Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission

Human rights are rights inherent to all human beings, whatever our nationality, place of residence, sex, national or ethnic origin, color, religion or language. Human rights are all interrelated, interdependent and indivisible, and we are all equally entitled to them without discrimination.

Looking for the universal human rights instruments? You'll find them here.

On March 3, 2017, the U.S. State Department released the Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2016.

According to the Global Terrorism Index 2016, 93% of all terrorist attacks between 1989 and 2014 occurred in countries with high levels of state sponsored terror -- extra-judicial deaths, torture and imprisonment without trial.

On June 6, 2017, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein opened the 35th Session of the UN Human Rights Council with remarks on the state of human rights around the world.

Do you want to promote human rights and fundamental freedoms, but not sure how to do it? Our Human Rights on the Hill Toolkit provides helpful hints and real-life examples for Members of Congress and congressional staff.

On 21 December 2010, the UN General Assembly passed resolution 65/209 welcoming the adoption of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance and declaring 30 August the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances.