Democracy and Human Rights

But democracies today face a number of challenges. Over the past decade, concerns of global democratic backsliding have grown as antidemocratic leaders increasingly rely on authoritarian tactics to remain in power, including by curtailing freedoms of speech and association, targeting independent journalists, and banning political rivals from running for office. Both in the United States and abroad, malicious actors have attacked the integrity of elections. Emerging technologies have also empowered oppressive regimes and accelerated the spread of hate, bigotry, and misinformation. Support for democracy has declined where corruption, violence, and persistent inequality cause fragility and prevent many from experiencing the benefits of political freedoms. And in several regions in the world, coups have occurred with alarming regularity, undoing years of democratic transition efforts and leaving people subject to military rule too often accompanied by widespread human rights violations.  

The United States has an indispensable role to play in international efforts to defend democracy and support the spread of human rights, and we must never give up on these values. Congress should continue to support the Ukrainian people in response to Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked and illegal war against Ukraine, a horrific assault on democracy and the rules-based order. We must also take additional steps to promote human rights and support, defend, and renew global democratic governance through fully funding the International Affairs budget, challenging authoritarian regimes, and restricting arms sales to human rights abusers, as well as strengthening our own democracy at home.