July 29, 2020 Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 29, 2020

Equity Forward Responds to the U.S. Department of State’s Commission on Unalienable Rights

Today, reproductive rights watchdog group Equity Forward submitted public comment in response to the report issued by the U.S. Department of State’s Commission on Unalienable Rights (CUR), Secretary Mike Pompeo’s global commission formulated to undermine gender equity and LGBTQ rights abroad.

In the report, CUR claims to support human rights, but it regards the health and rights of women, LGBTQ people, BIPOC, and other vulnerable populations as “divisive,” and prioritizes the rights of property over people. Equity Forward’s Global Spotlight database contains extensive research on the CUR commissioners that details the view of the Commissioner and their dangerously narrow interpretations of the human rights they ostensibly serve to protect.

“It is abhorrent that abortion, affirmative action, and same-sex marriage are referred to as ‘divisive social and political controversies’ in the Commission on Unalienable Rights report and that otherwise, there are no mentions,” Molly Bangs, Director of Equity Forward, said. “LGBTQ people face threats to their health, safety, and civil rights here at home and around the globe and this report makes zero mention of protecting their rights. Similarly — like other State Department human rights reports — it intentionally ignores how access to reproductive health care and control over one’s body are indeed fundamental human rights. This administration practices consistent and continued erasure of LGBTQ people and refuses to acknowledge that access to reproductive health care is essential for survival.”

Equity Forward will continue to watch and shed light on the CUR’s activities, and its attempts to harm and roll back global human rights. For more detail on the report, read Molly Bangs’ op-ed in Truthout.