Major Issues - Foreign Policy

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Major Issues

Resources For Families Of Our Troops

Human Rights

Other Foreign Policy Efforts

Iraq and Afghanistan

Civilian Victims of War

Latin America & the Caribbean

Asia

The Middle East

Foreign Assistance

Other Foreign Policy Issues

Human Rights

I believe it is in the U.S. national interest to work to resolve conflicts, protect human rights, and to strengthen democracy around the world. During my time in the U.S. Senate, I have worked to advance these goals. In my capacity as Chairman or Ranking Member of the Foreign Operations Subcommittee for over a decade, I have supported increasing the amount of foreign aid to fund critical programs that address a variety of problems that contribute to conflict, including poverty and injustice.

I was also proud to author the Leahy Law on Human rights in 1997. The Leahy Law is an essential tool for protecting human rights. Although this is an important goal of U.S. foreign policy, too often, American diplomats have paid little more than lip service to stopping human rights crimes.

The Leahy Law makes it clear that when credible evidence of human rights violations exists, U.S. aid must stop. But, it provides the necessary flexibility to allow the U.S. to advance its foreign policy objectives in these countries. The law gives the Secretary of State the authority to determine when the law applies. In addition, it gives foreign governments an incentive to correct the problem: U.S. aid can resume if they bring to justice people who commit such crimes.

Resources from the Congressional Research Service:

United Nations Peacekeeping: Issues for Congress

Balkan Cooperation on War Crimes Issues

United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNHRC): U.S. Membership

The Congressional Research Service provides members of Congress with non-partisan research and analysis of legislation and issues. It's my goal to make all of these reports available to the tax payer. You can read more about my efforts here. Until then, I've made the below reports available in PDF form to help you research this issue further.

Statements of Sen. Patrick Leahy
Concerning Human Rights

Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy, Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee, On The Passage Of S. 2135, The Child Soldiers Accountability Act Of 2007 December 18, 2007
Statement Of Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), "The 'Material Support' Bar: Denying Refuge To The Persecuted?" Senate Judiciary Committee Subcommittee On Human Rights And The Law September 19, 2007 ***Audio and video available.***
Statement Of Sen. Patrick Leahy, Human Rights Violations In Nepal June 29, 2006
Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Combating Trafficking Of Women And Children July 29, 2005
Senate Passes Leahy UNICEF Amendment To Budget Resolution March 17, 2005

Read a complete list of Sen. Leahy's foreign policy statements.