The United States supports the expansion of democracy and human rights abroad because governments

that respect these values are more just, peaceful, and legitimate. We also do so because their success

abroad fosters an environment that supports America’s national interests. Political systems that protect

universal rights are ultimately more stable, successful, and secure. As our history shows, the United States

can more effectively forge consensus to tackle shared challenges when working with governments that

reflect the will and respect the rights of their people, rather than just the narrow interests of those in

power. The United States is advancing universal values by:

Ensuring that New and Fragile Democracies Deliver Tangible Improvements for Their Citizens:

The United States must support democracy, human rights, and development together, as they

are mutually reinforcing. We are working closely with citizens, communities, and political and civil

society leaders to strengthen key institutions of democratic accountability—free and fair

electoral processes, strong legislatures, civilian control of militaries, honest police forces, independent and fair

judiciaries, a free and independent press, a vibrant private sector, and a robust civil society. To do so, we are

harnessing our bilateral and multilateral capabilities to help nascent democracies deliver services that respond

to the needs and preferences of their citizens, since democracies without development rarely survive.

Practicing Principled Engagement with Non-Democratic Regimes: Even when we are focused on

interests such as counterterrorism, nonproliferation, or enhancing economic ties, we will always seek

in parallel to expand individual rights and opportunities through our bilateral engagement. The United

States is pursuing a dual-track approach in which we seek to improve government-to-government

relations and use this dialogue to advance human rights, while engaging civil society and peaceful

political opposition, and encouraging U.S. nongovernmental actors to do the same. More substantive

government-to-government relations can create permissive conditions for civil society to operate and

for more extensive people-to-people exchanges. But when our overtures are rebuffed, we must lead

the international community in using public and private diplomacy, and drawing on incentives and

disincentives, in an effort to change repressive behavior.

will welcome all legitimately elected, peaceful governments, provided they govern with respect for the rights and dignity

of all their people and consistent with their international obligations. Those who seek democracy to obtain power, but

are ruthless once they do, will forfeit the support of the United States. Governments must maintain power through

consent, not coercion, and place legitimate political processes above party or narrow interest.

We are supporting women’s equal access to justice and their participation in the political process. We are promoting child

and maternal health. We are combating human trafficking, especially in women and girls, through domestic and

international law enforcement. And we are supporting education, employment, and micro-finance to empower women

globally.

Strengthening International Norms Against Corruption:

We are working within the broader international system, including the U.N., G-20, Organization for Economic Cooperation

and Development (OECD), and the international financial institutions, to promote the recognition that pervasive

corruption is a violation of basic human rights and a severe impediment to development and global security. We will

work with governments and civil society organizations to bring greater transparency and accountability

to government budgets, expenditures, and the assets of public officials. And we will institutionalize

transparent practices in international aid flows, international banking and tax policy, and private sector

engagement around natural resources to make it harder for officials to steal and to strengthen the

efforts of citizens to hold their governments accountable.

hybrid courts. Those who intentionally target innocent civilians must be held accountable, and

we will continue to support institutions and prosecutions that advance this important interest.

Although the United States is not at present a party to the Rome Statute of the International

Criminal Court (ICC), and will always protect U.S. personnel, we are engaging with State Parties

to the Rome Statute on issues of concern and are supporting the ICC’s prosecution of those cases

that advance U.S. interests and values, consistent with the requirements of U.S. law.

work with governments and civil society organizations to bring greater transparency and accountability

to government budgets, expenditures, and the assets of public officials. And we will institutionalize

transparent practices in international aid flows, international banking and tax policy, and private sector

engagement around natural resources to make it harder for officials to steal and to strengthen the

efforts of citizens to hold their governments accountable.