2020 PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES RESPOND TO AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL USA’S HUMAN RIGHTS QUESTIONNAIRE

Amnesty International USA – the U.S. section of the global movement of Amnesty International – is the nation’s leading grassroots human rights organization, with over two million members and supporters in the United States. We believe that human rights should be at the forefront of our policy, regardless of who’s in power.

About this survey: Human rights should be at the forefront of our domestic and foreign policy. We invite 2020 presidential candidates to explain how they would address some of the most pressing human rights issues of our time.

In June 2019, we gave presidential candidates the opportunity to tell us how the United States should respond to some of the most pressing human rights issues at home and around the world – ranging from the global refugee crisis to the epidemic of gun violence in our communities.

13 candidates answered our questions. Here’s what they said:

Here are their answers by issue area


Active Candidates

Former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden delivers remarks at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, PA, United States
PHILADELPHIA, USA – MARCH 10: Former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden delivers remarks at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, PA, United States on March 10, 2020. (Photo by Kyle Mazza/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Joe Biden


FORMER U.S. VICE PRESIDENT (D-DE)


U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the media in the East Room of the White House
Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images

DONALD TRUMP


U.S. PRESIDENT (R)


Withdrawn Candidates

GettyImages-1188341243

Michael Bennet


US Senator (D-CO)


U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) speaks at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee Policy Conference.-
WASHINGTON, UNITED STATES – MARCH 02, 2020: U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) speaks at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee Policy Conference.- PHOTOGRAPH BY Michael Brochstein / Echoes Wire/ Barcroft Studios / Future Publishing (Photo credit should read Michael Brochstein / Echoes Wire/Barcroft Media via Getty Images)

CORY BOOKER


US Senator (D-NJ)


Former South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg announces he is ending his campaign to be the Democratic nominee for president
SOUTH BEND, INDIANA – MARCH 01: Former South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg announces he is ending his campaign to be the Democratic nominee for president during a speech at the Century Center on March 01, 2020 in South Bend, Indiana. Buttigieg was declared winner of the Iowa caucus after a confusing vote count but, yesterday finished fourth in the South Carolina primary. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Pete Buttigieg


Mayor of South Bend (D-IN)


Democratic presidential candidate, former Rep. John Delaney (D-MD) speaks at the New Hampshire Democratic Party Convention
MANCHESTER, NH – SEPTEMBER 07: Democratic presidential candidate, former Rep. John Delaney (D-MD) speaks at the New Hampshire Democratic Party Convention at the SNHU Arena on September 7, 2019 in Manchester, New Hampshire. Nineteen presidential candidates will be attending the New Hampshire Democratic Party convention for the state’s first cattle call before the 2020 primaries. (Photo by Scott Eisen/Getty Images)

JOHN DELANEY


Former congressman (D-MD)


Democratic presidential candidate U.S. Representative Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) holds a Town Hall meeting on Super Tuesday Primary night on March 3, 2020 in Detroit, Michigan.
DETROIT, MI – MARCH 03: Democratic presidential candidate U.S. Representative Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) holds a Town Hall meeting on Super Tuesday Primary night on March 3, 2020 in Detroit, Michigan. Gabbard, the first Samoan American and first Hindu elected to Congress, is one of two women left in the Democratic Primary, the other being Senator Elizabeth Warren. (Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)

Tulsi Gabbard


U.S. Representative (D-HI)


Democratic Presidential Candidate Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) speaks during a press conference on the Senate impeachment trial of President Donald Trump
WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 24: Democratic Presidential Candidate Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) speaks during a press conference on the Senate impeachment trial of President Donald Trump on January 24, 2020 in Washington, DC. Democratic House managers conclude their opening arguments on Friday as the Senate impeachment trial of President Donald Trump continues into its fourth day. (Photo by Samuel Corum/Getty Images)

KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND


US Senator (D-NY)


Democratic presidential candidate and Governor of Washington Jay Inslee speaks about climate change at the Council on Foreign Relations
NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 5: Democratic presidential candidate and Governor of Washington Jay Inslee speaks about climate change at the Council on Foreign Relations, June 5, 2019 in New York City. Inslee has made the issue of combatting climate change the central platform of his campaign and has sharply criticized the Trump administration’s lack of action on climate issues. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

JAY INSLEE


Governor, (D-Wa)


Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) holds a campaign rally at Salina Intermediate School
DEARBORN, MI – MARCH 07: Democratic presidential candidate Sen. (Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)

BERNIE SANDERS


US Senator (D-VT)


Democratic presidential candidate Tom Steyer speaks at the South Carolina Democratic Party
CHARLESTON, SC – FEBRUARY 24: Democratic presidential candidate Tom Steyer speaks at the South Carolina Democratic Party “First in the South” dinner on February 24, 2020 in Charleston, South Carolina. South Carolina holds its Democratic presidential primary on Saturday, February 29. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Tom Steyer


Philanthropist (D-NY)


U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) speaks as Acting Director of National Intelligence Joseph Maguire testifies before the House Select Committee on Intelligence in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill
WASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 26: U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) speaks as Acting Director of National Intelligence Joseph Maguire testifies before the House Select Committee on Intelligence in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill September 26, 2019 in Washington, DC. The committee questioned Maguire about a recent whistleblower complaint reportedly based on U.S. President Donald Trump pressuring Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate leading Democrats as “a favor” during a recent phone conversation. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Eric Swalwell


Congressman (D-CA)


Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) campaigns at the Seattle Center Armory
SEATTLE, WA – FEBRUARY 22: Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) campaigns at the Seattle Center Armory on February 22, 2020 in Seattle, Washington. Warren is campaigning in Seattle ahead of the Washington Democratic primary taking place on March 10. (Photo by Karen Ducey/Getty Images)

Elizabeth Warren


US Senator (D-MA)


Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang speaks during the 100 Club Dinner at SNHIU
MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE – FEBRUARY 08: Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang speaks during the 100 Club Dinner at SNHIU on February 08, 2020 in Manchester, New Hampshire. The 2020 New Hampshire primary will take place on February 11, making it the second nominating contest for the Democratic Party in choosing their presidential candidate to face Donald Trump in the 2020 general election. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

ANDREW YANG


Founder, Venture for America; (D-NY)


All major presidential candidates were given the opportunity to respond to this questionnaire. Amnesty International USA is a 501(c)(3) organization and does not endorse any specific candidate or campaign. We are a non-partisan, tax-exempt organization dedicated to upholding human rights for all people. For more information about candidates’ positions, please visit their individual campaign or party websites.

 

 

“Images credit: Getty Images.”