"I realize that America's critics will be quick to point out that at times we too have failed to live up to our ideals," President Barack Obama said in his address to the United Nations in New York on Tuesday, September 24th.
"And that America has plenty of problems within our own borders."
And boy, does the United Nations know. The UN Human Rights Committee published a public review of the United States' civil rights performance along with recommendations in late March of this year.
The report's introduction by the United Nations praises the United States for "the many efforts undertaken, and the progress made in protecting civil and political rights."
Although, through the next ten pages, the human rights group gives constructive criticism to the United States government along with recommendations on each issue they have concerns about.
The review is regularly conducted of UN member countries. These observations from the human rights group is the fourth report for the United States of America.
1. Accountability for past human rights violations
The UN expects more "investigations, prosecutions and convictions" of those involved in the United States' history of "unlawful killings in its international operations and the use of torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment of detainees in U.S. custody, including outside its territory."
Despite the government shutting down the CIA's secret detention and interrogation programs, they are disappointed in how investigations in their "enforced disappearances, torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment" were conducted.
2. Issues of race across the nation
The Human Rights Committee commends the new effort to limit and reform New York City's "stop and frisk" program, all the while not too enthusiastic with how law enforcement organizations are targeting certain races and ethnic groups.
They recommend that the U.S. government should "eliminate racial profiling by federal, state and local" groups and "abolish all 'stop and frisk' practices."
They also comment on how there are "racial disparities in the criminal justice system" across different judicial levels in the United States.
3. Surveillance by the NSA
After Edward Snowden's massive revelations on the government's programs in surveillance, the UN group recommends the U.S. government make sure surveillance activities conducted in the country and abroad are suitable in terms of the right to privacy.
They also urgently call for more "strong and independent oversight" in order to "prevent abuses." They recommend that surveillance laws should be "publicly accessible."
4. Drones
With the lack of transparency, reasoning of targeted attacks and low amount of accountability in how the United States uses drones across the world, the Human Rights Committee is worried about how it can further expand.
They state they would like more clarification on America's "very broad approach to the definition and the geographical scope of an armed conflict, including the end of hostilities," citing that the nation should share more about its drone program and specify its justification and usage of armed drones.
5. Rights of the people
"The persistence of state-level felon disenfranchisement laws, its disproportionate impact on minorities, and the lengthy and cumbersome state voting restoration procedures" are all voting rights issues the committee mention on the United States.
They also worry that indigenous people are not being given their rights to preserve "their religious, cultural and spiritual practices." They encourage better conversation between the government and these populations in order to serve the interest of these communities.
6. Justice, jailing and Gitmo
Punishment of children "in schools, penal institutions, the home and all forms of child care at federal, state and local levels" and "juvenile justice and life without parole sentences" are strong and worrying concerns by the committee.
Other concerns include the U.S. death penalty and criminalization of homelessness.
They also look down on the United States' conditions of detention and use of solitary confinement. The body encourages changes on how the country uses these two punishment tactics.
The detainees at Gitmo - also known as Guantánamo Bay in Cuba - are also of strong concern among members of the committee. They encourage that there should be "immediate release" of the detainees and "the closure of the Guantánamo facility."
7. Immigration and refugees
The UN Committee for Human Rights suggests that the country better their immigration practices and citizenship for undocumented immigrants.
Their concern lies on how there is "mandatory detention of immigrants for prolonged periods of time without regard to the individual case."
And they don't prefer how there isn't health care provided for undocumented immigrant families residing lawfully in the country. They say these populations should get "adequate health care."
They suggest that the U.S. work to better their practices of "extradition, expulsion, transfer or return" of persons to other countries in order to better treatment of refugees.
8. National policing
The United States should "step up its efforts to prevent the excessive use of force by law enforcement officers," the UN committee states. They refer to taser usage, shootings and an impact on certain races.
They encourage strong and effective follow-up investigations if there are any events of "excessive force of use" by these enforcement groups in the country.
As a side note, the committee also comments on the lack of legislation prohibiting torture, including mental torture, in the States by either officials, persons under the government or by citizens.
9. Violence
Curbing gun violence "through the continued pursuit of legislation" is encouraged by the committee. They say "Stand Your Ground Laws" should be reviewed.
Members of the human rights group push for the U.S. to "strengthen measures to prevent and combat domestic violence."
They also encourage more "efforts to combat trafficking" in both labor and sexual exploitation.
Note: This list is in no particular order of any kind.
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