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Statement of Timothy Cooper
Executive Director, Worldrights
OSCE/ODHIR Human Dimension Implementation Meeting
Warsaw, Poland September 19, 2005

Mr. Chairman, distinguished Ambassadors:

Four years ago, I came before this body to address the fact that 570,000 residents of Washington, DC- America's capital city- are denied equal representation in their own national legislature- that they are, for all intents and purposes, political subjects of an all-powerful State- rather than true and equal citizens living free.

Four years later, our status has not changed. We remain subjects of the State. We still live in one of the world's most undemocratic cities. It has been 200 years, and counting.

And yet, much has also changed. We owe our new, good fortunes to the generous support of the international community. And for this we say: Thank you.

The Organization of American States has issued a landmark legal decision declaring our political status an international human rights violation. ODHIR has stated that the US must ensure our "equal voter rights". And the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly unanimously passed a resolution calling on the US Congress to grant us the same.

Nothing could be clearer. The US violates international standards every day it fails to remedy the violations.

Yet the US has failed to acknowledge, let alone act to remedy, the violations. The US Mission in Vienna refers to our lack of equal voting rights as a "supposed disenfranchisement." It is as though the US believes that it can break its OSCE promises with complete impunity. Either that or it is in a state of complete denial.

Mr. Chairman, distinguished Ambassadors, no nation is above the law. The time has come for the OSCE- at all levels- to unequivocally say: America: Keep your OSCE promises.

While commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Polish Solidarity Movement this month, President Bush said this: "Those striving for democratic rights need our support."

Mr. Chairman, distinguished Ambassadors, our government has steadfastly refused to support our democratic rights, so we have turned to you. We ask you to stand with us in solidarity-like the free world once stood with Solidarity- and to call on the US-one by one- to honor its democracy promises at the Permanent Council.

Secondly, we entreat you to take the most important step of all- to take a decision at the Ministerial Council on our behalf. US OSCE Ambassador Finley- who is herself a disenfranchised resident of Washington and therefore a political subject of an all-powerful State, rather than a true and equal citizen living free- has stated, "the OSCE can help to bring bright futures to places where people still yearn to be free and equal."

Mr. Chairman, distinguished Ambassadors, the people of Washington, DC still yearn to be free and equal. For each and every one of them, including Ambassador Finley, we implore you to stand with us in solidarity and make history.

Thank you.