*EPF111 05/17/2004
Backgrounder: New Report on U.S. Human Rights Efforts Abroad
("Supporting Human Rights and Democracy: The U.S. Record 2003-2004") (780)

Washington -- The U.S. Department of State released its annual report "Supporting Human Rights and Democracy: The U.S. Record 2003-2004" May 17. The congressionally-mandated report is a companion to the State Department's longstanding country reports on human rights practices and takes the next step, moving from highlighting abuses to publicizing the actions and programs the United States has taken to end those abuses.

"This report is key to our advancing freedom in the world," said Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Lorne Craner. "People around the world will be able to see -- in one place -- what the United States is doing to support democracy and human rights."

The report addresses U.S. efforts in 101 countries and demonstrates the link between the findings of the annual country reports -- a comprehensive, accurate account on human rights conditions around the world -- and the efforts by the United States to help remedy the human rights abuses identified in the reports.

"This report is a combination of idealism and practical policy implementation that has become a hallmark of our foreign policy in the area of international human rights," said Secretary of State Colin Powell. In the report, the United States looks at human rights reporting not merely as a record of past performance but as a guide for future improvement. The report is the product of multi-agency cooperation between regional and functional bureaus of the U.S. Department of State and missions abroad; the U.S. departments of Justice, Commerce, Treasury and Labor; and the U.S. Agency for International Development, and it reflects their collaborative efforts to support human rights and democracy.

The report is submitted to Congress by the Department of State in compliance with Section 665 of P.L. 107-228, the Fiscal Year 2003 Foreign Relations Authorization Act, which requires the department to report on actions taken by the U.S. government to encourage respect for human rights in countries in which there are incidents of extra-judicial killings, torture, or other serious violations of human rights. The report reflects an ongoing dialogue between Washington and U.S. posts overseas to identify promising programs that support the goals of democracy and human rights.

In Zimbabwe, for example, where government-sanctioned campaigns of violence were directed toward opposition political parties in the 2002 presidential elections, the United States funded organizations that accurately documented and disseminated the human rights abuses of the government. U.S. Embassy officials were also involved, personally interviewing victims of political persecution throughout Zimbabwe. Senior government officials maintained a visible presence at all major political events and helped secure access for U.S. journalists into Zimbabwe.

In 2003 and 2004 the United States took solid action and positive measures in Burundi in line with the U.S. commitment to fostering a more democratically-structured society through specific projects such as post-traumatic counseling, and demobilization and rehabilitation of child soldiers. In Kyrgyzstan, the United States lent its support to an independent printing press, so that independent news sources could be heard in the country and there was a forum for multiple voices and ideas. The report also shows U.S. support for initiatives such as the first human rights clinic in Uzbekistan.

The United States supported journalists across the Middle East, as well as women in the region running for elected positions. In Azerbaijan, where the human rights record remains poor, the United States has worked with a range of human rights activists, democracy activists and representatives of pro-reform political parties in support of more robust human rights objectives and fair elections.

The report illustrates that U.S support for human rights and democracy is not a once-a-year task to report on the state of human rights in countries; it is, rather, a day-to-day effort by the United States to encourage countries to build stronger democratic systems and greater respect for human rights.

In the inaugural report, Secretary Powell stated, "This combination of idealism and practical policy implementation has become a hallmark of our foreign policy in the area of international human rights. By sharing what we are doing to prevent human rights abuses and advance democracy in every region of the world, ����Supporting Human Rights and Democracy' also identities promising approaches for all who are working toward a future in which brutality, tyranny and repression claim fewer and fewer victims and no longer possess the ability to fuel violent extremism in all it forms����where peace, equality and freedom are nurtured and protected by all."

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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