| |  Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
"The survival of liberty in our land increasingly depends on the success of liberty in other lands. The best hope for peace in our world is the expansion of freedom in all the world."
President George W. Bush
Inaugural Speech
January 20, 2005
Promoting freedom and democracy and protecting human rights around the world are central to U.S. foreign policy. The values captured in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in other global and regional commitments are consistent with the values upon which the United States was founded centuries ago. The United States supports those persons who long to live in freedom and under democratic governments that protect universally accepted human rights. The United States uses a wide range of tools to advance a freedom agenda, including bilateral diplomacy, multilateral engagement, foreign assistance, reporting and public outreach, and economic sanctions. The United States is committed to working with democratic partners, international and regional organizations, non-governmental organizations, and engaged citizens to support those seeking freedom.
The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, headed by Assistant Secretary David J. Kramer, leads the U.S. efforts to promote democracy, protect human rights and international religious freedom, and advance labor rights globally. | | | Highlights |  Sign up for Democracy and Global Affairs email updates.
Future of the OSCE
Assistant Secretary Kramer (Oct. 15): "[T]he Helsinki process has served as a source of inspiration and hope to men and women pressing for freedom and reform, and it must continue do so in the years ahead." Full Text
Promotion of Democracy
Secretary Rice (Oct. 8): "So when we look out and we see new democracies being born – struggling democracies – whether in Afghanistan or Iraq or in Palestine or in Lebanon, I think we recognize that while the Middle East may, in fact, have been the last place that the United States was really willing to speak forcefully for democracy, that we have plenty of experience that if the United States continues to insist that no man, woman, or child should live without basic freedoms, we can make a difference." Full Text | View Video | Fact Sheet
Advancing Democracy through the UN
Deputy Assistant Secretary Barks-Ruggles' remarks at the University of California Washington Center’s UNDP Roundtable on the challenges on the ground.
Global Challenges to Democratic Governance
Assistant Secretary Kramer's remarks before the the Community of Democracies Ministerial at the 63rd UN General Assembly.
On Democracy and Human Rights in Belarus
Statement before the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe. Full Text
Reports
2008 Report on International Religious Freedom
2007 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices
Supporting Human Rights and Democracy: The U.S. Record 2006
2008 Country Reports on Advancing Freedom and Democracy
Ambassadorial Roundtable Series
Read about this program which fosters partnerships between newly-confirmed U.S. Ambassadors and human rights and democracy NGOs. |
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