Department of State
Department of State: Diplomacy in Action
Contact: 202-647-4000
URL: www.state.gov
For more information: http://contact-us.state.gov/cgi-bin/state.cfg/php/enduser/std_alp.php
Promoting freedom and democracy and protecting human rights around the world are central to U.S. foreign policy. The values captured in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in other global and regional commitments are consistent with the values upon which the United States was founded centuries ago. The United States supports those persons who long to live in freedom and under democratic governments that protect universally accepted human rights. The United States uses a wide range of tools to advance a freedom agenda, including bilateral diplomacy, multilateral engagement, foreign assistance, reporting and public outreach, and economic sanctions. The United States is committed to working with democratic partners, international and regional organizations, non-governmental organizations, and engaged citizens to support those seeking freedom.
The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL) in the Department of State is headed by Assistant Secretary Michael H. Posner. DRL leads the U.S. efforts to promote democracy, protect human rights and international religious freedom, and advance labor rights globally.
The mission of the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) is to provide protection, ease suffering, and resolve the plight of persecuted and uprooted people around the world on behalf of the American people by providing life-sustaining assistance, working through multilateral systems to build global partnerships, promoting best practices in humanitarian response, and ensuring that humanitarian principles are thoroughly integrated into U.S. foreign and national security policy. Refugees with questions about PRM programs should write to refquestions@wrapsnet.org. Those at non-governmental organizations interested in grants should contact the PRM NGO Coordinator at PRMNGOCoordinator@state.gov.
The Department of State's Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Person (TIP), directed by Ambassador Luis CdeBaca, leads the United States' global engagement against human trafficking, an umbrella term used to describe the activities involved when someone obtains or holds a person in compelled service. At the heart of this phenomenon are the myriad forms of enslavement as outlined in the United States' Trafficking Victims Protection Act. Major forms of human trafficking include: forced labor, sex trafficking, bonded labor, debt bondage, involuntary domestic servitude, forced child labor, child soldiers, and child sex trafficking. The Office has responsibility for bilateral and multilateral diplomacy, targeted foreign assistance, and public engagement on this issue of modern slavery and partners with foreign governments and civil society to develop and implement effective counter-trafficking strategies. 20 Ways You Can Help Fight Human Trafficking.
Assistant Secretary Johnnie Carson leads the Bureau of African Affairs (AF), the division of the Department of State that advises the Secretary about sub-Saharan Africa. The Bureau's priority is conflict resolution with U.S. support. The U.S. has provided much of the humanitarian assistance and logistical support and training for African peacekeepers in Darfur and Somalia. At the same time, the U.S. has led by example to confront Africa's worst diseases. The U.S. Government's fight against AIDS (PEPFAR) is the largest foreign assistance program since the Marshall Plan. The U.S. Government is also confronting malaria and a host of other tropical diseases. In the long term, Africans have established priorities to consolidate democratic gains and sustain broad-based economic growth.
The Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs (EUR), headed by Assistant Secretary Philip H. Gordon, implements U.S. foreign policy in Europe and Eurasia. The Bureau promotes U.S. interests in the region on issues such as national security, NATO enlargement, coordination with the European Union and other regional organizations, support for democracy, human rights, civil society, economic prosperity, the war on terrorism, and nonproliferation.
The Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs (EAP), headed by Assistant Secretary Kurt M. Campbell, deals with U.S. foreign policy and U.S. relations with the countries in the Asia-Pacific region.
The Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs (NEA), headed by Assistant Secretary Jeffrey Feltman, deals with U.S. foreign policy and U.S. diplomatic relations with Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestinian Territories, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. Regional policy issues that NEA handles include Iraq, Middle East peace, terrorism and weapons of mass destruction, and political and economic reform. Check out NEA's Clickable Map.
Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs (SCA) deals with U.S. foreign policy and U.S. relations with the countries of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
The Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs (WHA) is headed by Assistant Secretary of State Arturo A. Valenzuela, who is responsible for managing and promoting U.S. interests in the region by supporting democracy, trade, and sustainable economic development, and fostering cooperation on issues such as citizen safety, strengthening democratic institutions and the rule of law, economic and social inclusion, energy, and climate change.
The Bureau of International Organization Affairs (IO) is the U.S. government's primary interlocutor with the United Nations and a host of international agencies and organizations. As such, the Bureau is charged with advancing the President's vision of robust multilateral engagement as a crucial tool in advancing U.S. national interests. U.S. multilateral engagement spans the full range of important global issues, including peace and security, nuclear nonproliferation, human rights, economic development, climate change, global health, and much more.
IO and its diplomatic missions in New York, Geneva, Vienna, Rome, Paris, Montreal, and Nairobi, actively promote those interests, in part by advocating for more effective, transparent, accountable, and efficient international organizations.
