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The Center for Constitutional Rights issued the following news release:
Today, on the 10-year anniversary of the invasion of Iraq, a group of U.S. veterans of the Iraq war and two Iraqi organizations launched the "Right to Heal" campaign, seeking concrete action by the U.S. government to address the human rights and health impacts of the U.S.-led invasion and occupation of Iraq.
The U.S.-based Iraq Veterans Against the War, the Iraq-based Organization of Women's Freedom in Iraq and Federation of Workers Councils and Unions in Iraq, represented by the New York-based Center for Constitutional Rights, joined together with a filing to the Organization of American States' Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), an action outside of the White House with testimonials by veterans and Iraqis, and the launch of a new website, to press their case for justice and reparations for the human rights impacts on all sides of the war.
"The war is not over for veterans and their families who are dealing with its aftermath as a result of the loss of loved ones, or in the form of PTSD, traumatic brain injuries and other war wounds both visible and invisible; and it's certainly far from over for communities in Iraq still reeling from the devastating and awful effects of this illegal war," said Maggie Martin, Organizing Director of Iraq Veterans Against the War. "We're joining with those in Iraq whose lives have also been changed forever to envision a new way forward that reaffirms our shared human dignity and reprioritizes the value of human life and well-being."
The IACHR petition details the harm and trauma suffered by both U.S. veterans and Iraqis. It is the first of its kind to address the war, the harm to those sent to fight the war and the harm to those against whom the war was waged in...