On April 13, the U.S. Department of State published the annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices — the Human Rights Reports — which describe the status of internationally recognized human rights in countries around the world, including those rights reflected in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. You can read the full reports at www.state.gov or Human Rights Reports
The annual Human Rights Reports are mandated by the U.S. Congress. The Department of State prepared these reports using information from a wide variety of sources, including foreign government officials, nongovernmental and international organizations, and published reports. The guiding principle was that all information be reported objectively, thoroughly, and fairly.
The 2015 Human Rights Report for Ecuador can be found here:http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/humanrightsreport/index.htm?year=2015&dlid=253011. The report documents areas of concern on human rights as well as areas of progress over the past year.
Recognizing that defending and advancing human rights are challenges for all countries, including our own, the U.S. government looks for ways to engage constructively on human rights issues with host governments, civil society, and many other actors in Ecuador and around the world.
“Respecting human rights isn’t just a moral obligation, it is an opportunity to harness the full energy of a country’s population in building a cohesive and prosperity society,” said Secretary of State John Kerry in his remarks presenting the 2015 Human Rights Reports. “The norms referred to in this report are universal norms… and in the arena of human rights, every government has the ability to improve, including the United States.”
Human rights are one important aspect of the rich bilateral relationship that the United States and Ecuador share. Through our continuing cooperation on security, education, trade, health, and other areas, we seek to partner to create a safer, more inclusive, and prosperous future with greater opportunities for all of our citizens.
