| |  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.
Supporting Democratic Change
 Secretary Rice (May 12): "We have never been neutral about the importance of democracy, the importance of democratic change, and we...have never believed that there was any other alternative which really permitted the full expression of human dignity." Full Text
Campaign of Terror Unleashed in Zimbabwe
 In the aftermath of the March 29, 2008 elections, President Robert Mugabe’s ruling ZANU-PF party has unleashed a wave of political violence designed to cow opposition members and supporters into submission and deter them from participating or voting their conscience in a possible runoff election. Fact Sheet
U.S. Supports Press Freedom Worldwide
In commemoration of World Press Freedom Day (May 3), we highlight the vital role played by a free and independent press in advancing and defending freedom of expression and democratic principles of government worldwide. Fact Sheet
Reports
2007 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices
2007 International Religious Freedom
Supporting Human Rights and Democracy: The U.S. Record 2006
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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