WASHINGTON - More than 500 people packed into Gaston Hall at Georgetown University, USA where the issue of human rights took centre stage during a three-hour conference on Tuesday.

|PIC1|Entitled Bipartisan Conference on Human Rights: Uncommon Leadership for Common Values, the conference involved politicians and leaders of Christian and humanitarian groups who joined in four separate panel discussions on critical issues that have drawn the urgent attention of the world, including human trafficking, refugees and the displaced, genocide and religious liberty.

"We can't ignore it," said U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.), "because we know what's going on. We know this exists."

Brownback, who co-convened the event with former U.S. Secretary of State Dr. Madeleine K. Albright, spoke in the first panel on the ever-increasing crime of human trafficking along with U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Gary Haugen, president and CEO of International Justice Mission.

With millions of people victimized under human rights abuses in such countries as Darfur, Sudan, North Korea and Burma, nearly all panel discussions exhorted the call to action.

While political parties stand at opposite ends on nearly every issue put on the table, as Dr. Richard Land, president of Ethic's and Religious Liberty Commission, noted, there is "absolute solidarity" on both parties on the issue of "universal, human value."

In addition to action on the part of the government, Nina Shea, director of Freedom House's Center for Religious Freedom, said there is "no success without grassroots involvement," during the final topic discussion on religious liberty.

Active human rights groups and students expressed concern over the need to spread awareness and promote greater action on protecting the victims whose cries are waiting to be answered.

|TOP|Human trafficking affects an estimated 800,000 victims – mainly women and children – each year; nearly 33 million people have been uprooted, either labeled as refugees or internally displaced persons; genocide in Darfur, Sudan has claimed the lives of 2 million people since 2003; and millions more suffer from religious persecution.

"The historical reality is that where religious freedom is denied, so too are other basic human rights," said a released conference statement.

Informing the attendants of the formula to take action in making a difference in even one person's life, retired General Wesley Clark listed "knowledge," "public outrage" and "a framework for initial engagement."

Similarly, Haugen stressed to the audience the vitality of "what it is you actually do with the knowledge you now know."

As panelists painted the picture of human rights abuses into reality, the large crowd of students and other attendants were called not only to bring such issues to the attention of others, but to "do something" as people blessed in the nation of America.

"Leave uncomfortable and act," concluded Brownback.

Conference organizers include Freedom House, U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, International Crisis Group, International Justice Mission and International Rescue Committee.






Lillian Kwon
Christian Today Correspondent