Murder Victims’ Families for Human Rights is an international, non-governmental organization of family members of victims of criminal murder, terrorist killings, state executions, extrajudicial assassinations, and “disappearances” working to oppose the death penalty from a human rights perspective.
MVFHR challenges the assumption that all families of murder victims support the death penalty and frames the death penalty as both a victims’ issue and a human rights issue. Through public education, advocacy, and organizing, we amplify the voices of victims’ families who oppose the death penalty and provide anti-death penalty campaigns with victims’ uniquely compelling testimony. As well, we draw attention to the ways in which the death penalty harms the families of those executed, and we seek to achieve recognition for these families as victims of traumatic loss.
Based in the United States, MVFHR’s work takes place both in the U.S. and in other countries and provinces around the world. MVFHR is a member of the steering committee of the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty and of the Anti-Death Penalty Asia Network, and we have a Japanese affiliate organization: Ocean.
Membership is open to all victims’ family members who oppose the death penalty in all cases. “Friend of MVFHR” membership is open to all those interested in joining our efforts. Membership forms are available.
Murder Victims Families for Human Rights board of directors president Bud Welch lost his daughter Julie at the Murrah Federal Building bombing in Oklahoma City, and became an outspoken opponent of the death penalty, meeting frequently with the father of convicted bomber Timothy McVeigh. He has testified before the U.S. Congress, State Senate and House Judiciary Committees and has addressed the British Parliament and the European Parliament as part of the Amnesty International Journey of Hope in Paris, London and Brussels. He was a participant in September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows 2006 International Conference and his group is currently a member of the International Network for Peace that grew out of that gathering.
Websites:
http://www.internationalnetworkforpeace.org/spip.php?rubrique236&lang=en
2161 Massachusetts Ave.
Cambridge, MA 02140
Telephone: (617) 491-9600
