Co-sponsored by International People’s Tribunal Against U.S. Imperialism, Zone of Peace Campaign, Black Alliance for Peace, Friends of the ATC Nicaragua, Nicaragua Solidarity Coalition, Venezuela Solidarity Network, National Network on Cuba, United National Antiwar Coalition, CODEPINK, Friends of Latin America, Diaspora P’lante Collective (updated 12/3/24)
Human Rights Day is observed annually around the world on December 10, the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which enshrines rights that everyone is entitled to as a human being. This Human Rights Day, we are horrified that the genocidal terror on Gaza is not only continuing, but spreading throughout the region. We demand that the killing stop! Many people are unaware, however, that thousands of Palestinians were being killed prior to the start of the Gaza war in October of 2023 due to the economic coercive measures (“sanctions”) imposed on them by Israel and the United States. Sanctions prevented the reconstruction and maintenance of crucial infrastructure, severely limiting the availability of clean drinking water and of electricity for hospital services, while the entry of food and medicines was also restricted. 98% of Gaza’s water was unfit for human consumption, causing rampant waterborne illnesses which were responsible for 12% of childhood deaths. Yes, sanctions kill!
The United States is currently imposing such economic coercive measures on 40 countries, accounting for one-third of the world’s population. So, this Human Rights Day, we demand an end to economic coercive measures! Sanctioned countries are insisting on an end to these measures that violate their peoples’ right to development. There is a growing movement to enshrine this right in a convention on the right to development. So, this Human Rights Day, we say: “human rights = right to development.”
We advocate for people-centered human rights, such as the right to education, healthcare, housing, adequate food, clean water and peace — rights that are respected in Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela. These countries have also taken a principled stance in international fora to stop the genocide underway in Gaza. Regrettably, this has caused them to be further targeted with economic warfare by Israel and the United States. This Human Rights Day, we demand that countries not be punished for upholding international law, and we demand people-centered human rights in the U.S.
December 1-15: Social media blitz
Help us raise awareness about the human rights impacts impacts of economic coercive measures on some 40 countries today. Check out our social media blitz on Sanctions Kill’s Instagram, Twitter and Facebook pages and share our posts widely before and during our Week of Actions.
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- Mobilize for action on social media using the Americas Without Sanctions Toolkit
- Post your local actions on social media and tag Sanctions Kill (Instagram: @sanctions_kill / Twitter: @KillSanctions / Facebook: @SanctionsKill)
- To join our social media workgroup, email aws@sanctionskill.org
December 9-15: Week of local actions
Join us in organizing banner drops, leafleting, teach-ins and local events to raise awareness about how economic coercive measures punish entire populations and violate human rights. Here are some actions you can take:
- Sign our petition to Congress
- Endorse the Sanctions Kill Campaign
- Endorse Americas Without Sanctions
- Join Americas Without Sanctions
- Organize a sanctions teach-in
- Find or announce an event near you
December 10: Forum on Human Rights in Palestine, Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela
This Human Rights Day, join us for a forum featuring diplomats from three Latin American countries and representatives of the Sanctions Kill/Americas Without Sanctions Campaign, Zone of Peace Campaign and International People’s Tribunal. Register (in person or online)
Time: 4 pm PT / 6 pm CT / 7 pm ET
Location: Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church (1518 M Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20005)
Event type: Hybrid
December 11: Advocacy Day: Petition Delivery & Rally for Cuba
Join us for a petition delivery to Congress calling for an end to U.S. sanctions on our Latin American and Caribbean neighbors followed by a rally in front of the White House to tell the Biden Administration to remove Cuba from the State Sponsors of Terrorism (SSOT) list!
Register for our petition delivery to receive information about our meeting location and time.
Time: 1-7 pm ET (petition delivery followed by rally)
Location: Petition delivery meeting point TBA with registrants (rally will be in front of the White House)
Event type: In-person
The Americas Without Sanctions campaign, part of SanctionsKill, raises awareness about the impact of coercive measures on governments in Latin America and the Caribbean that the U.S. has targeted for regime change — Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela — and advocates for the removal of those measures.
To endorse this week of actions, email aws@sanctionskill.org.