| |  International Human Rights Week2006: Defending the Defenders
"By standing with those who desire liberty, we will help extend freedom to many who have not known it and lay the foundations of peace for generations to come."
--President George W. Bush
Human Rights Day Proclamation
December 8, 2006
The United States maintains its strong commitment to support those courageous individuals who are fighting for freedom and liberty around the world.
In commemoration of President Bush's proclamation of December 10 as Human Rights Day and in recognition of Human Rights Week, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice announced three new initiatives advancing U.S. Government efforts on democracy and human rights and responding to a global trend of government crackdowns on non-governmental organizations and human rights defenders.
These initiatives include a Global Human Rights Defenders Fund, NGO Principles, and two annual Freedom Awards.
Related Items
--06/05/07 President Bush Visits Prague, Czech Republic, Discusses Freedom; President George W. Bush; Large Hall, Czernin Palace; Prague, Czech Republic
--06/05/07 Advancing Freedom and Democracy Around the World
--06/04/07 Remarks at Organization of American States General Assembly Plenary Session; Secretary Condoleezza Rice; Panama City, Panama
--06/08/06 The Essential Role of Non-Governmental Organizations in the Development of Democracy; Barry F. Lowenkron, Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor; Remarks to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee; Washington, DC
--10/27/06 Defending Human Rights; Barry F. Lowenkron, Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor; Remarks to the UN Third Committee; New York, NY
--12/10/48 Universal Declaration of Human Rights
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Democracy Promotion
President Bush: "...the United States is committed to the advance of freedom and democracy as the great alternatives to repression and radicalism." Full remarks in the Czech Republic.
White House Fact Sheet: Advancing Freedom and Democracy Around the World
Secretary Rice: "the OAS has grown into an even stronger and more principled ally to the citizens of our hemisphere who keep faith with the principles of democracy and who want to be included in the benefits of democracy, prosperity, personal security, and social justice." Full remarks at the OAS General Assembly.
NGO Principles
A set of 10 core principles distilled from international norms for guiding and assessing the treatment of NGOs by governments.
Fact Sheet
International Human Rights Week Initiatives: "Defending the Defenders"
Achievement Award
Joshua Morris of Embassy Nouakchott is the winner of the 2006 Human Rights and Democracy Achievement Award. read more
International Human Rights Day: December 10
Presidential Proclamation (Dec. 8): "Peace and justice prevail when people are free to speak, assemble, and worship, when their rights are protected, and when governments are accountable to their citizens." full text
Press Statement (Dec. 8): "We stand with those individuals who work to promote human rights and democratic principles." full text |
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