US Report on Human Rights Practices for 2006 (released 03-06-07)

[Solly Mack]

The State Department has released its 2006 "Country Reports on Human Rights Practices." An annual report that is "a full and complete report regarding the status of internationally recognized human rights, within the meaning of subsection (A) in countries that receive assistance under this part, and (B) in all other foreign countries which are members of the United Nations and which are not otherwise the subject of a human rights report under this Act."



"The report entitled "Country Reports on Human Rights Practices" is submitted to the Congress by the Department of State in compliance with sections 116(d) and 502B(b) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (FAA), as amended, and section 504 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended. The law provides that the Secretary of State shall transmit to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate, by February 25"


It's the report where the United States lists those nations that have violated human rights. The report is issued during the first part of the new year, after the year in review has ended.

The report claims to:

"The Country Reports on Human Rights Practices cover internationally recognized individual, civil, political and worker rights, as set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. These rights include freedom from torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, from prolonged detention without charges, from disappearance or clandestine detention, and from other flagrant violations of the right to life, liberty and the security of the person.

For 2006: Preface, Overview and Acknowledgments, and Introduction

In this year's report, The State Department writes:

"The United States takes its human rights commitments seriously. We recognize that we are writing this report at a time when our own record, and actions we have taken to respond to the terrorist attacks against us, have been questioned. The United States will continue to respond forthrightly to the good faith concerns of others, including by means of the reports we submit periodically in accordance with our obligations under various human rights treaties to which we are a party. We are also committed to continual improvement. US laws, policies, and practices governing the detention, treatment, and trial of terrorist suspects have evolved considerably over the last five years. Our democratic system of government is not infallible, but it is accountable--our robust civil society, our vibrant free media, our independent branches of government, and a well established rule of law work as correctives."


I've read articles where it is being claimed that in the newly released report the US admits to human rights failings. However, nothing in the above paragraph suggest that to me. To me it reads as if the US is merely acknowledging that some people don't agree with the Bush administration - and a few lines of blather about how the Bush government has been accountable because of - "our robust civil society, our vibrant free media, our independent branches of government, and a well established rule of law work as correctives."

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

1. Just wait for Amnesty International. Anything generated from this Administration is propaganda. nt

[Solly Mack]

2. Amnesty has responded - though I haven't seen the actual response

according to the NYTimes

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/06/world/06cnd-diplo.html?hp

Amnesty International welcomed the new candor today. But its executive director for the United States, Larry Cox, said that “until the United States changes its own policies of holding detainees indefinitely, in secret prisons and without basic rights, it cannot credibly be viewed as a world human rights leader.”

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

3. Here is Amnesty's 2006 Report on the US and it is none to pretty.

http://web.amnesty.org/report2006/usa-summary-eng

[Solly Mack]

4. Thanks for adding the link. I've seen that before but others may have not

I'm looking for their response to the newly released US report.