Concluding National Jericho Report 

on the 53rd Session 

at the Convention against Torture

Geneva, Switzerland

November 10 – 14, 2014

Submitted by: Jihad Abdulmumit

The National Jericho Movement extends its sincere thanks and gratitude to the United States Human Rights Network (USHRN)(http://www.ushrnetwork.org/ ) for awarding Jihad Abdulmumit a full scholarship to go to the 53rd Session of the United Nations Committee Review of United States’ Compliance with the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT). Leading up to this Review, Jihad Abdulmumit served as group leader for the Political Prisoner Task Group, whose participation consisted mostly of Jericho members, and later, attorneys and representatives from other community organizations who joined in as the process developed. Attorney Standish Willis played an invaluable role in pioneering and guiding Jericho’s involvement in this international initiative.

Jihad Abdulmumit, Chairperson of the National Jericho Movement and Efia Nwangaza, Director of the Malcolm X Center for Self-Determination submitted “Shadow Reports” to the UN Committee and formally presented before the full Committee. They were supported by Dhoruba bin Wahad, Institute for the Development of Pan-African Policy, who presented before the informal session and answered questions asked by the UN Committee, and Glen Ford, Executive Editor of the Black Agenda Report, who steadily captured the moments with his ink pen sword.

The two Blogs previously submitted captured much of the events relating to Political Prisoners as they unfolded. This concluding Report seeks to highlight several lessons learned and offers suggestions moving forward.

The USHRN is a viable mechanism to introduce the issue of US held political prisoners to the world, as well as seek redress, present related issues of lack of medical treatment, solitary confinement, physical and mental abuse, denial of parole, and long term sentences, etc. 

Organizations that focus on other issues such as mass incarcerations, police brutality, racism and discrimination, repressive legislation, etc. also have access to the USHRN. Jericho will continue to work more closely with the USHRN and make information on how to join and utilize this powerful mechanism for human rights known to as many people and organizations possible. The USHRN is also a vehicle for building components of a strong human rights movement. 

At the CAT Review, although the words “political prisoners” were not uttered by the UN Committee themselves, the core issues impacting our political prisoners which appeared in both Jihad Abdulmumit’s  and Efia Nwangaza’s Shadow Reports, were embraced by the UN Committee and posed as questions for the US to answered. These issues included, 1) lack of access to proper medical care and treatment, 2) long term solidarity, and 3) lengthy sentences and repeated denial of parole or probation.

Presenting internationally to the UN, or to any other government body, also allows Jericho to network inside and outside of the USHRN.

Any international effort must be tied inextricably in to a nationally strategy. In Jericho’s case, that national strategy would be the National Coalition for a Truth and Reconciliation Commission (NCTRC) – an idea coming into fruition by Dr, Mutulu.

Jericho will follow up and network with the dozens of contacts that were made in Geneva and attempt to clue folks in on the TRC initiative.

Jihad’s Working Group on political prisoners will continue to function, now in preparation for the UPR in the spring.

Jericho will organize to send a delegation to the Universal Periodic Review in the spring. Members, friends, and collaborations will be informed of the process and encouraged to go to Geneva, Switzerland to advocate before the UN and network to build on their issues.  

For any future updates, please reference www.thejerichomovemnt.com.  Updates will be sent to all of our Political Prisoners.

Submitted by: Jihad Abdulmumit