Agency Name: | Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor |
Type: | bureau |
Seal: | US Department of State official seal.svg |
Jurisdiction: | Executive branch of the United States |
Employees: | 100 (as of 2003)[1] |
Budget: | $38.5 million (As of 2003) |
Chief1 Name: | Robert S. Gilchrist |
Chief1 Position: | Senior Official, Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor |
Parent Department: | U.S. Department of State |
Website: | Official Website |
The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Affairs (DRL) is a bureau within the United States Department of State. The bureau is under the purview of the Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights.
DRL's responsibilities include promoting democracy in U.S. and around the world, formulating U.S. human rights policies, and coordinating policy in human rights-related labor issues. The Office to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism is a separate agency included in the Bureau.
The Bureau is responsible for producing annual reports on the countries of the world with regard to religious freedom through its Office of International Religious Freedom[2] and human rights.[3] [4] It also administers the U.S. Human Rights and Democracy Fund (HRDF), which is DRL's flagship program.[5]
The head of the Bureau is the Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, and the official currently acting in this capacity is Erin Barclay.
The bureau was formerly known as the Bureau of Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs, but was reorganized and renamed in 1994, to reflect both a broader sweep and a more focused approach to the interlocking issues of human rights, worker rights, and democracy.[6]
Examples of DRL's human rights advocacy in foreign locations include China,[7] the Middle East,[8] and Russia.[9]
From 2011 to 2015, DRL provided financial support to the Tor network (The Onion Router).[10] [11] [12] [13]
The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor is divided into twelve offices.[14] [15]