Kenneth Roth Quotes

"The hypocrisy factor has encouraged copycat techniques around the world by people who do like the U.S. does and has also weakened the United States as one of the traditional important supporters of human rights."

"You plunge yourself further and further into debt, rental prices drop, you can't make your mortgage payments and you're forced to sell for less than you owe."

"The moral authority of the United States depends on its working effectively with other countries to advance human rights protection ? not blocking a consensus proposal that makes so much progress for human rights. The current resolution can be made to work if the United States joins with other democracies to establish the new council and make it function effectively."

"The hypocrisy factor has encouraged copycat techniques around the world by people who do like the United States does and has also weakened the United States as one of the traditional important supporters of human rights."

"There is an enormous problem that when a government as influential as the United States flouts basic human rights standards, it undermines the standards and gives green light to other governments to do the same."

"We welcome Libya's first steps toward reform. But the government has a long road to travel before it meets the international standards of human rights."

"This is an important symbolic visit. The real test is to see if the government is ready to implement the recommendations and show it's serious about eradicating torture."

"We spoke openly with the Libyan government about our concerns. We disagree on many substantive issues, but they are willing to listen and discuss."

"The EU largely ignored human rights abuses by its friends in Africa. It was very good about speaking out against the pariah Zimbabwe. But when it came to Angola, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Uganda, there was little if anything said."

"Things have changed in Venezuela, but not for the better. There's been a continued consolidation of power on the part of Chavez."

"Armed conflicts often involve discrepancies of power between adversaries. Allowing those discrepancies to justify attacking civilians would create an immense loophole in the protections of international humanitarian law."

"Moral squeamishness shouldn't stand in the way of finding solutions to this terrible crisis."

"The U.S. government's use and defense of torture and inhumane treatment played the largest role in undermining Washington's ability to promote human rights."