Human Rights News
Iraq and Iraqi Kurdistan FREE    Join the HRW Mailing List 
Human Rights Watch Letter to Kofi Annan

Related Material

Iraq: Human Rights Watch Mourns Death of Sergio Vieira de Mello
Press Release, August 19, 2003

Human Rights Watch Mourns Death of Refugee Advocate Arthur C. Helton
Press Release, August 20, 2003

Iraq: Attack on U.N. Headquarters Condemned
Press Release, August 19, 2003
August 20, 2003

Dear Mr. Secretary-General,

With enormous sadness, we write on behalf of the board and entire staff of Human Rights Watch to convey our deepest sympathy upon the loss of your Special Representative in Iraq and High Commissioner for Human Rights, Sergio Vieira de Mello and the other United Nations staff members who were killed or injured in the attack in Baghdad.

Sergio’s death is a terrible loss to his family, to the Iraqi people, to the United Nations and to the international community as a whole. But it is particularly devastating to the human rights and humanitarian communities to which he showed such vision, leadership and commitment.

Sergio was a true humanitarian, willing to risk his life to bring help and relief to those in need. It is a tragedy that he should fall victim to the type of war crime he fought so hard to prevent. He was one of a kind and will be acutely missed. We must all renew our commitment to protect human rights in these difficult days.

Please accept our deepest condolences.

Yours truly,
Jonathan F. Fanton
Chair Board of Directors
Kenneth Roth
Executive Director