§ 2304. Human rights and security assistance

(a) Observance of human rights as principal goal of foreign policy; implementation requirements

(1) The United States shall, in accordance with its international obligations as set forth in the Charter of the United Nations and in keeping with the constitutional heritage and traditions of the United States, promote and encourage increased respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms throughout the world without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion. Accordingly, a principal goal of the foreign policy of the United States shall be to promote the increased observance of internationally recognized human rights by all countries.

(2) Except under circumstances specified in this section, no security assistance may be provided to any country the government of which engages in a consistent pattern of gross violations of internationally recognized human rights. Security assistance may not be provided to the police, domestic intelligence, or similar law enforcement forces of a country, and licenses may not be issued under the Export Administration Act of 1979 [50 U.S.C. App. 2401 et seq.] for the export of crime control and detection instruments and equipment to a country, the government of which engages in a consistent pattern of gross violations of internationally recognized human rights unless the President certifies in writing to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the chairman of the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate (when licenses are to be issued pursuant to the Export Administration Act of 1979). Report on status of freedom of the press in recipient countriesThe report required by subsection (b) shall include, wherever applicable—

(1) a description of the status of freedom of the press, including initiatives in favor of freedom of the press and efforts to improve or preserve, as appropriate, the independence of the media, together with an assessment of progress made as a result of those efforts;

(2) an identification of countries in which there were violations of freedom of the press, including direct physical attacks, imprisonment, indirect sources of pressure, and censorship by governments, military, intelligence, or police forces, criminal groups, or armed extremist or rebel groups; and

(3) in countries where there are particularly severe violations of freedom of the press—

(A) whether government authorities of each such country participate in, facilitate, or condone such violations of the freedom of the press; and

(B) what steps the government of each such country has taken to preserve the safety and independence of the media, and to ensure the prosecution of those individuals who attack or murder journalists.

(i)³ Child marriage status

(1) In general

The report required under subsection (b) shall include, for each country in which child marriage is prevalent, a description of the status of the practice of child marriage in such country.

(2) Defined term In this subsection, the term “child marriage” means the marriage of a girl or boy who is—

(A) younger than the minimum age for marriage under the laws of the country in which such girl or boy is a resident; or

(B) younger than 18 years of age, if no such law exists.

(Pub. L. 87–195, pt. II, § 502B, as added Pub. L. 93–559, § 46, Dec. 30, 1974, 88 Stat. 1815; amended Pub. L. 94–329, title III, § 301(a), June 30, 1976, 90 Stat. 748; Pub. L. 95–105, title I, § 109(a)(3), Aug. 17, 1977, 91 Stat. 846; Pub. L. 95–384, §§ 6(a)–(d)(1), (e), 10(b)(1), 12(b), Sept. 26, 1978, 92 Stat. 731, 732, 735, 737; Pub. L. 96–53, title V, § 511, Aug. 14, 1979, 93 Stat. 380; Pub. L. 96–92, § 4, Oct. 29, 1979, 93 Stat. 702; Pub. L. 96–533, title VII, §§ 701(b), 704, Dec. 16, 1980, 94 Stat. 3156, 3157; Pub. L. 98–151, § 101(b)(2), Nov. 14, 1983, 97 Stat. 972; Pub. L. 99–64, title I, § 124, July 12, 1985, 99 Stat. 156; Pub. L. 99–83, title XII, § 1201, Aug. 8, 1985, 99 Stat. 276; Pub. L. 100–204, title I, § 127(2), Dec. 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 1343; Pub. L. 103–236, title I, § 162(e)(2), Apr. 30, 1994, 108 Stat. 405; Pub. L. 103–437, § 9(a)(6), Nov. 2, 1994, 108 Stat. 4588; Pub. L. 104–319, title II, § 201(b), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3866; Pub. L. 105–292, title I, § 102(d)(2), title IV, § 421(b), Oct. 27, 1998, 112 Stat. 2795, 2810; Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, § 1000(a)(7) [div. A, title II, § 252, title VIII, § 806(b)], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A–432, 1501A–471; Pub. L. 106–386, div. A, § 104(b), Oct. 28, 2000, 114 Stat. 1472; Pub. L. 107–228, div. A, title VI, §§ 665(b), 683(b), Sept. 30, 2002, 116 Stat. 1407, 1411; Pub. L. 108–332, § 6(a)(2), Oct. 16, 2004, 118 Stat. 1285; Pub. L. 111–166, § 2(2), May 17, 2010, 124 Stat. 1187; Pub. L. 113–4, title XII, § 1207(b)(2), Mar. 7, 2013, 127 Stat. 141.)

