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VII. Performance Results (continued)

ANNUAL PERFORMANCE GOAL 2 — Universal Standards Protect Human Rights, Including the Rights of Women and Ethnic Minorities, Religious Freedom, Worker Rights, and the Reduction of Child Labor.

I/P: Bilateral and Multilateral Diplomacy

INDICATOR: Percent of U.S.-Supported Resolutions Adopted at UN Commission on Human Rights/Human Rights Council (UNCHR/HRC)
Department of State seal Output
JUSTIFICATION: As the UN’s primary forum on human rights, CHR/HRC’s actions on country-specific resolutions demonstrate how the international community deals with the most serious human rights abusers. CHR/HRC resolutions on democracy reinforce the interrelationship between human rights and democracy and strengthen the legitimacy of human rights and democracy development efforts in non-democratic countries.
FY 2006 PERFORMANCE Target The Human Rights Council (HRC) adopts 85% of U.S.-supported resolutions. Secretary-General replaces the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) with an action-oriented Human Rights Council, whose membership should not include states with the most egregious record of abuse.
Results HRC replaced the discredited Commission on Human Rights, a key USG objective. Resolution included several USG priority elements, including: individual voting for Member States, an exhortation to UN Member States to consider the human rights record when voting for the Council, a universal peer review mechanism, and an agreement to review all the Council’s special procedures, working groups, and the Subcommission with a view to eliminating redundant or politicized bodies. The HRC adopted no U.S.-supported resolutions in its first regular and first two special sessions. The HRC’s first two special sessions were devoted exclusively to issues related to Israel and each adopted anti-Israel resolutions.
Rating Below Target
Impact The HRC was formed. It has a strong mandate that has yet to be fully implemented. In its first session it was unable to address pressing global human rights issues, resulting in a negative impact on USG efforts to achieve our human rights goals.
Reason for Shortfall The first session of the HRC was meant to focus on procedural issues only – not pass any specific country issues. However, the HRC ran two resolutions against Israel. The regional allocation of seats in the HRC is a major factor behind the HRC focus on Israel and away from other countries.
Steps to Improve Strive to make the HRC a credible body by pressing for constructive and positive results from the mandate review process and the process to set up the Universal Peer Review mechanism. Seek the passage of country specific resolutions on countries other than Israel, and press for cooperation by states on human rights issues.
PERFORMANCE DATA Data Source U.S. cables, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights reporting, and the Council’s voting record on issues important to the protection and promotion of human rights.
Data Quality
(Verification)
Data quality depends on reporting cables by U.S. embassies, especially the U.S. Mission in Geneva, and reporting by the UNHRC. Council votes are a matter of public record.
PAST PERFORMANCE 2005 The USG achieved virtually all of its priority objectives at the UN Commission on Human Rights (predecessor to the Council) in 2005. Together with our allies, we defeated all efforts to pass no-action motions, which end debate on a resolution without a vote.
2004 Eighty percent of key U.S.- supported resolutions were adopted.
2003 CHR passed U.S.-sponsored resolutions on Cuba, North Korea, Belarus, Turkmenistan, Burma, and Iraq. However, resolutions on Chechnya, Sudan and Zimbabwe were defeated. The Department took a strong stand against Libya’s chairmanship of the CHR, and succeeded in blocking a special sitting on Iraq, despite a strong anti-U.S. block of Muslim countries and some EU states.

 

