The United Nations Human Rights Council is broken and increased U.S. influence is necessary to repair the body, said U.S. Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ) who chaired a hearing today aimed at bringing reform to the UN’s human rights agenda. “The UN’s human rights machinery remains broken and in need of serious repair and fundamental reform. Victims of abuse throughout the world deserve better than what the UN Human Rights Council has given them and we have an obligation to correct this injustic... Read more

The promised release of a high profile democracy advocate in Vietnam “should not and cannot be the end of much needed reforms in that country,” said US Congressman Chris Smith, the author of legislation recently passed by the House of Representatives calling on the Vietnamese government to immediately and unconditionally release Dr. Pham Hong Son and other political prisoners and prisoners of conscience held in that country (H.CON.RES. 320). “It is encouraging that the government of Vietnam is f... Read more

Saying the Darfur peace agreement was in danger, Rep. Christopher H. Smith (R., N.J.) has called on the Bush administration to appoint a special envoy to mediate among warring factions in the region. Read more

In the wake of the departure of the administration’s point man on Sudan, two leading human rights advocates in the United States House of Representatives, U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and U.S. Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA), today called for President George W. Bush to appoint a special envoy to Sudan so the U.S. can help push the peace process forward in Darfur and bring lasting peace and stability to Sudan. Read more

Slavery remains an unresolved issue in Sudan, and the U.S. needs to do more to end it, according to Africa Subcommittee Chairman Chris Smith who introduced legislation this week aimed at eliminating the horrific practice of bondage and human trafficking in that war-torn African nation. Read more

A special U.S. envoy for Sudan is needed to help usher in peace and stability in that war-torn nation according to Africa Subcommittee Chairman Chris Smith who met with the President of Southern Sudan, Salva Kiir Mayardit, on Capitol Hill today. Read more

U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Chairman of the House International Relations Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations, today expressed disappointment in the decision of the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to reject the recent petition to investigate the plight of workers in China. Smith and Benjamin Cardin (D-MD) were the two members of Congress to join the AFL-CIO in its filing of a Section 301 petition with the USTR supporting worker’s rights in China. Read more

July 19, 2006MR. SMITH of New Jersey: Mr. Speaker, the events in Lebanon during the past week are yet another wake-up call to those who have perhaps complacently thought or believed that the global war on terrorism has somehow abated. It has not. Israel is, in fact, on the front lines of this war as we meet. Mr. Speaker, we all know there is nothing whatsoever benign or noble or praiseworthy about the terrorist groups such as Hamas or Hezbollah and their state sponsors Syria and Iran. They not ... Read more

Safe blood for millions of sick and injured patients in Africa is becoming increasingly available — but still denied to millions — on the subcontinent, according to Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) who chaired a hearing this week that probed this often ignored and crucial issue. Read more

As the World Cup soccer championship advances to the quarterfinal round this week, a powerful congressional committee in Washington took a decisive step of its own and approved legislation urging the Government of Germany, host of the games, to do more to combat sexual trafficking of women in connection with the influx of athletes and fans in Germany for the soccer tournament. Read more