References In Text

References in Text

The Export Administration Act of 1979, referred to in subsec. (a)(2), is Pub. L. 96–72, Sept. 29, 1979, 93 Stat. 503, as amended, which is classified principally to section 2401 et seq. of Title 50, Appendix, War and National Defense. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 2401 of Title 50, Appendix, and Tables.

Section 2(a) of the Genocide Convention Implementation Act of 1987, referred to in subsec. (b), probably means section 2(a) of the Genocide Convention Implementation Act of 1987 (the Proxmire Act), Pub. L. 100–606, Nov. 4, 1988, 102 Stat. 3045, which enacted chapter 50A (§ 1091 et seq.) of Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure.

Section 601 of the International Security Assistance and Arms Export Control Act of 1976, referred to in subsec. (c)(2)(A), (4)(B), is section 601 of Pub. L. 94–329, which was not classified to the Code.

The Arms Export Control Act, referred to in subsecs. (d)(2)(B) and (f), is Pub. L. 90–629, Oct. 22, 1968, 82 Stat. 1320, as amended, which is classified principally to chapter 39 (§ 2751 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 2751 of this title and Tables.

This chapter, referred to in subsec. (f), was in the original “this Act”, meaning Pub. L. 87–195, Sept. 4, 1961, 75 Stat. 424, as amended, known as the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 2151 of this title and Tables.

Miscellaneous

References to Subchapter I Deemed To Include Certain Parts of Subchapter II

References to subchapter I of this chapter are deemed to include parts IV (§ 2346 et seq.), VI (§ 2348 et seq.), and VIII (§ 2349aa et seq.) of subchapter II of this chapter, and references to subchapter II are deemed to exclude such parts. See section 202(b) of Pub. L. 92–226, set out as a note under section 2346 of this title, and sections 2348c and 2349aa–5 of this title.

Codification

Codification

The 1983 amendment by Pub. L. 98–151 is based on section 202(a) of H.R. 2992, Ninety-eighth Congress, 1st Session, as reported May 17, 1983, which was enacted into permanent law by Pub. L. 98–151.

Amendments

Amendments

2013—Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 113–4 added subsec. (i) relating to child marriage status.

2010—Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 111–166 added subsec. (i) relating to report on status of freedom of the press in recipient countries.

2004—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 108–332 inserted after fourth sentence of introductory provisions “Wherever applicable, a description of the nature and extent of acts of anti-Semitism and anti-Semitic incitement that occur, including the descriptions of such acts required under section 2151n(d)(8) of this title.”

2002—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 107–228, § 683(b), in introductory provisions, inserted after sixth sentence “Each report under this section shall also include (i) wherever applicable, a description of the nature and extent of the compulsory recruitment and conscription of individuals under the age of 18 by armed forces of the government of the country, government-supported paramilitaries, or other armed groups, the participation of such individuals in such groups, and the nature and extent that such individuals take a direct part in hostilities, (ii) what steps, if any, taken by the government of the country to eliminate such practices, and (iii) such other information related to the use by such government of individuals under the age of 18 as soldiers, as determined to be appropriate by the Secretary of State.”

Pub. L. 107–228, § 665(b), in introductory provisions, inserted after fourth sentence “Such report shall also include, for each country with respect to which the report indicates that extrajudicial killings, torture, or other serious violations of human rights have occurred in the country, the extent to which the United States has taken or will take action to encourage an end to such practices in the country.”

2000—Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 106–386 added subsec. (h).

1999—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 106–113, in introductory provisions, inserted after first sentence “Wherever applicable, such report shall include consolidated information regarding the commission of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and evidence of acts that may constitute genocide (as defined in article 2 of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide and modified by the United States instrument of ratification to that convention and section 2(a) of the Genocide Convention Implementation Act of 1987).” and inserted after fourth sentence “Each report under this section shall describe the extent to which each country has extended protection to refugees, including the provision of first asylum and resettlement.”

1998—Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 105–292, § 421(b), added par. (4).

