experience,” said Katrina Lantos Swett, President of the Lantos Foundation. “We call on Turkish Airlines to apologize to Mr. DeJong and work to establish policies and practices that accommodate all of their travelers comfortably and compassionately.”

The FDR International Disability Award encourages and recognizes countries that make meaningful progress in upholding the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The UN Convention originated in 2007 and currently has 153 signatories and has been ratified by 112 countries.

Though the United States signed the Convention in 2009, the United States Senate has not yet ratified it. On May 17th, just one week before Mr. DeJong’s appalling experience on Turkish Airlines, President Obama sent the treaty to the Senate where it currently awaits approval. If you are as outraged as we are about Mr. DeJong’s treatment, we encourage you to contact your Senators and urge them to support ratification of the UN Convention for Persons with Disabilities immediately.

Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice Sponsors Monks Visit

“Days of Peace and Harmony” continue Through the Weekend at Canterbury Shaker Village”

On Wednesday the Tibetan Buddhist Monks from the Drepung Gomang Monastery arrived at Shaker Village in Canterbury for The Peace and Harmony Program. Their visit is part of their annual tour to support the monastery and the 2,000 monks who currently reside there in exile from China.
 
The support given by the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice is part of their ongoing commitment to human rights in China. In 2009, the Lantos Foundation drew the criticism of the Chinese government when they awarded the Lantos Human Rights Prize to Tibet spiritual leader, His Holiness the Dalai Lama in recognition of his lifelong commitment to the peaceful promotion of human rights for the people of Tibet [Autonomous Region of China]. “In honor of His Holiness the Dalia Lama and in remembrance of the dozens of Tibetans who have tragically set themselves on fire this past year to protest repressive Chinese rule, we are pleased to sponsor this event as a peaceful way to bring attention to the issue of human rights abuses in China and Tibet [Autonomous Region of China].” said Katrina Lantos Swett, President of the Lantos Foundation.
 
Open to the public, the main events are scheduled for this weekend, including a costumed Snow Lion Dance performance, a participatory Om Mani Padme Hum stone painting activity, and the dispersion of the vibrantly colored sacred sand mandala at the conclusion of their visit.
 
For more information call Shaker Village at (603) 783-9511 x230 or visit their event page at shakers.org. Suggested donations are appreciated.

Katrina Lantos Swett Featured on C-SPAN's Q&A with Brian Lamb

Lantos Foundation President, Katrina Lantos Swett was featured on C-SPAN's Q&A with Brian Lamb.

During this in-depth interview by Brian Lamb, Katrina spoke about the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice, and her late father, Tom, who co-founded the bipartisan Congressional Human Rights Caucus. She told the story of her parents' experiences during the Holocaust and eventual immigration to the U.S. from Hungary. Other topics included her concerns about Russian leadership pulling the country away from democracy, and her admiration for the Dalai Lama's contributions to human rights.

As always, we appreciate your comments and your support which allow us to continue our work.

Watch the video:

http://www.c-span.org/video/?305009-1/qa-katrina-lantos-swett

Christy Turlington Burns Joins Lantos Foundation For Film Series

"No Woman, No Cry” Tackles Maternal Mortality

(Concord, NH, March 22, 2012) Fashion icon and film maker Christy Turlington Burns will present her film, “No Woman, No Cry “at Concord High School in the Christa McAuliffe Auditorium on Thursday, April 5, 2012 at 7pm.  “No Woman, No Cry” is a riveting documentary that follows four women in four countries including the United States, as they struggle to avoid adding to the grim maternal mortality statistics. This film has been selected as a feature presentation for The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology’s annual convention this summer.

Turlington Burns’ appearance is part of the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice’s ongoing film series focusing on human rights around the world.

"When Hillary Clinton said in Beijing, 'human rights are women's rights - and women's rights are human rights,' she elucidated for all of us the profound link between a decent and hopeful future for women and a productive and prosperous future for society,” said Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett, President of the Lantos Foundation. “In this powerful documentary we are reminded how far we have to go in achieving these goals."

Turlington Burns, who faced her own sense of mortality after the difficult delivery of her daughter, has dedicated her life to improving access to adequate health care for women around the world. She is the founder of Every Mother Counts, an advocacy campaign to increase support for maternal and child health.

“I am very honored that the Lantos Foundation for Humans Rights has selected No Woman, No Cry to be part of their ongoing film series focusing on human rights,” said Christy Turlington Burns, director/producer and founder of Every Mother Counts. “I hope the film will illustrate to the Concord community the challenges so many women around the world face in accessing maternal health care at critical times during their reproductive lives. It is a human rights injustice to allow women to die while bringing life into the world when we know how to prevent most of these senseless deaths. Educating an empowered community like this one can bring about lasting social change.”

Following the presentation Turlington Burns will join in a panel discussion with Dr. Barry D. Smith, former chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Dartmouth-Hitchcock and current President of the New England OB/GYN Society and Katrina Lantos Swett.

