August, 17 2009, 11:36am EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Brenda Bowser Soder
bowsersoderb@humanrightsfirst.org
O -202/370-3323, C – 301/906-4460a
Human Rights First Welcomes Appointment of Samantha Power to Coordinate U.S. Iraqi Refugee Efforts
Human Rights First welcomes Friday's White House announcement that
the administration will appoint Samantha Power, Senior Director for
Multilateral Affairs and Human Rights at the National Security Council,
to coordinate the work of the many U.S. agencies engaged on issues that
affect Iraqi refugees and internally displaced persons.
WASHINGTON
Human Rights First welcomes Friday's White House announcement that
the administration will appoint Samantha Power, Senior Director for
Multilateral Affairs and Human Rights at the National Security Council,
to coordinate the work of the many U.S. agencies engaged on issues that
affect Iraqi refugees and internally displaced persons.
In its blueprint "How to Confront the Iraqi Refugee Crisis," issued
last December, Human Rights First urged the incoming Obama
administration to appoint a White House coordinator to ensure that
plans to assist Iraqi refugees and IDPs were integrated into broader
policy and strategy in Iraq and implemented across all relevant federal
agencies. Ms. Power's extensive experience with refugee and
humanitarian issues and her deep commitment to these issues make her an
excellent pick. We look forward to working with her in this new
capacity.
One of Ms. Power's first responsibilities will be to implement
reforms to improve the resettlement process for vulnerable Iraqi
refugees, including those who have been at risk because of their ties
to the United States.
To read HRF's recent report and recommendations for improving U.S.
resettlement efforts for vulnerable Iraqi refugees, "Promises to the
Persecuted," click here
To read HRF's complete blueprint, click here
Human Rights First is a non-profit, nonpartisan international human rights organization based in New York and Washington D.C. Human Rights First believes that building respect for human rights and the rule of law will help ensure the dignity to which every individual is entitled and will stem tyranny, extremism, intolerance, and violence.
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