Human Rights

The State Department's top human rights official is visiting Cambodia and Burma, two repressive countries that President Obama received criticism for visiting during his first post-reelection trip last year.

Michael Posner, the assistant secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, met with Cambodia's deputy prime minister and opposition leaders on Tuesday, according to the State Department. Their talks focused on “promoting electoral reform, resolving land rights disputes, and harassment and detainment of activists,” according to the department. The government of Hun Sen stands accused of funding itself by confiscating rural land and urban dwellings to sell to developers.

In Burma, Posner is scheduled to begin a three-day visit Wednesday to discuss political prisoners, religious freedom of ethnic minority communities, and the human rights situation in conflict areas. The Obama administration has been rapidly lifting America's decades-old sanctions against the long-secluded country in the wake of democratic legislative elections.

A bipartisan delegation of House members called on the Obama administration Tuesday to ensure the safety of thousands of Iranian prisoners in Iraq, and to see them as an alternative to Iran's current political leaders.

The delegation, led by Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.), issued this call after meeting with Iranian dissidents in Paris over the weekend.

Speaker John Boehner thanked Benedict for his “quiet, steady leadership of the Church in uncertain times.”

The White House's top human rights official led calls for military intervention against Moammar Gadhafi's regime in Libya in 2011. 

Closing the detention facility is "in the interest of our national security," a senior State Department official said.

President Obama shied away from national security issues in his inaugural address, instead focusing on domestic policies.

Obama did not mention the rise of Islamic extremism in North Africa, a problem highlighted by deaths of 37 hostages taken by terrorists in Algeria last week. He also did not touch on Iran’s nuclear program, a persistent issue for his administration.

The president did note that the U.S. had ended the war in Iraq and would end the decade-long conflict in Afghanistan on his watch. And he said the U.S. would remain the anchor “of strong alliances in every corner of the world.”

President Obama on Monday signed into law a bill requiring the State Department to regularly brief Congress on U.S. efforts to advocate for the best interests of North Korean children.

The legislation from Rep. Ed Royce (R-Calif.), the new chairman of the House Foreign Affairs panel, aims to help so-called “stateless children” living outside the totalitarian country. It calls on the United States to advocate for family reunification efforts and the adoption of North Korean children living in countries such as South Korea and especially China.

"It is little wonder that tens of thousands - mostly women - flee to China, seeking just a modicum of freedom,” Royce said in a statement. “For many, it is a last resort; it is a final chance to avoid starvation and unspeakable oppression. Sadly, many don't survive the ordeal, leaving behind children."

The rules will force oil, gas and mining companies to disclose payments to foreign governments.

Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) called for the United States to end its embargo against Cuba on Thursday.

Bingaman’s comments came after the Senate voted 92-4 to end a Cold-War-era trading prohibition against Russia.

“Another out-of-date policy from the Cold War is the trade embargo on Cuba,” Bingaman said on the floor Thursday. “The world has changed, and it is long past time that we change our policies with Cuba. ... It does not make our country safer and it does no good to the people of Cuba.”

The administration is framing the trip as a way to show the U.S. is ready to meet repressive regimes halfway