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OSPC Statement on FISA Amendments Act
The Open Society Policy Center opposes today's Senate passage of H.R. 6304, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Amendments Act, because it does not adequately protect the privacy rights of Americans. The bill improperly provides immunity to telecommunications corporations for their prior illegal surveillance activities.
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OSI Welcomes New Law on Genocide Prosecution
President Bush signed the Genocide Accountability Act of 2007 into law following its unanimous approval by Congress. The new legislation fills a critical gap in the law by permitting the U.S. government to prosecute people in the United States who are believed to have committed genocide abroad.
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Sentencing Commission Does the Right Thing on Crack
The Open Society Policy Center welcomes the unanimous decision by the U.S. Sentencing Commission making sentencing guideline adjustments for federal crack cocaine cases retroactive.
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Destroyed Videotapes Fail to Mask the Ugly Reality of Torture
On Friday, December 7, the Open Society Policy Center released a statement on the destruction of videotapes of interrogations by the Central Intelligence Agency. Click here to read more.
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Major Human Rights Organizations Urge Senate to Reject Mukasey
November 1, 2007--Four major human rights organizations today called on the Senate to reject the nomination of Judge Michael B. Mukasey to serve as Attorney General.
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Morton H. Halperin, Director of U.S. Advocacy for OSI testifies on FISA
Morton H. Halperin, Director of U.S. Advocacy for OSI testifies on FISA before the Senate Committee on the Judiciary.
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Mukasey Must Be Clear on Torture, Groups Say
Human rights and policy organizations said today that unless Judge Michael B. Mukasey clarifies his views on torture and the President's obligation to follow prohibitions on torture he "does not deserve to be the chief law enforcement official of the United States."
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UN Human Rights Council Takes Swift Action on Burma
The United Nations Human Rights Council held an emergency special session on the human rights crisis in Burma and has taken swift action. For more information click here.
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End the Crack-Cocaine Sentencing Disparity
On October 2nd, 2007 the Open Society Policy Center, along with other like-minded organizations, issued an open letter to the United States Congress calling for an end to the crack-cocaine sentencing disparity by legislating guidelines consistent with the Sentencing Commission's recommendations.
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Morton H. Halperin, Director of U.S. Advocacy for OSI testifies before the House Committee on Warrantless Surveillance and FISA.
Morton H. Halperin, Director of U.S. Advocacy for the Open Society Institute testified before the House Committee on the Judiciary on Wednesday, September 05, 2007 to examine Warrantless Surveillance and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).
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In Unusual Step, Human Rights Groups Oppose CIA Nominee
Human rights groups and advocacy organizations have urged the U.S. Senate to reject the nomination of John Rizzo to serve as General Counsel of the Central Intelligence Agency because of his stated views on torture. The letter to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and press release can be viewed here.
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Senior Policy Analyst Akwe Amosu testifies before the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Subcommitee on African Affairs
Senior Policy Analyst for Africa Akwe Amosu testified before the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Subcommitee on African Affairs, in a hearing entitled "Democratic Developments in Sub-Saharan Africa: Moving Forward or Backwards?"
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The 2nd Chance Act Introduced in the 110th Congress
In March 2007, the House Judiciary Committee passed out the Second Chance Act and in the Senate it was reintroduced by Senators Biden, Specter, Brownback & Leahy.
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OSPC Urges Strong Standards on Interrogations
OSPC and other human rights organizations send Secretary of State, Condoleeza Rice a letter urging strong standards on permissible interrogations.
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Morton H. Halperin Testifies Before House International Relations Committee
Open Society Policy Center Executive Director, Morton Halperin, testifies before the House International Relations Committee's Africa, Human Rights and Global Operations Subcommittee regarding the United Nations Human Rights Council.
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Senior Policy Analyst Nkechi Taifa Testfies Before the U.S. Sentencing Commission
Senior Policy Analyst Nkechi Taifa testifies before the U.S. Sentencing Commission on the federal sentencing policy regarding cocaine.
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