Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor

Date: 01/20/2009 Description: Blue envelope icon, used for email subscriptions. State Dept PhotoSign up for Democracy and Global Affairs email updates.

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 ImageDate: 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 ImageDate: 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

"In democracies, respecting rights isn’t a choice leaders make day-by-day, it is the reason they govern." — Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton 

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.


2009 Human Rights Report


Remarks by Assistant Secretary of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Michael Posner on the release of the 2009 Human Rights Report . Full Text