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Human Rights
The protection of fundamental human rights was a
foundation stone in the establishment of the United States over 200 years
ago. Since then, a central goal of U.S. foreign policy has been the
promotion of respect for human rights, as embodied in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The
United States understands that the existence of human rights helps secure
the peace, deter aggression, promote the rule of law, combat crime and
corruption, strengthen democracies, and prevent humanitarian crises.
Because the promotion of human rights is an important
national interest, the United States seeks to:
- Hold governments accountable to their obligations under
universal human rights norms and international human rights instruments;
- Promote greater respect for human rights, including
freedom from torture, freedom of expression, press freedom, women's
rights, children's rights, and the protection of minorities;
- Promote the rule of law, seek accountability, and
change cultures of impunity;
- Assist efforts to reform and strengthen the
institutional capacity of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for
Human Rights and the UN Commission on Human Rights; and
- Coordinate human rights activities with important
allies, including the EU, and regional organizations.
Through its Offices of Promotion of Human
Rights and Democracy, Multilateral Affairs, and Country Reports and
Asylum Affairs, the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL)
applies three key principles to its work on human rights:
First, DRL strives to learn the
truth and state the facts in all of its human rights
investigations, reports on country conditions, speeches and votes in
the UN, and asylum profiles. Each year, DRL develops, edits, and
submits to Congress a 5,000-page report on human rights conditions
in 194 countries that is respected globally for its objectivity and
accuracy. DRL also provides relevant information on country
conditions to the Immigration and Naturalization Service and
immigration judges in asylum cases.
Second, DRL takes consistent positions
concerning past, present, and future abuses. With regard to past
abuses, it actively promotes accountability. To stop ongoing abuses,
the bureau uses an "inside-outside" approach that combines vigorous,
external focus on human rights concerns (including the possibility
of sanctions) with equally robust support for internal reform. To
prevent future abuses, it promotes early warning and preventive
diplomacy. Each year DRL ensures that human rights considerations
are incorporated into U.S. military training and security assistance
programs; promotes the rights of women through international
campaigns for political participation and full equality; conducts
high-level human rights dialogues with other governments;
coordinates U.S. policy on human rights with key allies; and raises
key issues and cases through diplomatic and public channels.
Third, DRL forges and
maintains partnerships with organizations, governments, and
multilateral institutions committed to human rights. The bureau
takes advantage of multilateral fora to focus international
attention on human rights problems and to seek correction. Each
year, DRL provides significant technical, financial, or staff
support for U.S. delegations to the annual meetings of several
international human rights organizations; conducts regular
consultations with Native American tribes and serves as the
Secretary's principal advisor on international indigenous rights
issues; maintains relations with the UN High Commissioner on Human
Rights; and supports the creation of effective multilateral human
rights mechanisms and institutions for accountability.
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