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 105–292, § 102(d)(2), in introductory provisions, inserted “and with the assistance of the Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom” after “Labor” and “Such report shall also include, wherever applicable, information on violations of religious freedom, including particularly severe violations of religious freedom (as defined in section 6402 of this title).” after “sterilization.”

1996—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 104–319 inserted “Each report under this section shall list the votes of each member of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights on all country-specific and thematic resolutions voted on at the Commission’s annual session during the period covered during the preceding year.” after second sentence.

1994—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 103–236 substituted “Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor” for “Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs” in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 103–437 substituted “Foreign Affairs” for “International Relations” in introductory provisions.

Pub. L. 103–236 substituted “Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor” for “Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs” in introductory provisions.

1987—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 100–204 inserted after first sentence “Wherever applicable, such report shall include information on practices regarding coercion in population control, including coerced abortion and involuntary sterilization.”

1985—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 99–64 inserted “and the chairman of the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate (when licenses are to be issued pursuant to the Export Administration Act of 1979).”

Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 99–83 added subsec. (g).

1983—Subsec. (d)(2)(A). Pub. L. 98–151 inserted “or part VIII (antiterrorism assistance)”.

1980—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 96–533, § 704, substituted “Export Administration Act of 1979” for “Export Administration Act of 1969”.

Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 96–533, § 701(b), defined “gross violations of internationally recognized human rights” to include causing the disappearance of persons by the abduction and clandestine detention of those persons.

1979—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 96–53 added subsec. (e).

Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 96–92 added subsec. (f).

1978—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 95–384, § 6(a), substituted “The United States shall” for “It is the policy of the United States”, “throughout the world” for “for all”, and “Accordingly” for “To this end”.

Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 95–384, § 6(b), (d)(1), (e), substituted “Except” for “It is further the policy of the United States that, except” and inserted provisions prohibiting security assistance, including crime control and detection instruments, from being provided to police, domestic intelligence, or other police forces of governments which the executive branch determines are guilty of a consistent pattern of gross violations of internationally recognized human rights and prohibiting assistance under part V of this subchapter to a country the government of which, as determined by the executive branch, is engaged in a consistent pattern of gross violations of internationally recognized human rights.

Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 95–384, § 6(c), substituted “paragraphs (1) and (2),” for “the foregoing policy”.

Subsec. (d)(2)(A). Pub. L. 95–384, §§ 10(b)(1), 12(b), substituted “(economic support fund)” for “(security supporting assistance)”, inserted “or part VI (peacekeeping operations)” after “and training)”, and struck out “or subchapter V (assistance to the Middle East) of this chapter” after “of this subchapter”.

1977—Subsecs. (b), (c)(1). Pub. L. 95–105 substituted “Assistant Secretary of State” for “Coordinator”.

1976—Pub. L. 94–329 restricted the power of the President by eliminating the extraordinary circumstances exception to termination of assistance for gross violations of recognized human rights, directed the Secretary of State, as part of the presentation materials for an assistance program, to transmit a full and complete report to Congress on the human rights practices of the proposed recipient country and, within 30 days of a request by Congress, to supply information concerning the human rights practices of a country receiving assistance for determination as to whether the assistance should be continued, restricted, or terminated, and defined “security assistance”.

Effective Date Of Amendment

Effective Date of 2004 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 108–332 applicable beginning with the first report under sections 2151n(d), 2304(b), and 6412(b) of this title submitted more than 180 days after Oct. 16, 2004, see section 6(c) of Pub. L. 108–332, set out as a note under section 2151n of this title.

Effective Date of 1994 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 103–236 applicable with respect to officials, offices, and bureaus of Department of State when executive orders, regulations, or departmental directives implementing the amendments by sections 161 and 162 of Pub. L. 103–236 become effective, or 90 days after Apr. 30, 1994, whichever comes earlier, see section 161(b) of Pub. L. 103–236, as amended, set out as a note under section 2651a of this title.

Effective Date of 1985 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 99–83 effective Oct. 1, 1985, see section 1301 of Pub. L. 99–83, set out as a note under section 2151–1 of this title.

Effective Date of 1979 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 96–53 effective Oct. 1, 1979, see section 512(a) of Pub. L. 96–53, set out as a note under section 2151 of this title.

Delegation Of Functions

Delegation of Functions

For delegation of functions of President under this section, see Ex. Ord. No. 12163, Sept. 29, 1979, 44 F.R. 56673, as amended, set out as a note under section 2381 of this title.