Suffolk University

About MA House Bill 706
- HB 706 Newsletters
- Testimony

Testimony

Human Rights for All: A Massachusetts Initiative to Infuse Human Rights Standards & Values into State Law

We would again like to thank the many individuals who have dedicated their time and energy to the ongoing campaign to keep House Bill 706 moving forward. While all of the testimony offered was powerful, we have included just a few short highlights below as examples of what was presented to the Joint Judiciary Committee on June 7 th. We invite you to download the full text of each testimonial to appreciate the extent of the effort and dedication that is behind the Human Rights for All bill.

"Human rights brings a human-centered approach to evaluating government performance and ensuring that policies and programs are responsive, efficient and fair. . . . Anchoring our assessments of government performance in a model that centers human dignity and equality ensures that government fulfills its first and most significant obligation: to represent and serve the people. But it also dresses this lofty goal in sensible clothing that should appeal to all who support efficient and streamlined governance: e.g. a pro-active approach that seeks to identify problems and gaps before they squander resources and/or cause egregious harms."
—Barbara Schulman, former MA resident now co-coordinator of the New York City Human Rights Initiative

"The work on HB 706 recognizes that the citizens of the State of Massachusetts must be guaranteed basic economic and social rights standards in order to protect the liberty and dignity that every democracy owes to its citizens. . . . It cannot be a question of investing in education at the cost of protecting health, or investing in security at the cost of education--but rather solutions must emerge from a solid commitment to guarantee all fundamental rights."
—Catherine Albisa, executive director of the National Economic and Social Rights Initiative

"Passing HB 706 is an important step in bringing the state of Massachusetts in line with the UN Protocol to Prevent, Surppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, and other international human rights agreements. . . . I fervently urge the Massachusetts Joint Judiciary Committee to vote in favor of HB 706, to help our state regain its leadership role in the fight for human rights, and ensure not just the well-being, but the very survival of hundreds of thousands of women, children and men, both international and domestic victims of modern day slavery."
—Mei-Mei Ellerman, resident of Wellesley and coordinator of the Polaris Project Boston Chapter.