Human Rights | Council on Foreign Relations

Africa Program

LGBTQ+ Rights in Africa

Panelists discuss the status of LGBTQ+ rights in Africa, along with the opportunities and challenges of U.S. foreign policy and U.S. aid in advancing equality and human rights in the region.

Virtual Event by Julie Dorf, Michelle Gavin and Adrian Jjuuko August 8, 2023
Climate Change

Women This Week: Climate Change Perpetuates Inequality for Women

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers July 29 to August 4.

Blog Post by Noël James August 3, 2023 Women Around the World
Democracy

U.S.-South Korea Policy Coordination Toward China on Democratic Values and Human Rights

On June 26, 2023, the Council on Foreign Relations’ program on U.S.-Korea Policy held a virtual workshop on U.S.-South Korean policy coordination toward China on democratic values and human rights.

Blog Post by Jennifer Ahn August 3, 2023 Asia Unbound

Russia

Kara-Murza's Courage is a Message to All of Us

Vladimir Kara-Murza's courageous words this week in a Moscow courtroom remind us of the value of liberty and the need to defend it.

Blog Post by Elliott Abrams August 1, 2023 Pressure Points
Democracy

Strengthening South Korean Value Diplomacy for U.S.-South Korean Normative Alignment

The second workshop for the project on Bolstering U.S.-South Korean Cooperation to Meet the China Challenge examined the prospects for enhanced U.S.-South Korean normative cooperation and alignment.

Blog Post by Sook Jong Lee August 1, 2023 Asia Unbound
United States

How the U.S. Patrols Its Borders

President Joe Biden’s attempts to grapple with a record number of migrants are keeping the role of border enforcement at the center of the U.S. immigration debate.

Backgrounder by Diana Roy , Amelia Cheatham and Claire Klobucista July 26, 2023 Renewing America

Sexual Violence

Women This Week: Male Guardianship Policies Persist in MENA Region

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers July 15 to July 21.

Blog Post by Noël James July 20, 2023 Women Around the World
International Law

The United States Should Ratify the Rome Statute

(Editor’s note: This article is part of a joint symposium hosted by Just Security and Articles of War. The symposium addresses topics discussed at a workshop held at The George Washington University …

Article by David J. Scheffer July 19, 2023 International Institutions and Global Governance Program
Maternal and Child Health

Women This Week: Expanded Access Comes as Iowa Moves to Enact Six-Week Abortion Ban

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers July 1 to July 14.

Blog Post by Noël James July 13, 2023 Women Around the World
Saudi Arabia

Understanding Saudi Media and the Mahsa Amini Protests’ Role in the Saudi-Iranian Détente

The Mahsa Amini protests gave Riyadh leverage over Tehran and the Kingdom's media capabilities proved to be a tool capable of advancing the countries’ new mutual goal: preempting a women-led second Arab Spring

Blog Post by Simone Lipkind July 11, 2023 Women Around the World
Japan

Women This Week: Japan Makes Headway on Access to Birth Control

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers June 24 to June 30.

Blog Post by Noël James June 30, 2023 Women Around the World
Latin America

Addressing the Root Causes of Migration in the Western Hemisphere

Panelists discuss the social, economic, and political factors that contribute to the mass migration of people from Central and South America toward the United States and Mexico and potential U.S. policy responses. The Silberstein Family Annual Lecture on Refugee and Migration Policy was established in 2019 through a generous gift from Alan M. Silberstein and the Silberstein family. The lecture provides CFR with an annual forum to explore emerging challenges in refugee and migration policy in the United States and around the world.

Virtual Event by Katharine M. Donato, Silvia Giorguli and Manuel Orozco June 26, 2023 Silberstein Family Annual Lecture on Refugee and Migration Policy
Women and Women's Rights

Women’s Power Index

Find out where women around the world wield political power—and why it matters.

Interactive by Linda Robinson and Noël James June 26, 2023 Women and Foreign Policy Program
United States

Women This Week: Women’s Health a Year After the Dobbs v. Jackson Ruling

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers June 17 to June 23.

Blog Post by Noël James June 22, 2023 Women Around the World
LGBTQ+

Africa’s Struggle Toward Inclusive LGBTQ+ Laws

Countries in Africa have some of the harshest and most discriminatory LGBTQ+ policies in the world. But some governments are taking hopeful steps toward inclusion.

Article by Mariel Ferragamo and Kali Robinson June 13, 2023