TAKE ACTION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

TELL THE US GOVERNMENT: HELP CIVILIANS HARMED BY US DRONE STRIKES

The U.S. Government claims it’s keeping Americans safe by using drones, air strikes and Special Forces operations to kill people it calls “militants” or “terrorists” around the world. But in reality, it has killed thousands of civilians, usually without explanation or any effort to compensate survivors or their families for their devastating losses.

The U.S. Government claims to investigate civilian killings caused by its military actions, but it also seems to assume that the people killed are “militants” or “terrorists” when they are actually civilians.

Under international law, the U.S. Government in a recognized armed conflict may only kill members of the armed forces of a party to the conflict. If it’s not clear whether certain individuals are combatants, then the government must presume they are civilians. And outside of an armed conflict zone, everyone is a civilian: the government can only kill individuals who pose an imminent threat to human life.

Unfortunately, the U.S. Government does not acknowledge the applicability of international human rights law to its actions abroad. It has also refused to disclose how it is interpreting international law as it relates to its use of lethal force. And it has refused to explain how it decides someone is a “militant” or “terrorist” that the U.S. can kill.

What is clear, however, is that the US has killed thousands of civilians in recent years, with little explanation and no accountability. Those victims continue to suffer today, without acknowledgement or reparation from the U.S. government.

Take Action Now: Tell the U.S. Government to meaningfully investigate claims of civilian casualties, and to help civilians who have been harmed.

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Secretary Austin

Lloyd

Austin

Department of Defense

Dear Secretary Austin:

Since early 2017, thousands of people have been killed by the U.S. government — by drones, fighter jets and Special Forces — including, reportedly, thousands of civilians. Yet there has been almost no accountability for these killings, or compensation to survivors and their communities, who have suffered tremendously as a result. The U.S. can’t fight “terrorism” by killing unnamed people around the world and assaulting human rights.

I am deeply concerned and call on the U.S. military to ensure that:

· The U.S. does not attack civilians, and takes all feasible precautions to protect civilians during armed conflict;
· The U.S targets only combatant members of the armed forces of a party to a recognized armed conflict, and presumes civilian status when status is unclear;
· The U.S. commits to follow international human rights law and refrain from killing anyone outside armed conflict zones who does not pose an imminent threat to human life;
· The U.S. investigates all allegations of civilian casualties or unlawful killings by U.S. forces in a timely manner and publishes the details concerning these killings, including dates, times, locations, weapons used and intended targets;
· Where investigations reveal unlawful action, the U.S. holds the responsible parties accountable;
· The U.S. publicly acknowledges the scale of the loss of civilian lives and destruction of property resulting from U.S. and U.S.-led Coalition strikes;
· The U.S. provides reparations for violations of the laws of war, and compensation or other assistance to all civilian victims and their families; and
· The U.S. reveals the legal and policy framework that governs its use of lethal force, both within and outside of armed conflict zones.

The U.S. government will not protect American families by killing other people’s families around the world, without justification, accountability and assistance to those wrongfully harmed. The American people should be given a clear explanation and accountability for what’s being done in their name.

Yours sincerely,

{user_data~First Name} {user_data~Last Name}

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