State Department Releases Report on U.S. Support of Human Rights
Secretary Rice calls defense of human rights a "universal responsibility"

The U.S. Department of State released its report, Supporting Human Rights and Democracy: The U.S. Record 2004-2005, on March 28.

In her preface to the report, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said that elections in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Palestinian territories, among others, demonstrate that citizens around the world are working to live in peaceful, democratic societies.

Rice called the participation of Palestinians, Afghans and Iraqis in elections and the “Orange Revolution” in Ukraine “examples of the universal aspiration of all people to make their voices heard and to govern themselves.

“Although individual freedoms and rights can be repressed for a time by authoritarian and corrupt regimes,” she said, “history shows us that progress toward democracy is inevitable and encourages our support of the inalienable rights of freedom-loving people everywhere.”

The congressionally mandated report, issued annually, is a companion to the State Department's Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. It reviews U.S. efforts to promote human rights and democracy in 98 countries around the world.

Citing President Bush’s January 20 inaugural address and February 2 State of the Union address, in which he pledged support to countries seeking democratic reform, Rice said that this report describes U.S. democracy and human rights programs that seek to strengthen institutions “that are responsive and accountable to citizens.”

The overall goal of U.S. human rights and democracy policy, she said, is an end to tyranny.

The full report is available at http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/shrd/2004/

Introduction | Western Hemisphere | Full Report