Honoring human rights defenders

Some were detained without cause, others harassed, but all 10 recipients of the State Department’s Global Human Rights Defender Awards share courage and commitment in making a more just world. “Protecting human rights defenders, in lockstep with our likeminded partners, is integral to U.S. foreign policy,” said Uzra Zeya, under secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights, ...
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OSCE Releases the Second Expert Mission Report on Human Rights Abuses and International Humanitarian Law Violations in Russia’s War Against Ukraine

With Ukraine’s assent, the United States and 44 other countries invoked the OSCE Moscow Mechanism for a second time on June 2, establishing an expert mission to examine the further human rights abuses and humanitarian impacts of Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine. In the report released at today’s OSCE Permanent Council meeting, the mission ...
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International Women Human Rights Defenders Day

On November 29, International Women Human Rights Defenders (WHRD) Day, the United States commemorates the work of women human rights defenders: all women and girls who work for human rights, all people who defend the rights of women and girls, and all people who defend the rights to be free from discrimination and violence on ...
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Calling for Respect for Human Rights and Peaceful Demonstrations in Cuba on November 15

In July, the people of Cuba bravely and spontaneously took to the streets to demand change from their government: respect for human rights, greater freedom of expression, and an end to economic mismanagement by an authoritarian regime that has failed to meet their most basic needs.  The Cuban regime responded with violence, censorship, arrests, and ...
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Election of the United States to the UN Human Rights Council

Since the earliest days of this Administration, President Biden has made clear that our foreign policy would be grounded in America’s most cherished democratic values: defending freedom, championing opportunity, upholding human rights and fundamental freedoms, respecting the rule of law, and treating everyone with dignity.  He also promised to restore American engagement internationally and renew ...
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Key Outcomes at the 48th Session of the UN Human Rights Council

At the 48th session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC), September 13 – October 11, the United States advanced country-specific and thematic actions to promote greater respect for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of women and girls, LGBTQI+ persons, indigenous persons, members of ethnic and religious minority groups, older persons, and other marginalized ...
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Promoting human rights is essential to U.S. policy

In the 80 years since President Franklin Delano Roosevelt delivered his Four Freedoms speech — citing freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want and freedom from fear — the United States has made these democratic principles central to its foreign policy. Today, the United States continues to champion human rights as a critical component of ...
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U.S. and partners seek to deter human rights violations

The United States is working with international partners to defend human rights worldwide as authoritarian regimes step up repression amid the COVID-19 pandemic. “Standing for people’s freedom and dignity honors America’s most sacred values,” Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken said March 30, announcing the release of the 2020 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. “At ...
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Ambassador Kozak’s Remarks at the OSCE International Conference Against Anti-Semitism

This conference is a particularly appropriate follow-up to International Holocaust Remembrance Day.  As President Trump said:  “Every generation must learn and apply the lessons of the Holocaust.  We will stamp out prejudice.  We will condemn hatred.  We will bear witness and we will act.” Absent action, the sacred pledge of “Never again” can become empty ...
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