On April 30, the House International Relations Subcommittee on International Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Human Rights held a hearing to discuss the State Department’s Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. Subcommittee Chair Elton Gallegly (R-CA) opened the hearing by remarking that the “Subcommittee will continue to highlight this nexus between terrorism and human rights violations. The Country Reports on Human Rights Practices is an indispensable tool which will assist us in this endeavor.” He added that the report should be “commended for its straight-forward coverage of both allies and adversaries.”
Lorne Craner of the State Department testified before the subcommittee, noting that “spreading democratic values and respect for human rights around the world is one of the primary ways we have to advance the national security interests of the United States.” He explained that the reports cover “individual, civil, political, religious and worker rights” as set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and “by promoting these human rights, we seek to incorporate respect for human dignity into the processes of government and law everywhere.” Mr. Craner also noted that the State Department will compile a Human Rights and Democracy Strategy Report, to be released in June, detailing the Department’s efforts to “improve human rights and strengthen democracy in the 94 countries identified in the country reports as being the worst human rights violators.”
Speaking on behalf of Amnesty International USA, Alexandra Arriaga said that the Country Reports are “generally honest and factual in character,” but the reports also “downplay some human rights issues for which the U.S. may feel vulnerable to international criticism.” Ms. Arriaga pointed out some of the improvements in human rights, including Afghanistan’s ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. However, she added that Amnesty International remains “concerned about the deterioration of human rights in many countries worldwide.” According to Ms. Arriaga, her organization will release its Annual Report in May to “provide a summary of human rights issues for every country.”
Lee Soon Ok, a former political prisoner, explained that in North Korea, the “leadership operates secret concentration camps and prisons for political prisoners.” She said that pregnant women are “unconditionally forced” to abort because the unborn baby “was also considered a criminal by law.” She also noted that human biological testing takes place within the prisons and camps. Ms. Ok expressed her hope that international intervention will help by “demanding that the North Korean regime respect the human rights and dignity of the North Korean people.”