Following the film and discussion, there will a reception.
Tickets are $20 and available through Red River Theatres or at the door the night of the event at Concord High School.

Lantos Foundation Announces Inauguration of New Human Rights Institute in Budapest

Concord, NH -- Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and her predecessor, Dr. Condoleezza Rice, will headline ceremonies June 30 at the Országház, the Hungarian Parliament Building in Budapest, inaugurating the new Tom Lantos Institute, Lantos Foundation President Katrina Lantos Swett announced.

The rare joint appearance, where both women are scheduled to address an audience of Hungarian and American dignitaries, highlights the new institute’s importance both to the trans-Atlantic relationship as well as to Hungary’s regional role as a leader in the field of democracy and human rights.  “This represents an important commitment on the part of the Hungarian government to advance human rights, protect minority rights, promote tolerance and strengthen trans-Atlantic relations,” Lantos Swett said.  The Tom Lantos Institute will serve as a home for such projects as researching minority inclusion and developing proposed policies, gauging the effectiveness of various assistance organizations and developing means to defend those who champion human rights.

The Institute is named for Lantos Swett’s father, former Congressman Tom Lantos, who served in Congress from 1981 until his death in 2008.  Born in Budapest, he was the only Holocaust survivor ever elected to Congress where he was known as one of its greatest advocates for democracy and human rights. Congressman Lantos was the co-founder of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus and also served as Chairman of the powerful House Foreign Affairs Committee. He gained the admiration of both sides of the political aisle and on both sides of the Atlantic for his active and unwavering leadership on behalf of human rights.

The inaugural ceremonies will culminate a week of activities including an International Human Rights conference sponsored by the International Center for Democratic Transition, the Tom Lantos Institute and the Hungarian Government.  There will also be the unveiling a statue of the late US President Ronald Reagan, who Hungarians honor for his leadership in hastening the end of communism. This will be followed by a gala “Freedom Dinner” commemorating the 20th anniversary of Hungary’s freedom from tyranny.

Lantos Foundation Presents the Film, “Crossing”

A Gripping Glimpse Into Human Rights Atrocities in North Korea

April 22, 2011-The Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice along with the University of New Hampshire School of Law’s Social Justice Institute will present the movie “Crossing,” an unforgettable film depicting the ongoing human rights abuses taking place in North Korea.

The film, called a “Schindler’s List for North Korea,” by the Wall Street Journal, will be shown at 6pm on Tuesday, May 3, 2011 at Red River Theatres in Concord. Admission is free, however reservations are suggested.

“Crossing,” Korea’s 2008 Official entry for Oscar’s Best Foreign Language film is a riveting film based on true stories concerning the dire human rights situation in a divided Korea. It is a bold, raw and unforgettable story of a young North Korean boy who dares to cross the border in search of his father. It is a story North Korea does not want told.

Prior to the film, a discussion regarding human rights abuses in North Korea and the  impact on international relations will take place with special guests, Ambassador Robert R. King, Special Envoy for North Korea, Chuck Downs, Committee for Human Rights in North Korea, Dean John Broderick from the University of New Hampshire School of Law and Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett, President of the Lantos Foundation.

“The ‘Hermit Kingdom’ of North Korea, goes to extraordinary lengths to hide the shocking truth about the starvation, repression and cruel imprisonment of its own people. There are few countries on the face of the earth, where human rights abuses are as massive and systemic as in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,” said Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett, President of the Lantos Foundation. “The Lantos Foundation hopes that this screening and unforgettable movie, “Crossing,” will educate people and inspire them to get involved on behalf of the suffering people of North Korea.”

Both Ambassador Bob King and Chuck Downs will be available after the film for questions.

This important movie presentation is part of the ongoing efforts of the Lantos Foundation to raise the level of consciousness in the local community about human rights abuses in the world.

Lantos Foundation Urges Retraction of Flawed Goldstone Report

April 8, 2011-The Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice is urging Richard Goldstone to retract his flawed report to the United Nations condemning Israel’s action during the Gaza War.  In an opinion piece written for the Washington Post last week, Goldstone acknowledged that portions of his report about Israel intentionally targeting civilians during the Gaza War of 2008-2009 were not true.

“Many of us believed at the time that the controversial Goldstone Report was issued, that its conclusions were outrageous, slanderous, and without foundation,” said Annette Lantos, Chairman of the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice. “Given the historic mistreatment of Israel at the hands of the United Nations and its auxiliaries, the Goldstone Report stood as one more example of disturbing bias toward the State of Israel by those who claim to speak for the world community.”

Though admitting that the report contains false information, Goldstone, a former South African Judge says he will not ask the U.N. Human Rights Council to dismiss the report.

Annette Lantos, widow of former Congressman Tom Lantos, the only survivor of the Holocaust elected to Congress and former Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, says she joins with others calling on the United Nations to cancel the Goldstone Report.

“While I am gratified that Mr. Goldstone has disavowed his earlier report, the damage caused by the fundamentally flawed Goldstone report cannot be so easily wiped clean,” said Lantos.