The U.S. announced the launch of the Without Just Cause initiative, which seeks to raise international awareness of the plight of political prisoners and their families.
The initiative also advocates for the release of all individuals worldwide who are detained unfairly, as political prisoners around the world begin another year behind bars, according to a Jan. 11 State Department news release.
“Building on our commitment at the first #SummitForDemocracy, today we launch the #WithoutJustCause initiative to secure the release of political prisoners. We call on governments worldwide to free those detained for peacefully exercising their human rights,” Secretary of State Blinken said in a post on Twitter.
The news release said many of the individuals highlighted in this initiative are emblematic of the political prisoners held by governments across the world. Many of them are subjected to torture, gender-based violence, inhumane conditions, enforced disappearance or other forms of abuse. Some are held for peaceful protest, critical reporting and exposing corruption. Other prisoners are imprisoned because of their race, ethnicity, religion, language, gender identity or for perceived or real LGBTQI+ status or conduct.
Some governments abuse their legal systems to target peaceful protestors or government critics on contrived charges such as “terrorism,” “extremism,” “cybercrimes,” “fake news” or “hooliganism." Others are sentenced by courts that lack independence, in trials closed to outside observers. Some are detained without being afforded other applicable legal protections, according to the release.
The Without Just Cause initiative will include diplomatic engagement and public diplomacy in Washington, D.C. and by U.S. embassies abroad, according to the release. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights makes clear every person is entitled to respect for their human rights, including freedom of opinion and expression, peaceful assembly and association. Visit state.gov/withoutjustcause/ to learn more about the initiative.
