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Democracy & Human Rights

Secretary Antony J. Blinken At a Virtual Panel Session on “A Just and Lasting Peace in Ukraine”

Release: SECRETARY BLINKEN: Good morning, good afternoon, good evening, everyone. Thank you all so much for joining. It’s very good to be with friends and partners from around the world as we prepare to open the second Summit for Democracy.


Democracy & Human Rights

The United States Convenes Freedom Online Coalition Member States and Other Stakeholders in Washington, D.C.

Release: On March 27-28, the United States, as the 2023 chair of the Freedom Online Coalition (FOC), convened the Coalition’s 36 member States, Observers, and Advisory Network of external stakeholders for a Strategy and Coordination Meeting in Washington, D.C. The FOC is a coalition of governments dedicated to advancing Internet freedom globally.


Democracy & Human Rights

Summit for Democracy: Democracy Cohort Outcomes

Release: Since 2021, the Summit for Democracy process has focused attention on how governments and non-governmental actors can work together to strengthening democratic institutions and processes, protect human rights, and advance the fight against corruption.


Democracy & Human Rights

Secretary Antony J. Blinken at “The Status of Women is the Status of Democracy” Event

Release: SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, good afternoon, everyone, and welcome to the State Department and welcome to the second Summit for Democracy.


Democracy & Human Rights

Belarus Freedom Day

Release: Today, we celebrate, along with Belarusians across the world, Belarus Freedom Day. This day highlights the democratic legacy of the first independent Belarusian state, established in 1918 after 150 years of Russian occupation.


Democracy & Human Rights

Secretary Blinken’s Participation in the Second Summit for Democracy

Release: Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken will participate in the second Summit for Democracy on March 28-30, 2023 in Washington, D.C. The Summit will be co-hosted by the United States, Costa Rica, the Netherlands, Republic of Korea, and Republic of Zambia. Below is a list of events Secretary Blinken will...



Democracy & Human Rights

Invocation of the OSCE Moscow Mechanism to Examine Reports of Human Rights Abuses Committed by Lukashenka Regime

Release: The United States and 37 other countries have invoked the OSCE Moscow Mechanism requesting that the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s (OSCE) Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) establish an expert mission to examine the dire and continuous deterioration of the human rights situation in Belarus.


Democracy & Human Rights

2022 Memorandum of Justification Consistent with Section 110(b)(2)(D) of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000

Release: Section 110(b)(2)(D) of the TVPA (22 U.S.C. § 7107(b)(2)(D)) requires a country that has been included on the Tier 2 Watch List for two consecutive years and has not been upgraded to Tier 1 or Tier 2 to be included in the following year’s report as Tier 3. The governments of Tier 3 countries are those governments that do not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and are not making significant efforts to do so.



Democracy & Human Rights

Determination under Section 110(b)(2)(D) of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, as Amended

Release: Pursuant to the authority vested in me by section 110(b)(2)(D) of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, as amended (22 U.S.C. 7107(b)(2)(D)), and Presidential Delegation of Waiver Authority to the Secretary dated Sept. 20, 2010, I hereby determine that a waiver of the application of clause...