Fighting for Fundamental Rights and Freedoms

Since September 11, 2001, the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor documented the Taliban's human rights abuses in Afghanistan through a report, "The Taliban's War Against Women," widely distributed to foreign audiences.

In addition, the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor initiated projects to:

• Support democratic reform and curb Muslim fundamentalism in Indonesia by providing leaders of Islamic boarding schools training in democracy, civic education, human rights and school administration;
• Promote political party development in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan by providing grants to promote the growth of democratically oriented political parties;
• Establish a printing press in Kyrgyzstan that will ensure access to free and independent information;
• Launch a two-year project to strengthen responsible journalism in Central Asia;
• Provide democratic activists in the Middle East with training in political consensus-building;
• Support political reforms in the Arabian Peninsula by giving technical assistance to emerging institutions charged with administering elections; and
• Contribute to USAID's program to strengthen Pakistan's electoral process and increase voter participation.

The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor is responsible for the coordination and development of democracy and human rights policy abroad.  The promotion of fundamental political freedoms and universal human rights has taken on greater urgency in the war against international terrorism.  Through forums, programs and diplomatic contacts, the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor has sought to advance human rights and strengthen democratic institutions worldwide in order to change the climate of disenfranchisement and alienation that gives rise to terrorism.