Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2004 Released

American Center, Embassy of the United States
Gyaneshwor, Kathmandu. Tel: 4415-845
March 1, 2005

The U.S. Department of State released its annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices on February 28.  The Country Reports on Human Rights Practices are submitted annually by the U.S. Department of State to the U.S. Congress.  The reports cover internationally recognized individual, civil, political, and worker rights, as set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The 2004 reports, which provide individual analyses of the human rights situations in 196 countries, are designed to assess human rights conditions worldwide.   The reports, according to their introduction, demonstrate that the United States “has stepped forward with its democratic allies to reaffirm our commitment to human rights and democracy.”  The purpose of the reports, however, is not simply to bring to light human rights achievements and violations but rather to “illuminate both future tasks and the potential for greater cooperation in advancing the aspirations of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,” the introduction says. 
 
The complete 2004 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices can be found at: http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2004/index.htm.  Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2004 for Nepal can be found at: http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2004/41742.htm or http://nepal.usembassy.gov.
 
 
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