WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement regarding the State Department’s annual human rights reports released today:
“The State Department’s 2021 human rights country reports reaffirm the strength of our enduring democracy, but also highlight those experiencing democratic backsliding and attacks on internationally-recognized human rights.
“Dictators, authoritarian regimes, and other corrupt actors go to great ends to deny their citizens the most basic rights. Regimes in Russia, China, Iran, Venezuela, Zimbabwe, Nicaragua, Cuba, Syria, Burma, and more cling to power while they arrest, detain, torture, silence, and abuse those who dare to dissent. We must use these reports as a diplomatic tool to shine a light on authoritarian creep in vulnerable democracies and support civil society on the front lines of fighting for democracy. Protecting and promoting internationally-recognized human rights everywhere must be the cornerstone of our foreign policy.
“The United States will always advocate for those who cannot advocate for themselves. We will continue to work to hold accountable those who abuse their power, and we will continue to support justice for all.”
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