Introduction
In recent years, the United States has increasingly demonstrated a disregard for the fundamental human rights of its own citizens. As someone who has personally faced the repercussions of a broken legal system that routinely violates international law, I feel compelled to highlight these issues on a global stage. This blog aims to address how American citizens, not just foreign nations, need the intervention of international bodies like the United Nations to restore justice, protect human rights, and hold the U.S. accountable for its violations of both domestic and international laws.
U.S. Government’s Human Rights Violations
America often touts itself as the land of the free, but my experience, like that of countless others, proves otherwise. According to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the United States is bound by international obligations to protect the dignity and safety of its citizens. Yet, it consistently violates these agreements, particularly through its system of mass incarceration, racial profiling, extrajudicial killings by law enforcement, and forced prison labor.
One glaring example of this is the U.S. practice of forcing prisoners to work for little or no pay under harsh conditions. This practice is a direct violation of the International Labor Organization’s Convention No. 29 on Forced Labor, as well as Article 23 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The U.S. government has effectively created a modern-day system of slavery within its prison industrial complex, primarily targeting marginalized communities like African Americans and other minorities.
In my own case, after being wrongfully convicted, I was subjected to these unconstitutional practices. As someone who served time in Arizona’s Department of Corrections, I witnessed firsthand how incarcerated individuals were forced into labor under conditions that blatantly ignored international labor laws. Despite constitutional protections against involuntary servitude, especially under the 13th Amendment, which ostensibly abolished slavery, these practices persist unchecked. The prison labor system exemplifies how the U.S. government bends the law to suit its economic interests, at the expense of human rights.
Lawmakers as Lawbreakers
The troubling reality is that those in charge of upholding the law in the U.S. are often the ones breaking it. In the 2016 Grand Jury proceedings that led to my wrongful conviction, Deputy County Attorney David R. Foster engaged in prosecutorial misconduct, presenting one-sided evidence based on falsehoods. He, along with Detective Marchele Miller, provided false testimony in order to secure an indictment. This not only violated my rights under the U.S. Constitution but also under international law.
The U.S. legal system’s disregard for its own laws is systemic. Police brutality, often referred to as “extrajudicial killings” in other countries, runs rampant in America. In 2022 alone, over 1,200 Americans were killed by law enforcement officers . These extrajudicial killings are a violation of both the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Yet, instead of facing consequences, the individuals and institutions responsible for these crimes often escape accountability.
This lack of accountability extends far beyond individual actors. The entire structure of the U.S. legal system is weaponized against its citizens, particularly people of color. Laws meant to protect citizens from abuses of power are ignored or manipulated to serve the interests of those in power. For example, the Statute of Limitations—a law originally designed to protect individuals from stale legal claims—has been twisted into a tool that prevents legitimate grievances from being heard in court. This is something I experienced personally when my own case was derailed on technicalities, rather than being judged on its merits. Despite international laws emphasizing the right to a fair trial, such as Article 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the U.S. courts help the state evade responsibility by using these technicalities.
Mass Incarceration: A Global Outlier
The United States accounts for approximately 5% of the world’s population but houses 25% of the world’s incarcerated individuals . This staggering figure is not just a statistical anomaly; it is a human rights crisis. The U.S. prison system disproportionately targets African Americans and other minorities, in violation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. The system’s racial bias permeates every level, from policing to prosecution to sentencing.
In my own wrongful conviction, racial bias played a significant role. Despite having no valid evidence, I was targeted due to the color of my skin, my background, and my national origin. The courts allowed hearsay evidence and false testimony to be used against me, flouting not only the U.S. Constitution but also international human rights standards.
The international community has long condemned such practices. In a 2020 report by the UN Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Racism, the United States was criticized for its “deeply entrenched racial disparities” in the criminal justice system. Yet, these criticisms have not led to meaningful change within the country, largely because the U.S. wields significant power within the United Nations, preventing effective intervention.
Voter Suppression and the Disenfranchisement of Minorities
Beyond the criminal justice system, the U.S. government also violates international law through its systematic disenfranchisement of minority voters. The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights both guarantee the right to participate in free and fair elections. However, voter suppression tactics, such as gerrymandering, restrictive voter ID laws, and the purging of voter rolls, disproportionately affect African Americans and other marginalized groups.
These tactics have been widely documented, particularly in states like Georgia and Texas, where recent elections have been marred by accusations of voter suppression. In 2018, for example, Georgia purged over 500,000 voters from its rolls, the majority of whom were African American . These actions violate not only international human rights law but also the fundamental principles of democracy. Yet, the very lawmakers responsible for enforcing these laws are the ones orchestrating these violations.
The Need for UN Intervention
The U.S. government’s systemic violations of both domestic and international law have left its citizens with little recourse. The mechanisms for justice within the U.S. are often the very tools used to oppress the people. This is why international intervention is crucial. The United Nations was created to hold countries accountable for violations of international law, yet the U.S. continues to dominate the UN, preventing it from fulfilling its role.
As someone who has been deeply affected by these abuses, I firmly believe that the United Nations must intervene in the United States. The U.S. has a long history of condemning human rights abuses in other countries, yet it remains silent on its own violations. International bodies like the UN must hold the U.S. accountable for its crimes, just as they do with other nations.
We, the people of the United States, need the support of the international community. We are not exempt from international law simply because we live in America. We must demand that our rights be protected, and if our own government refuses to do so, we must turn to the global community for help. It is time for the United Nations and its 192 member states to step in and defend the human rights of American citizens.
Conclusion: The Path Forward
My experience within the U.S. legal system has shown me that the lawmakers in America are often lawbreakers themselves. The very mechanisms designed to protect our rights have been weaponized against us. The United Nations must act on behalf of the American people, as we cannot rely solely on a system that is built to oppress rather than protect.
This is not just about preventing America’s international crimes—it is about protecting the rights of its own citizens. The U.S. must be held accountable, and only through international intervention can we hope to see real change. As citizens, we must demand justice, not just within our borders, but on the global stage.
In the fight for human dignity and justice, we cannot stand alone. We need the support of the world to hold America accountable for its systemic violations of human rights.
Until Next Time…
I Am,
Ewing Redmond Samuels III
Citations:
- International Labor Organization. (1930). Forced Labor Convention (No. 29).
- United Nations General Assembly. (1948). Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
- United Nations. (1965). International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.
- United Nations Human Rights Committee. (1966). International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
- Mapping Police Violence Project. (2022). Annual Report.
- World Prison Brief. (2022). United States Incarceration Statistics.
- Brennan Center for Justice. (2018). Georgia Voter Purges and Suppression Report.