Human Rights and U.S. Foreign Policy.

• Author: Jones, David T.

By Hillary Clinton, Secretary of State

Text: http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2009a/12/133544.htm

Video: http://www.state.gov/video/?videoid=57184558001

Reviewed by David T. Jones

Human Rights and U.S. Foreign Policy

Georgetown University is the default forum for Secretaries of State making policy addresses. They are guaranteed a respectful audience and global media attention. Thus it was for Secretary Clinton's December 14, 2009, address during human rights week, which in 5,500 words provided current U.S. thinking on human rights policy. The speech was an imperative since in February Secretary Clinton had done some undiplomatic truth-telling when noting that human rights were only one of multiple problems being addressed with China.

There was an "kitchen sink and stove" element to the presentation, with every human relations problem receiving note-from fundamentals (freedom of speech, religion, association, election, and to "love in the way they choose") to economic and educational imperatives; from women's rights to Darfur; from repression in Iran to progress in various success story states.

Clinton presented four basic framework elements of the Administration's approach to putting principles into action:

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