Announcing HumanRights.gov

Last week, in conjunction with the release of its annual Human Rights Report, the State Department officially launched HumanRights.gov, a new central portal for international human rights-related information generated by the United States Government.  HumanRights.gov was designed in the letter and spirit of President Obama’s Open Government Directive issued in January 2009, requiring Federal agencies to take specific steps to achieve key milestones in transparency, participation, and collaboration. 

HumanRights.gov is primarily aimed at increasing the American public’s access to human rights-related information and understanding of our global engagement on these critical issues.  We hope that it proves equally valuable to citizens of other nations seeking to promote accountability and change in their own societies.

HumanRights.gov currently features content that largely comes from the U.S. Department of State.  The content will grow to include additional information from partnering Federal agencies including the U.S. Agency for International Development, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Department of Justice, and the U.S. Department of Labor.  The website is easily searchable with a comprehensive archive of reports, press releases, statements, articles, and briefings generated on international human rights concerns.  We hope you find it useful and welcome your feedback, which should be sent to HumanRightsWebsite@state.gov.

Samantha Power is Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Multilateral Affairs and Human Rights for the National Security Staff.