Jan 30, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 30, 2002
Contact:
Lawrence J. Goodrich, Communications Director, (202) 523-3240, ext. 27
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, an independent government agency advising the Administration and Congress, issued congratulations today to its Chair, Michael K. Young, on his appointment to the Brown v. Board of Education 50th Anniversary Commission. Dean Young was appointed by the Chief Justice of the United States, William H. Rehnquist.
"This appointment is further recognition of Dean Young's commitment to human rights both at home and abroad," said Ambassador Charles Stith, a member of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom executive committee.
The Brown v. Board of Education commission was created by Congress (P.L. 107-41) to conduct public education initiatives and coordinate anniversary observances.
Michael K. Young is currently serving his second term on the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom and will serve as Chair until May 2002. Dean and Lobingier Professor of Comparative Law and Jurisprudence at the George Washington University Law School in Washington, D.C., he is also a member of the Committee on International Judicial Relations of the Judicial Conference of the United States. He served as a law clerk to then-Supreme Court Justice Rehnquist in 1977.
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom was created by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to monitor the status of freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief abroad, as defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and related international instruments, and to give independent policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State and the Congress." src="https://www.uscirf.org/images/layout/subbottomtext1.gif" />
Michael K. Young,Chair
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Jan 22, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 22, 2002
Contact:
Lawrence J. Goodrich, Communications Director, (202) 523-3240, ext. 27
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, an independent government agency advising the Administration and Congress, announced today the addition of Mrs. Soon-Ok Lee, a North Korean defector, to the list of witnesses to testify before the Commission Thursday. Mrs. Lee witnessed brutal treatment of Christians in North Korean labor camps. Her testimony will take place during the Commission's hearing on "Promoting Religious Freedom in North Korea." The hearing will examine religious persecution in North Korea and explore policy options for the U.S. government to improve the situation of religious people there. The hearing is scheduled from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. January 24 in the Longworth House Office Building, Room 1302, Washington, D.C.
The confirmed witnesses and schedule are as follows:
9:00-9:15 Welcome and Introductory Remarks by Michael K. Young, Chair
Panel I:
9:15-10:15Religious Freedom Conditions in North Korea
Norbert Vollertsen, former volunteer medical doctor in the DPRK
Sang-Chul Kim, Secretary General, Commission to Help North Korean Refugees
Soon-Ok Lee, North Korean defector and author of Eyes of the Tailless Animals
10:15-10:30Break
Panel II:
10:30-12:00 U.S. Policy Options for North Korea
Stephen Linton, Chairman, Eugene Bell Foundation
Donald Oberdorfer, Adjunct Professor, SAIS, Johns Hopkins University
Chuck Downs, Private consultant and author of Over the Lines
Jack Rendler, Vice Chairman, U.S. Committee on Human Rights in North Korea
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom was created by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to monitor the status of freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief abroad, as defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and related international instruments, and to give independent policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State and the Congress."
Michael K. Young,Chair
- Felice D. Gaer, Firuz Kazemzadeh, Richard D. Land, Bishop William Francis Murphy, Leila Nadya Sadat, Nina Shea,The Hon. Charles R. Stith, The Hon. Shirin Tahir-Kheli, Steven T. McFarland, Executive Director
Jan 21, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 21, 2002
Contact:
Lawrence J. Goodrich, Communications Director, (202) 523-3240, ext. 27
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, an independent federal agency advising the Administration and Congress, wrote January 18 to the President's special envoy to Sudan, former Sen. John Danforth, who has just returned from meeting with the government and opposition in that country. The Commission congratulated Senator Danforth on the progress achieved in confidence-building measures between the warring parties and urged him "to press Khartoum to demonstrate good faith commitment to both peace negotiations ... as well as to significant improvement in policies and conditions of religious freedom...."
The text of the letter follows:
January 18, 2002
Dear Senator Danforth,
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) wishes to congratulate you on the reported progress you have achieved on most of the confidence-building measures you laid down for the Government of Sudan and the opposition movement.
In its letter to you of October 2, 2001, the Commission offered four recommendations to guide your negotiations with the Government of Sudan. A copy of the letter with attachment is enclosed. Several of these recommendations were included in your four confidence-building measures. The Commission particularly encourages you in future discussions to press Khartoum to demonstrate good faith commitment to both peace negotiations under the IGAD Declaration of Principles as well as to significant improvement in policies and conditions of religious freedom (recommendations 3 and 4, respectively), as the Commission has found that religion plays a major part in the war. The Administration thereby will address not only the symptoms but the disease as well. The Commission believes attention to all four points is essential to any long-term solution.
The Commission appreciates your efforts, wishes you continued success, and requests an opportunity to discuss these matters with you further at your earliest convenience.
Sincerely,
Michael K. Young
Chair
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom was created by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to monitor the status of freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief abroad, as defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and related international instruments, and to give independent policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State and the Congress." src="https://www.uscirf.org/images/layout/subbottomtext1.gif" />
Michael K. Young,Chair
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