Picture Of People From Belarus
2004 Country Report on Human Rights Practices in Belarus
Only the state run radio and the state-run television networks ONT and Belarusian Television (BT) broadcast nationwide. Russian channels NTV and RTR were generally available nationwide, although in many parts of the country only through pay cable services. However, their news programs were at times blocked from broadcast. Broadcasts from other countries, including Poland, and Lithuania, could be received in some parts of the country; however, the Brest local government removed three Polish channels from local cable providers in December. The reporting of both ONT and BT was biased heavily in favor of the Government and sharply critical of opposition politicians and organizations, and both failed to provide opposing viewpoints. This bias became more pronounced before the October 17 parliamentary elections and referendum. The BAJ reported that state channels provided only positive reviews of the President and Government. State owned media, including television, radio, and print, continue ... [Read More]
Department of State Washington File: Transcript: Rights Reports Have National, International Impact, U.S. Official Says
from the human rights guy, not from Lorne [Craner] but from Beth Jones, was, ... but the people who are there in power are the people who helped bring it ... be able to stop bad guys from going around and murdering people. But that ... [Read More]
"For the Record" Alumni Newsletter – Office of Academic Exchange Programs, European Programs Branch
Session presenters included Raffi Gregorian, Deputy Director for Bosnia at the Office of South Central European Affairs; Ambassador William Taylor, Coordinator of US Assistance to Europe and Eurasia; and Kurt Basseuner from the Democratization Policy Institute. BUDP participant Damir Mezet said, "In learning about the way US society functions, I learned more about my own country I think I have a better picture about the position of Bosnia and Bosnians in the world I intend to use all my abilities in my country, because I believe that there is the possibility of good life back home." ... [Read More]
Department of State Washington File: Text: Mixed Picture Emerges on Global Human Rights Practices
Sudan's human rights record remained extremely poor as it continued deliberately to kill its own citizens and to restrict freedom of speech, press, assembly, association, religion and movement. It arrested and harassed those who exercised these rights. At year's end, there were more than 1.5 million Internally Displaced Persons in Darfur, and another 213,000 civilians who had fled into Chad. Approximately 70,000 people reportedly died as a result of violence and forced displacement. Despite Sudan's repeated commitments to refrain from further violence in Darfur, atrocities continued. Government regular forces and government-supported militias, Jinjaweed, routinely attacked civilian villages, looted possessions and destroyed villages, sometimes under cover of military aerial support. In September, the State Department concluded: "Genocide has been committed in Darfur and the Government of Sudan and Jinjaweed bear responsibility that genocide may still be occurring." Government fo ... [Read More]
Briefing on the Release of the Trafficking in Persons Report
AMBASSADOR MILLER: I'm glad you've -- the toughest question comes last. Well, in terms of countries that have been sanctioned, if you look at the countries in -- nobody has been sanctioned this year. If you look at the countries from last year's report, and we can -- I can't recall them from memory, but you can -- our staff can get them to you, but your -- the tough part of your question was -- well, here are close friends of the United States; how can this happen? Two years ago, I was asked about Greece and Turkey; how can allies be on Tier 3? ... [Read More]
Department of State Washington File: Text: UNAIDS Reports 5 Million New HIV Cases in 2003
An estimated 1.6 million people are living with HIV in these countries. Unlike the situation in other regions, the great majority of people living with HIV in high-income countries who need antiretroviral therapy have access to it, so they are staying healthy and surviving longer than infected people elsewhere. The report finds that infections are on the rise in the United States and Western Europe. In the US, an estimated 950 000 people are living with HIV --- up from 900 000 in 2001. Half of all new infections in recent years have been among African Americans. In Western Europe, 580 000 people are living with HIV compared to 540 000 in 2001. ... [Read More]
Introduction
Some worried that our new focus on the Arab world would leave us without time to address human rights and democracy elsewhere. In early 2002, the President announced creation of the Millennium Challenge Account, a new compact for global development, defined by a new accountability for both rich and poor nations alike. Greater contributions from developed nations must be linked to greater responsibility from developing nations. Nations that invest in their peoples education and health, promote economic freedoms and govern justly defined by the prevalence of civil liberties, political rights, rule of law and a governments accountability and effectiveness will be rewarded. The Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) will rely on sound human rights reporting to evaluate conformity with basic standards of democratic governance and economic freedom. MCA will also provide another vehicle for reducing the gap between human rights ideals and actual practices. ... [Read More]
Briefing En Route to Moscow, Russia
So of course it's still a state in transition. There's no doubt when we talk about the trends, the trends have not been positive on the democracy side. But it is also not the Soviet Union. I mean, when you look, Glenn, at the way that people did go out into the streets to protest on the pension issues, when you look at the fact that there are people who are talking openly about challenging the President's party in the next elections and pretty critical of what is going on in Russia, I don't think that anybody thinks that this has gone all the way back. ... [Read More]
Department of State Washington File: Transcript: State Department Noon Briefing, May 6
MR. BOUCHER: I don't have any specifics on that at this point. I would say that, you know, we do know from Treasury Department officials in Baghdad that approximately $1 billion was taken from the Iraqi Central Bank by Saddam Hussein and his family just prior to the start of combat operations. At this point, I don't have any more details for you here. ... MR. BOUCHER: No, I'm not talking specifically about this issue about accounting for why they didn't do, no. I am making a general comment that in some places people might have done things or in some cases they may not have stopped things from happening and there's -- but in any case, I'm not giving you -- I'm not putting out any information or trying to corroborate these reports because I don't have any information that would corroborate these specific reports. ... [Read More]
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