I/P: Promote International Religious Freedom

INDICATOR: Status of Religious Freedom
Department of State seal Outcome
JUSTIFICATION: Congress established the broad policy goals and reporting requirements in the International Religious Freedom Act. The performance indicators chosen follow from the mandates of the law. Meetings, agreements and documented movement by countries toward greater religious freedom are concrete examples of progress toward International Religious Freedom goals.
FY 2006 PERFORMANCE Target
  • Undertake at least two additional bilateral or regional International Religious Freedom initiatives, laying the groundwork for significant policy changes in those countries or regions.
  • Establish a working coalition of allies focused on problem countries, working bilaterally and multilaterally to improve or establish religious freedom laws, practices and accountability in problem countries.
  • Revise and streamline the format of the Annual Country Reports and the International Religious Freedom Report, maintaining high standards and making the reports more user friendly.
Results
  • Focused intensive diplomatic efforts on consolidating religious freedom improvements in Saudi Arabia and Vietnam. As a result, Saudi Arabia confirmed policies to revise school textbooks to eliminate intolerant language, to protect the right to private worship and to import religious materials for private use, and to enforce controls over the actions of the religious police. Vietnam released all remaining religious prisoners, speeded registration of churches, and took action against officials who violated the right to worship.
  • Worked with international partners to successfully press for countries not to establish anti-conversion laws (e.g., India and Sri Lanka) and to release religious prisoners (e.g., Saudi Arabia, China, and Indonesia).
  • Began revising and streamlining the format of the International Religious Freedom Report.
Rating On Target
Impact Advanced Department’s objectives of promoting religious freedom and human rights, strengthening civil society.
PERFORMANCE DATA Data Source Department of State’s International Religious Freedom Report and Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. On-the ground assessments of embassy and consulate officers, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor officers and meetings with members of religious groups, NGOs, and other knowledgeable observers. Embassy and bureau reporting. Third-country laws, court decisions, and other legal provisions.
Data Quality
(Verification)
Data and methodology are available to the public for verification. Reporting from U.S. embassies, State Department analysts, and non-governmental entities is cross-checked to ensure accuracy.
PAST PERFORMANCE 2005
  • Initiative begun with Saudi Arabia on religious freedom issues; efforts on Uzbekistan and Eritrea as part of broader international efforts on human rights in those countries; continued religious freedom dialogue with China.
  • Religious prisoners were released in Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, China, and other countries.
  • Intensive diplomacy with Vietnam resulted in a binding agreement on religious freedom.
2004
  • Constitutional guarantees for religious freedom achieved in Afghan Constitution and Iraqi Transitional Administrative Law.
  • Religious prisoners freed in Laos, Vietnam, China, Egypt, Eritrea, Turkmenistan and other countries.
2003 Posts showed an increased engagement on religious freedom issues, producing, for the most part, excellent country reports for the International Religious Freedom Report to Congress.

 

I/P: Labor Diplomacy and Advocacy for Workers’ Rights

INDICATOR: Improvement in Respect for Workers’ Rights
Department of State seal Outcome
JUSTIFICATION: Tracking the existence of independent and democratic worker organizations will measure a country’s respect for basic worker rights.
FY 2006 PERFORMANCE Target
  • Improved compliance with internationally recognized labor standards.
  • Continued progress in worker rights in countries specified in the Department of State’s operating plans.
Results
  • Successful conclusion of trade agreement with Oman, passage by Congress, and implementation. Oman government issues decree amending law and formally establishing unions.
  • Implementation of Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) began. International Labor Organization (ILO) began verification and benchmarking activities.
  • Programs to strengthen labor ministries, labor courts, and to fight discrimination in the maquilas began.
  • Negotiations with UAE and Thailand were on-going. Negotiations began with Korea and Malaysia on labor chapters of free trade agreements.
Rating On Target
Impact The progress in advancing labor rights abroad furthers key aspects of U.S. foreign policy related to human rights, democracy promotion, and trade. Stronger labor laws and enforcement allow workers and employers to organize themselves, build democratic institutions, and ensure that the gains of trade are distributed more equitably across societies.
PERFORMANCE DATA Data Source Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, ILO reports, International Confederation of Free Trade Union reports, other governmental and non-governmental reports, and the Department’s WebMILS database (when fully operational). USAID Reports.
Data Quality
(Verification)
Data and methodology available to the public for verification. Reporting from U.S. Embassies, other government and non-governmental sources are crosschecked for accuracy.
PAST PERFORMANCE 2005 New labor codes in Oman and formation of first worker’s committee. New child labor law in the United Arab Emirates. Election of first workers’ committee in Bangladesh export processing zones.
2004 Creation of trade unions in Bahrain. Expanded cooperation on labor issues with China. Conclusion of CAFTA negotiations and the inauguration of the U.S. Department of Labor’s $6.75 million project “Strengthening Labor Systems in Central America.” Parliamentary approval of a law in Bangladesh allowing workers in export processing zones to organize. Changes in law and practice leading to the rebirth of independent trade unions in Iraq.
2003
  • Significant Department of State and Department of Labor projects conducted to improve worker rights begun in China. Notable improvements in worker rights in Cambodia. Continuing evolution in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
  • Labor clauses in all initial versions of trade agreements under negotiation: Central American Free Trade Agreement, other free trade agreements with Australia, Morocco, and South African Customs Union.

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