Human Rights Defenders Protection: New Support and Visa Rules
This act aims to strengthen the protection of individuals defending human rights and democracy globally. It introduces new U.S. government support policies, facilitates visa acquisition for at-risk activists, and increases accountability for attacks against them. This ensures citizens involved in human rights defense can expect greater safety and international support.
Key points
Establishes a new U.S. strategy to support and protect human rights defenders abroad, coordinating actions across various agencies.
Creates a new nonimmigrant visa category (W) for human rights defenders facing urgent threats in their home countries, allowing temporary stay and work in the U.S.
Increases the number and rank of diplomatic officers responsible for democracy and human rights issues in U.S. embassies, enhancing local support.
Strengthens monitoring and reporting of attacks on human rights defenders in annual country reports, aiming for greater accountability for perpetrators.
Expired
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