Human rights activists
from all over the world met with the US President Barack Obama on 18
February 2010 to discuss ways for the country to counter human rights
situations in the world. Subodh Raj Pyakurel, the Chairperson of the
Executive Committee of FORUM-ASIA, also participated in the meeting.
Human rights activists
from all over the world met with the US President Barack Obama on 18
February 2010 to discuss ways for the country to counter human rights
situations in the world. Subodh Raj Pyakurel, the Chairperson of the
Executive Committee of FORUM-ASIA, also participated in the meeting.

Washington, DC – Frontline human rights defenders from around the globe
met today in the Roosevelt Room in the West Wing of the White House
with President Obama and senior administration officials to discuss
ways that the United States can counter the deterioration of human
rights around the world.  The activists are in Washington, D.C. for a
summit hosted by Freedom House and Human Rights First.

Frontline human rights defenders from Pakistan, Iran, Egypt, Belarus,
Zimbabwe, Russia, Indonesia, Venezuela and other nations described the
increasing repression against them and encouraged the President to play
a greater leadership role in defending fundamental freedoms of
association, assembly and expression.

Jennifer Windsor, Executive Director of Freedom House outlined the
challenge, saying, "We are facing a global freedom recession.  The
pressure on civil society activists has intensified and warrants a bold
response by all democracies. The United States should lead the way."
She added, "The U.S. should start by rejecting demands by governments
to ban U.S. aid to independent groups."  The United States recently
acquiesced to such demands from Egypt and Bolivia, for example.

The activists commended the President for his commitment to leading by
example and urged that he follow through on his promise to align U.S.
counterterrorism policies with universal human rights standards.

"U.S. national security policy has real consequences beyond America's
borders. That message was delivered loud and clear during today's
meeting," said Human Rights First President & CEO Elisa Massimino.
"Human rights defenders risk their lives every day in defense of
freedom and democracy. The United States has an obligation to support
their courageous work, and that begins by setting a strong example here
at home-closing Guantanamo, bringing terrorist suspects to justice in
civilian trials, and ending the practice of indefinite detention."

The group engaged in a wide-ranging discussion covering many country
situations.  Specifically, the activists welcomed the administration's
attempts at outreach to the Muslim world, but said that the
Administration's engagement policies have not yielded substantial human
rights improvements on the ground.

The groups were pleased with the administration's willingness to engage
with them and the seriousness with which the President and senior
officials grappled with these issues.  They will be issuing a Plan of
Action at the conclusion of the Summit with specific recommendations
for the U.S. and other governments.