7/10/2006 2:11:00 PM

To: National Desk

Contact: Kim Alton of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, 202-662-8600

WASHINGTON, July 10 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Barbara R. Arnwine, executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, will testify today in Geneva before the United Nations Human Rights Committee concerning the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

As part of her testimony, Arnwine will urge the Human Rights Committee to call for an immediate termination of the U.S. government's efforts to continue to restrict minority person's inalienable right to vote through photo identification requirements and other hostile legislative actions.

In addition, Arnwine will urge the Human Rights Committee to reiterate its past observations and call for a probing examination by the U.S. government of its policies to protect the civil and political rights of its most vulnerable communities.

As part of her testimony, Arnwine will submit a report titled, "A Critical Assessment of the U.S. Commitment to Civil and Political Rights: Toward Securing Equality and Justice for All." The report provides insight into denials of civil rights in the U.S. and describes how such civil rights violations have affected different communities in the U.S. The Report also offers recommendations for actions to strengthen the government's current strategy for fulfilling its obligations under the ICCPR.

Arnwine is participating in the Human Rights Committee's 87th Session in Geneva. Reports submitted by the Governments of the United States, the Central African Republic, as well as the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo on measures taken to implement the ICCPR will be reviewed by the Human Rights Committee.

A copy of the Lawyers' Committee's Report can be found at http://www.lawyerscommittee.org. White & Case LLP provided pro bono assistance in the coordination and drafting of this report.

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The Lawyers' Committee is a nonpartisan, nonprofit civil rights legal organization, formed in 1963 at the request of President John F. Kennedy to provide legal services to address racial discrimination.