The United States Commission on Individual Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has again rated Indonesia as a Tier 2 country. The Tier 2 designation indicates that “violations engaged in or tolerated by the government are particularly severe.” It means that the country is on the threshold of joining Burma, China, Saudi Arabia, …
President Obama’s meeting with Burma’s President Thein Sein at the White House today is a stark reminder of how far the Administration has come on Burma policy. In initiating the annual process for renewal of the ban on Burmese imports last week, Representative Joseph Crowley (D–NY) reiterated his desire that …
Human Rights Watch (HRW) recently released a scathing new report focused on the crackdown on Russia’s civil society. Since December 2011, the Kremlin has committed to squashing nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) that promote democracy and are alleged conduits of Western influence, HRW says. The report, titled “Laws of Attrition,” focuses on …
New leaders are emerging on Capitol Hill to draw a line on Congress’s acquiescence to the White House’s rush to lift comprehensive sanctions on Burma. Congressmen Trent Franks (R–AZ), Rush Holt (D–NJ), and Trey Gowdy (R–SC) are pressing for strict conditionality on the provision of military assistance to Burma. In …
“[T]his budget isn’t just a collection of numbers; it’s an illustration of our values and priorities,” said Secretary of State John Kerry in his testimony before the House Foreign Relations Committee on the proposed State Department budget. It’s not clear from his testimony today that one of those priorities is …
During an eloquent and poignant funeral service earlier today in London’s St. Paul’s cathedral, the world said its final goodbye to one of the most inspirational leaders of the 20th century. In the United States, Margaret Thatcher will always be remembered for her close friendship with President Ronald Reagan. She …
The Departments of State and Treasury have released their public version of the “Magnitsky List”—18 Russian nationals who have committed gross human rights violations and were involved in the unjust imprisonment and death of Sergei Magnitsky. The list was required by the Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law and Accountability Act, …
“Infanticide” is perhaps too soft a term to describe the brutality that became commonplace at the corners of N. 38th St and Lancaster Ave. in Philadelphia. The trial of Kermit Gosnell, who ran the West Philadelphia Women’s Medical Center abortion clinic since 1979, has been underway for over three weeks. …
President Obama’s fiscal year (FY) 2014 budget released yesterday persists in entangling taxpayer dollars in the abortion industry. Obama’s budget includes $327 million for Title X family planning programs, a more than $30 million increase over last year’s request. Title X is one of a number of sources of government …
Human rights advocates stressed the importance of U.S. leadership in fighting violations of liberty in China in testimony before a House Foreign Affairs subcommittee in advance of Secretary of State John Kerry’s trip to Beijing. Chen Guangcheng, a renowned human rights advocate and former prisoner in China, told Congress the …
