All the way to the USA

In November, our Director, Torrin Wilkins, and Deputy Director, Jasneet Samrai, visited the headquarters of Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights in Washington, D.C. Founded after the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy in 1968, the organisation continues Kennedy’s legacy by advocating for justice, equality, and human rights around the world. The organisation is currently led by human rights lawyer and activist Kerry Kennedy, his daughter, and Ethel Kennedy, his widow and the organisation’s founder

Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights works on a wide range of issues, including ending mass incarceration, promoting racial justice, ending gender-based violence, and protecting civic space. The organisation defends the rights to dissent, hold leaders accountable, and speak truth to power.

Their work includes strategic litigation, where they represent individuals whose cases raise broad or systemic human rights issues. They also present the Ripple of Hope Award, which has recently been awarded to the U.S. House Select Committee on January 6th, and in previous years to President Joe Biden, Tim Cook, Hillary Clinton, and Taylor Swift.

During our visit, we met with Wade McMullen, the Senior Vice President of Programs and Legal Strategy at RFK Human Rights. Our discussion focused on justice reform, human rights, and the key differences between the UK and U.S. legal systems.

We explored our shared goals for reforming justice systems, as well as the events, publications, and articles we have produced on the subject.

We also discussed the troubling direction of current justice policy debates in both the UK and the U.S., particularly the rise in extreme rhetoric and polarisation. Our conversation highlighted the need for collaboration between organisations and countries to reverse these trends and promote fairer, evidence-based policies.

Both the UK and the U.S. face serious challenges when it comes to justice and human rights. With upcoming elections in both countries, the future direction of these issues hangs in the balance.

We would like to thank Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights for their warm welcome and for taking the time to meet with us. We look forward to continuing the conversation and building partnerships to support justice reform and human rights advocacy.