On the one-year anniversary of Ethiopia’s general elections, Rep. Chris Smith – Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations – said it is imperative that the Government of Ethiopia release all political prisoners and prisoners of conscience. Smith also noted the importance negotiating with the two main political party coalitions to end the stalemate on the limited rights of opposition members of Parliament and investigating killings of protestors by government forces. Read more

U.S. Rep. Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ) – Co-Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe – has introduced the Central Asia Democracy and Human Rights Promotion Act (HR 5382), legislation aimed at advancing human rights and fundamental freedoms in the region. Roughly 15 years after independence, the five countries of Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan) continue to struggle through the transition from Soviet authoritarian rule to democratic societies that fully respect human rights. Read more

U.S. Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ), Chairman of the House subcommittee that oversees global human rights, expressed today expressed profound disappointment about the UN Human Rights Council Elections. According to the resolution establishing the Council, this UN body is “responsible for promoting universal respect for the protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all.” Read more

First, let me thank the organizers of this conference for inviting me to speak. I applaud the co-sponsors for putting together this timely and sober gathering to mark the one-year anniversary of the Andijon events. Read more

U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations, today praised President Bush for calling for more UN Peacekeepers for the embattled Darfur region of Sudan and proposing an increase in US food aid. On Friday, Smith expressed hope that a peace deal signed by the largest Darfur rebel group and the government of Sudan could be “the first step toward peace and stability” in the region. Read more

U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations, today expressed hope that a peace deal signed by the largest Darfur rebel group and the Government of Sudan could end the suffering in the region. Smith noted that the accord, which was brokered by the African Union (AU) and the international community, also could speed the augmentation of the AU force in Darfur. Read more

While the winner of the World Cup remains unknown, the clear losers will be the thousands of women and children trafficked and exploited in Germany’s legal sex industry to accommodate the huge influx of demand experts anticipate will be generated by male fans attending the games. Read more

U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Chairman of the Committee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations issued the following statement today after the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) presented its Annual Recommendations to Secretary of State Rice on Countries of Particular Concern (CPCs). Read more

U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations, praised President Bush for placing new sanctions against criminals who aided in the genocide in Sudan’s Darfur region. Read more

For nearly 20 years, conflict between the government of Uganda and a terrorist organization, the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), has gripped northern Uganda. This brutal conflict has displaced more than 1.8 million people, caused skyrocketing HIV and AIDS rates, and is costing more than $100 million per year. Read more