I am writing to you about legislation being considered by the British Government. It is often said that the United States and the British Government share a special relationship, and it is time to hold our partners to account.
The legislation is called "Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill" and it is currently being considered in the House of Lords. If passed, it would prevent victims of the conflict and their families from accessing criminal courts, inquests, and human rights compliant investigations and civil proceedings.
It is opposed by every political party in the North of Ireland, the Irish Government, Amnesty International, the Ad Hoc Committee to Protect the Good Friday Agreement, the United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs, the United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, the Oireachtas (Irish Parliament) Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, and many others.
We have a responsibility to ensure that our partners honor their commitments and operate in a manner that conforms with international law.
I am asking you to demand that the British Government:
* return to working jointly with the Irish government
* honor the Stormont Agreement of 2014
* scrap this legislation
* end unilateral action in the area of legacy, truth, and justice.
Sincerely,