Department of Homeland Security: Immigration and Customs Enforcement:
Human Rights Law Division; Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Unit
Contact: http://www.ice.gov/contact/inv/
URL: http://www.ice.gov/human-rights-violators/
Tip Line: 1-866-DHS-2-ICE (1-866-347-2423)
Victim Witness Assistance: 1-866-872-4973
Public Service Announcement: http://www.ice.gov/human-rights-violators/
Human rights violators, including those who have participated in war crimes and acts of genocide, torture, extrajudicial killing, violations of religious freedom, and other acts of persecution, frequently seek to evade justice by seeking shelter in the United States. These individuals will frequently assume fraudulent identities to enter the country, seeking to blend into American society and communities.
ICE places a high priority on targeting serious offenders through its Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Unit. The unit mission is twofold. The first part is to prevent the admission of foreign war crimes suspects, persecutors and human rights abusers into the United States. The second part is to identify, prosecute and ultimately remove such offenders who are already unlawfully in the United States and who have committed acts ranging from genocide, torture and war crimes to serious violations of religious freedoms or other forms of persecution. In performing both missions, we work closely with our counterpart the Human Rights Law Division (HRLD).
Department of Labor: Bureau of International Labor Affairs: Office of Child Labor, Forced Labor, and Human Trafficking
Contact: Contact-ILAB@dol.gov
Contact for Exploited Children: GlobalKids@dol.gov
URL: http://www.dol.gov/ilab/mission.htm
The Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB) leads the U.S. Department of Labor's efforts to ensure that workers around the world are treatedd fairly and are able to share in the benefits of the global economy. ILAB's mission is to use all available international channels to improve working conn ditions, raise living standards, protect workers' ability to exercise their rights, and address the workplace exploitation of children and other vulneraa ble populations.
The Office of Child Labor, Forced Labor, and Human Trafficking (OCFT) is part of the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB). The office was created in 1993 in response to a request from Congress to investigate and report on child labor around the world. As domestic and international concern about child labor grew, OCFT's activities significantly expanded. Today, these activities include research on international child labor, forced labor, and human trafficking; funding and overseeing cooperative agreements and contracts to organizations engaged in efforts to eliminate exploitive child labor around the world; and assisting in the development and implementation of U.S. government policy on international child labor, forced labor, and human trafficking issues.
Contact: https://www.disability.gov/home/contact_us
URL: https://www.disability.gov/
About Disability.gov
Disability.gov is an award-winning federal government website that provides an interactive, community-driven information network of disability-related programs, services, laws and benefits. Through the site, Americans with disabilities, their families, Veterans, educators, employers and many others are connected to thousands of resources from federal, state and local government agencies, educational institutions and non-profit organizations. New resources are added daily across 10 main subject areas -- benefits, civil rights, community life, education, emergency preparedness, employment, health, housing, technology and transportation.
Since July 2009, Disability.gov has implemented both social media and personalization tools, offering an enhanced experience for all visitors. Among the new features is the ability to register for a My Disability.gov profile, which allows users to vote and comment on resources, participate in group forums and view additional resources that are recommended based on their actions on the site. Visitors can also follow daily tweets on Disability.gov's Twitter account, connect with other fans on Facebook and LinkedIn or read weekly guest blogs from experts on disability issues on Disability.Blog.
For help on how to find resources on the site, visit the How to Use this Site section of Disability.gov.
Mission of Disability.gov
To connect people with disabilities, their family members, Veterans, caregivers, employers, service providers and others with the resources they need to ensure that people of all abilities can fully participate in the workplace and in their communities.
Department of Justice: Civil Rights Division
Contact: (202) 514-4609
URL: http://www.justice.gov/crt/
The Civil Rights Division is committed to upholding the civil and constitutional rights of all individuals, particularly some of the most vulnerable members of our society. The Division enforces federal statutes designed to protect the civil rights of all individuals and prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, disability, religion, and national origin. Established in 1957, the Division has grown in size and scope over the decades, and has been instrumental in many of our nation's battles to advance civil rights, from the desegregation of our nation's schools to the prosecution of hate crimes, from ensuring girls and women have equal opportunities in schools and the workplace to guaranteeing that individuals with disabilities can access civil services to which we all have a right.
Department of Justice: Counter Terrorism Section
Contact: (202) 514-1057
URL: http://www.justice.gov/counter_terrorism.htm
The Counterterrorism Section (CTS) is responsible for the design, implementation, and support of law enforcement efforts, legislative initiatives, policies and strategies relating to combating international and domestic terrorism. The Section seeks to assist, through investigation and prosecution, in preventing and disrupting acts of terrorism anywhere in the world that impact on significant United States interests and persons. The Section's responsibilities include, among other things, investigating and prosecuting matters involving torture, genocide and war crimes that are linked to terrorist groups and individuals.
Department of Justice: Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section
Contact: (202) 616-2492
URL: http://www.justice.gov/criminal/hrsp/
Tips on U.S. Human Rights Violators: hrsptips@usdoj.gov
Information on How to Report a Violator: http://www.justice.gov/criminal/hrsp/about/report-violator.html
The Department of Justice created the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) in March 2010 by combining two successful Criminal Division units, the Domestic Security Section (DSS) and the Office of Special Investigations (OSI), to enhance federal law enforcement efforts in the areas of human rights, international violent crime, and complex immigration crimes. The merger reflects the Department's deep commitment to prosecuting human rights violations and war crimes, both as a domestic law enforcement imperative and as a contribution to the global effort directed at ending impunity for war criminals and human rights violators.
Department of Justice: Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development Assistance and Training
Contact: (202) 514-1323
URL: http://www.justice.gov/criminal/opdat/
OPDAT was created in the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice in 1991 in response to the growing threat of international crime. OPDAT's mission is to assist prosecutors and judicial personnel in other countries develop and sustain effective criminal justice institutions. OPDAT recognizes that international cooperation in the investigation and prosecution of criminals and organized crime groups is central to countering international crime at its source; and that the efficient and fair administration of justice offers the greatest protection from lawlessness and support for basic human rights.
OPDAT provides an array of technical assistance and training in these areas:
- Criminal procedure code reform
- Criminal justice sector infrastructure reform
- Task force development
- Streamlining of the judicial process
- Organization and management of prosecutorial function
- Case management
- Capacity-building of foreign prosecutors, investigators, and judges
- Promotion of rule of law and regard for human rights
- Substantive Reform
- Counterterrorism
- Human Trafficking & Child Exploitation
- Organized Crime
- Anti-corruption
- Money Laundering and Asset Forfeiture
- Computer and Intellectual Property Crimes
- Counter-Narcotics
Department of Health and Human Services: Administration for Children and Families: National Human Trafficking Resource Center
Contact: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/acf_contact_us.html
URL: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/
National Human Trafficking Resource Center: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/trafficking/hotline/index.html
NHTRC Contact: 1-888-3737-888
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is responsible for federal programs that promote the economic and social well-being of families, children, individuals, and communities.
The National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) is a Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)-funded program operated and implemented by Polaris Project for the purpose of providing a national, 24-hour, toll-free hotline number for the human trafficking field in the United States. The NHTRC is a core component of Polaris Project's Training and Technical Assistance Program. By operating the national hotline, the NHTRC works to help improve the national response to protect victims of human trafficking in the U.S. by providing callers with a range of comprehensive services. Available services include crisis intervention, urgent and non-urgent referrals, tip reporting, and comprehensive anti-trafficking resources and technical assistance for the anti-trafficking field and those who wish to get involved. To perform these functions, the NHTRC maintains a national database of organizations working in the anti-trafficking field as well as a library of available anti-trafficking resources and materials. The NHTRC also works in collaboration with the infrastructure of the anti-trafficking movement in the United States, which includes HHS Rescue and Restore coalitions, DOJ-funded Human Trafficking Task Forces, FBI Innocence Lost Task Forces, Federal victims services and outreach grantees, statewide human trafficking task forces, community-based initiatives, and on-going research projects.
USAID: Democracy and Governance
Contact: 202-712-1892
URL: http://www.usaid.gov/our_work/democracy_and_governance/
For over 50 years USAID has been providing technical leadership and strategic support in promoting sustainable democracy. Our goals include:
- Strengthening the Rule of Law and Respect for Human Rights
- Promoting More Genuine and Competitive Elections & Political Processes
- Increased Development of a Politically Active Civil Society
- More Transparent and Accountable Governance
- Promoting free and independent media
The Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI)
URL: http://www.mepi.state.gov/
For more information: http://mepi.state.gov/about-us.html
The Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) is a regional program that helps citizens in the Middle East and North Africa develop more pluralistic, participatory, and prosperous societies. From within the Near Eastern Affairs Bureau at the State Department, MEPI advances U.S. foreign policy goals by supporting citizens' efforts at economic, social, and political empowerment, expanding opportunities for women and youth, and helping communities work alongside governments in shaping their own futures. MEPI's activities underscore President Obama and Secretary Clinton's commitment to democracy and civil society in the region, and follow the approach the President laid out in his Cairo speech: engaging with peoples as well as governments, in a spirit of mutual respect and rooted in a commitment to universal values.
MEPI staff, based in Washington, D.C., Tunis, and Abu Dhabi, as well as in U.S. embassies throughout the MENA region, works to identify the needs articulated by the people of the region and creates partnerships with NGOs, academic institutions, and even governments, to address those needs.
