Human Rights

Congressman Wolf speaks about his initial interest in Human Rights (3:21)

"To prisoners of conscience throughout the world, take heart; you have not been forgotten. We, your brothers and sisters in God, have made your cause our cause, and we vow never to relent until you have regained the freedom that is your birthright as a child of God." – President Ronald Reagan

Defending human rights, thereby giving a voice to the voiceless, has long been a priority during my service in the U.S. House of Representatives. In order for America to truly be the “shining city on a hill” envisioned by our founders, we must continually affirm that we stand for the defenseless, champion liberty and confront injustice the world over.

I am co-chairman of the bipartisan Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission. This position gives me a greater capacity to monitor human rights abuses and religious persecution throughout the world. I am thankful for the opportunity to continue to draw attention to egregious violations of human rights worldwide.

Human Rights Spotlight

Addressing the Humanitarian Crisis
in South Sudan

I recently received disturbing reports that conditions are rapidly deteriorating in the Yida Refugee Camp in South Sudan and across the border in the Nuba mountains. I wrote to President Obama asking the administration to do more to address the humanitarian crisis before it becomes catastrophic.

Read my May 25 letter to President Obama

Read my June 7 letter to President Obama

Click here to watch a video documentary about the deteriorating conditions in the Nuba mountains.

2012 Trip to Sudan: Yida Refugee Camp

I traveled to South Sudan, the world's newest nation, on February 19 - 21 to observe the situation there and in order to make a number of policy recommendations at the conclusion of my trip. My interest and involvement in Sudan has spanned over two decades. I have traveled to Sudan six times since 1989, including in July 2004 when I was the first member of the House of Representatives to visit Darfur, the violence-ravaged western region of Sudan. The unfolding human rights crisis I witnessed with my own eyes would come to be recognized by the world as genocide.

Since that time, the situation has become more dire. These conditions served as the backdrop for my trip. I felt it was critical to see with my own eyes what was happening and then shine a bright light on this unfolding humanitarian crisis. I also want to formulate policy recommendations that could help save lives and engage in oversight, in my capacity as a member of the State Foreign Operations Appropriations subcommittee, which funds the United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan (UNMISS), the World Food Program, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and other humanitarian assistance programs.

READ MY FULL TRIP REPORT

Read recent articles by New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof on the conflict in Sudan:

WATCH ANN CURRY'S SPECIAL ON NBC FOLLOWING HER TRIP TO SUDAN.

I have also strongly urged the president to dispatch former Secretary of State Colin Powell to Sudan to attempt to secure a peaceful resolution of the crisis and salvage the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in the weeks remaining before South Sudan becomes an independent nation. I am afraid Sudan could plunge into another major war if a peaceful resolution is not soon found.

Read my letter to the President.

Click on a country below for trip reports and more information: