Human Rights Record of United States in 2007
By James Secor -
http://mwcnews.net/content/view/21087/1/....The Human Rights Record of the United States in 2007 is prepared to help people around the world understand the real situation of human rights in the United States and as a reminder for the United States to reflect upon its own issues.
I. On Life, Property and Personal Security
The increase of violent crimes in the United States poses a serious threat to its people's lives, liberty and personal security.
According to a FBI report on crime statistics
... 1.41 million violent crimes were reported nationwide in 2006 ...
... an estimated 25 million crimes of violence and theft.
... one violent crime was committed in every 22.2 seconds
... one murder committed in every 30.9 minutes
... one rape in every 5.7 minutes
... one robbery in every 1.2 minutes
... one aggravated assault in every 36.6 seconds (FBI Release its 2006 Crime Statistics, FBI, www.fbi.gov/pressre1/pressre107/cius092407.htm).
... about 30,000 people die from gun wounds every year ....
II. On Human Rights Violations by Law Enforcement and Judicial Departments
The abuse of power by law enforcement and judicial departments in the United States has seriously violated the freedom and rights of its citizens.
Cases in which U.S. law enforcement authorities allegedly violated victims' civil rights increased by 25%
... the world's largest prison
... the highest inmates/population ratio in the world.
... 209 people exonerated through DNA served time on death row ...
... Civil and Political Rights ... are being increasingly marginalized in the United States.
The House of Representatives and the Senate of the U.S. Congress passed the Protect America Act ....
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... Economic, Social and Cultural rights ... have not been properly protected.
Poor population in the United States is constantly increasing. According to statistics released by the U.S. Census Bureau in August 2007, the official poverty rate in 2006 was 12.3%. There were 36.5 million people, or 7.7 million families living in poverty in 2006. .....
... Racial Discrimination ... is a deep-rooted social illness in the United States.
Black people and other minor ethnic groups live in the bottom of the American society. According to statistics released by the U.S. Census Bureau in August 2007, median income of black households was 61% of that for non-Hispanic white households. Median income for Hispanic households stood at 72% of that for non-Hispanic white households ......
... Violation of Human Rights in Other Countries ... United States has a notorious record of trampling on the sovereignty of and violating human rights in other countries.
The invasion of Iraq by American troops has produced the largest human rights tragedy and the greatest humanitarian disaster in modern world. It was reported that since the invasion in 2003, 660,000 Iraqis have died, of which 99% were civilians. That translates into a daily toll of 450 ....