WASHINGTON, DC - A coalition of Washington-area human rights organizations honored Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues co-founder Rep. John Edward Porter (R-IL) and human rights activist and friend of Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh, Kathryn Cameron Porter, with the Louis B. Sohn Award at the 2000 Human Rights Day Community Awards luncheon, December 8. The awards were presented to the Porters for their lifetime commitment to the education and promotion of human rights.

"On behalf of the Armenian Assembly, I congratulate and support the UN Association's selection of Congressman Porter and Kathryn Porter for this year's recipients of the Louis B. Sohn Award," Acting Executive Director Arpi Vartanian said. "Both have been instrumental in raising awareness of Armenian issues on Capitol Hill, across the country and around the world."

Rep. Porter, who is retiring from the House of Representatives this year, helped initiate the first-ever bipartisan Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, along with Congressman Frank Pallone (D-NJ) in January 1995. The Caucus was created to provide a forum for legislators to determine how the United States could best assist the newly independent Armenia, as it worked to rebuild following the devastating earthquake of 1988. The humanitarian crisis imposed on Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh by the blockades of Turkey and Azerbaijan has magnified the importance of the Caucus in supporting constructive legislation to address these and other issues of concern to Armenian-Americans.

After accepting his award, Rep. Porter spoke on the need for the US to apply even-handed pressure when looking at human rights abuses across the world. He referred to the double standard policy the US has regarding Turkey and China. "The US leans on China, but not Turkey. We need to look at not just the strategic placement of a country, but those who have a sharing of values to make allies," he said. "We must continue pressuring those countries who don't live up to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights." Porter stated that he plans to remain active in human rights issues upon his retirement from Congress.

The UN Association also honored Kathryn Cameron Porter, a longtime supporter of human rights issues. She currently serves as the President of the Human Rights Alliance, which she founded in order to preserve and advance international respect for individual freedoms and responsibilities, and the promotion of the universal declaration of human rights. In 1997, Kathryn Porter, who has made several trips to Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh, was presented with the Assembly's Distinguished Humanitarian Award for her service to the people of Nagorno Karabagh. Kathryn Porter was unable to attend the ceremony. A representative of the Human Rights Alliance accepted the award on her behalf.

Following the presentation of the Louis B. Sohn Awards, 35 other human rights advocates received the Human Rights Day Community Day Award. The Kurdish Human Rights Watch organization nominated Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues member Congressman Bob Filner (D-CA). Advocates representing organizations such as the American Bar Association, Amnesty International and St. Mary's Armenian Apostolic Church were also honored.

The luncheon was co-sponsored by the United Nations Association of the National Capital Area (UNANCA) and the United Nations Association of the United States of America (UNAUSA) Council of Organizations in conjunction with the Congressional Human Rights Caucus.