Human Rights

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) met with political and human rights activists TatsianaKhomich, Volha Harbunova, and Valery Kavaleuski to discuss ways to release political prisoners in Belarus.  During the meeting, Senator Welch spoke with Ms. Khomich about her sister, Belarusian activist Maryia Kalesnikava. Ms. Kalesnikava was an…

Statement for the Congressional Recordon Juan LópezSenator Peter Welch (D-Vt.)September 18, 2024 Madam President, over the past six years, my office, and the office of my predecessor Senator Leahy, have received reports of recurring threats, attacks, arbitrary arrests, and assassinations of members of the Guapinol,…

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) today released the following statement on the release of Evan Gershkovich and Paul Whelan. Mr. Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter falsely convicted of espionage in a sham trial and sentenced to serve in a penal colony,…

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt) this week led eight of his colleagues, including Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) in…

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) today voted in support of Senate Resolution 504 offered by Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), directing the State Department to provide a human rights report under 502B(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act. Senator Welch released the following statement:  “I voted in support of…