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Diplomacy in Action

Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor


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Date: 12/10/2009 Description: Cuba's government's supporters shout slogans in favor of Cuban leader Fidel Castro during a march organized by dissidents to commemorate the Human Rights Day in Havana, Thursday, Dec. 10, 2009. © AP Image Date: 11/12/2009 Description: This Nov. 12, 2009 photo shows a mother holding her two daughters in her village in Batticaloa, about 143 miles north east of Colombo, Sri Lanka. © AP Image Date: 12/08/2009 Description: A coalition of Guineans, human rights activists and supporters rally outside the Guinean Mission to the United Nations in New York, Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2009. © AP Image

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 Michael H. Posner, leads the U.S. efforts to promote democracy, protect human rights and international religious freedom, and advance labor rights globally.


2011 International Religious Freedom Report

Ambassador Johnson Cook (July 30): "Today, we are releasing the 2011 International Religious Freedom Report, which, for the first time, covers the calendar year and uses new technology to improve searchability. This congressionally mandated report reviews the status of religious freedom in 199 countries and territories."  Full Text»  Report»


 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices

Assistant Secretary Posner (June 28): "Let me just say broadly, one of the things that we believe and act on is that there is not a – there are no exceptions to what is really a universal standard of human rights. We start from the premise that every government in the world, including the United States, is bound by the principles articulated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in various treaties."  Full Text» View Reports» Fact Sheet» More»


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