America.gov-Democracy Around the World: Introduction

Judicial Corruption Continues To Plague the World, Report Says

Jaroslaw Anders — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 10:43:05 -0500

Systemic corruption of judicial systems not only denies citizens their basic human rights, but hinders economic development and sometimes pushes aggrieved populations to violence, according to a recent report. Global Corruption Report 2007: Corruption in Judicial Systems says that despite international efforts, different forms of judicial corruption continue to afflict many parts of the world. The report was issued in late May by Transparency International, an international anti-corruption nongovernmental organization.

First Freedom Project Boosts Effort To Protect Religious Liberty

David Anthony Denny — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 12:16:01 -0500

A new Department of Justice program seeks to educate the public about laws protecting religious freedom and to build relationships with religious, civil rights and community leaders to ensure religious liberty concerns are brought to the department's attention. The First Freedom Project also aims to strengthen protection of religious rights by creating an agencywide Religious Freedom Task Force to review policies and cases.

U.S. Intensifies Efforts for Worldwide Internet Freedom

Jane Morse — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 13:38:30 -0500

The State Department will address Internet freedom when it evaluates countries around the world in the next release of its annual Human Rights Report, says Paula Dobriansky, under secretary of state for democracy and global affairs. Dobriansky announces the next phase for the department’s Global Internet Freedom Task Force at a State Department ceremony. She tells the assembled policymakers and representatives from the technology industry, nongovernmental organizations and academia that the Human Rights Report to be released in 2007, which will cover activities in 2006, will assess Internet freedom activities.

Muslim-American Rappers Promote Tolerance in Middle East

Carolee Walker — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 13:42:38 -0500

When Native Deen took hip-hop music to Jerusalem in fall 2006, the group of Muslim-American rappers was moved deeply by the holiness of the place and the energy of the hundreds of teens who attended their concerts. Yet nothing came close to the connection the performers felt to their faith during their Middle East trip. “I could feel it in the stone and the rocks,” says Naeem Muhammad of Native Deen, a Muslim-American hip-hop group based near Washington that has a strong following in the United Kingdom and the United States. “Our music inspires Muslims to be better Muslims, but it also gives other people a better view of our faith,” Joshua Salaam tells USINFO in an interview.

Press Group Cites 13 Countries for Restricting Online Free Expression

Eric Green — Wed, 08 Nov 2006 14:01:04 -0500

The Paris-based global press freedom advocacy group Reporters Without Borders releases a new list of countries that it calls "enemies" of the Internet for "systematically" violating online free expression. China, Cuba, Iran and North Korea are among the 13 countries that have been listed on the press group's 2006 "roll of shame."

United States Commemorates U.N. Religious Freedom Resolution

Lea Terhune — Mon, 30 Oct 2006 14:04:27 -0500

In recognition of the international importance of religious freedom, the U.S. Department of State commemorates the 25th anniversary of the principal modern document supporting religious freedom -- the U.N. Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief.

Religious Freedom Establishes Other Freedoms, Experts Say

Carolee Walker — Tue, 17 Oct 2006 13:56:51 -0500

Religious Freedom a Foreign Policy Issue, U.S. Diplomat Says

Carolee Walker — Fri, 13 Oct 2006 12:26:42 -0500

Religious freedom unites people around the world in a way that few other issues do, says Stephen Liston, ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom at the U.S. Department of State. Liston tells an online audience that religious freedom has been a U.S. policy issue since the founding of the country and remains one of the most sensitive foreign policy matters the United States addresses.

NGO Leaders Discuss Roles in Promoting Religious Freedom

Jaroslaw Anders — Wed, 11 Oct 2006 12:50:58 -0500

Pluralistic Democracy Protects Religious Freedom

Carolee Walker — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 13:24:22 -0500

Congressional Hearing Examines Religious Freedom in Russia

Jeffrey Thomas — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 13:15:40 -0500

President Bush and other U.S. officials should “be prepared to counter persistent claims by Russian leaders” that U.S. and U.N. efforts to advance human rights constitute foreign “meddling” or are intended to harm the Russian Federation, according to the head of a U.S. commission charged with making policy recommendations. At a congressional hearing, Felice D. Gaer, the chair of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, presents a number of recommendations for addressing human rights concerns in Russia.

Meet Benjamin Franklin, America's First International Celebrity

Stephen Kaufman — Sat, 07 Jan 2006 09:57:09 -0500

Benjamin Franklin, whose 300th birthday will be celebrated January 17, was America’s first international celebrity. Find out more about the 10th son of a Boston candle and soap maker who rose to become one of the most famous and intriguing men of the 18th century.