Human Rights
As Americans, we must protect human rights both at home and abroad—the right to live freely without the threat of violence or repression, the right to live with dignity and respect. Throughout our history, our international standing has rested in part on our democratic values and our commitment to human rights. Everywhere I travel, the call is clear: the world needs America to lead. We must work towards a sustainable foreign policy that reflects American values.
The world needs American leadership. In countries such as Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, violence and human rights violations continue without a resolution to the conflicts. In Burma, the people continue to fight for a democratic society under the leadership of Aung San Suu Kyi. And for many people in the developing world, extreme poverty and the spread of infectious diseases continue to fuel a ‘fury of despair’ that devastates families and creates instability.
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| Congresswoman Pelosi honors Daw Aung San Suu Kyi at a Congressional Gold Medal ceremony for her unwavering commitment to peace, non-violence, and democracy in Burma. |
In China and Tibet, people are languishing in prisons for only expressing their ideas and political views. Nobel Peace Prize recipient Liu Xiaobo, one of the authors of an online petition calling for human right and democracy, is still in prison while other Chinese citizens are censored, harassed, or imprisoned for simply expressing their right to speak freely. If we don’t stand up for human rights in China and Tibet than we lose our moral authority to speak out for human rights in the rest of the world.
We must show effective leadership in the world that reflects the ideals that we cherish—freedom, democracy, human rights and respect for people as individuals. In doing so, we can help make countries plagued by conflict and repression better places to live, and better partners in creating a safer world.
Learn more about my record on human rights>>
More on Human Rights
Contact: Drew Hammill, 202-226-7616
Washington, D.C. – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi today released the following statement after a grand jury in New York declined to issue an indictment in the death of Eric Garner:
Contact: Drew Hammill, 202-226-7616
San Francisco – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi issued this statement following the conclusion of a St. Louis County grand jury proceeding in the shooting of Michael Brown, which led to violence and property destruction overnight in Ferguson, Missouri:
“However disappointed we may be in the decision by the grand jury in St. Louis County, we must hold the family of Michael Brown in our hearts, and reject the acts of violence and destruction that detract from the efforts of those who continue to peacefully protest this tragedy.
Contact: Drew Hammill, 202-226-7616
San Francisco – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement today marking five years since President Obama signed into law the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, as part of the National Defense Authorization Act. The legislation deters hate crimes by expanding federal protections and equipping state and local law enforcement with the tools needed to prosecute hate crimes based on sexual orientation, race, religion, gender, national origin, disability, or gender identity.
Contact: Drew Hammill, 202-226-7616
Washington, D.C. – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement today in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October:
“Freedom from fear and abuse is a basic human right. Yet it is estimated that one in every four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime. Millions of women will confront these violent acts this year. Domestic violence terrorizes women, children, and men in homes across America – and we must not allow it to continue.
Contact: Drew Hammill, 202-226-7616
Washington, D.C. – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement today on the 5 to 4 U.S. Supreme Court decision to block early voting in Ohio, which was scheduled to begin today:
“Nothing is more fundamental to our democracy or more essential to our future than ensuring the voices of all Americans are heard in our elections. Early voting is an indispensable resource for many citizens – especially people facing disadvantages – who may be unable to make it to the polls on Election Tuesday.
Contact: Drew Hammill, 202-226-7616
Washington, D.C. – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi delivered remarks at a press availability after a bipartisan meeting with Prime Minister Narenda Damodardas Modi of India. Below are the Leader’s remarks:
“Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. It’s an honor to join you in welcoming Prime Minister Modi to the Capitol of the United States – to the center of the oldest democracy in the world, the leader of the largest democracy in the world.
Contact: Drew Hammill, 202-226-7616
Washington, D.C. – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement on the 20th anniversary of the enactment of the Violence Against Women Act legislation, which President Bill Clinton signed into law on September 13, 1994:
Contact: Drew Hammill, 202-226-7616
Washington, D.C. – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement marking the 49th anniversary of the date the Voting Rights Act was signed into law on August 6, 1965:
Contact: Drew Hammill, 202-226-7616
Washington, D.C. – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement after the House Rules Committee approved the Republican resolution authorizing a lawsuit against the President:
“It is clear that Republicans will do anything to distract attention from their special-interest agenda of obstruction and dysfunction. While Democrats work to jumpstart the middle class, Republicans are wasting time and taxpayer dollars on another hypocritical, partisan and preposterous lawsuit against the President.
Contact: Drew Hammill, 202-226-7616
San Francisco – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement marking the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964:
“The Civil Rights Act stands as one of the great legislative achievements in our history: a pillar of fairness, justice and equality, and a monument to countless acts of courage that brought it into being.