51. Telegram From the Department of State to All Diplomatic and Consular Posts1
210557. Subject: Annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices Ref: A) 80 State 224684.2 For Ambassadors from the Under Secretary for Political Affairs.
1. Summary: Country reports on human rights this year need only be updated versions of last year’s report, with increased emphasis on rights involving the integrity of the individual and civil and political rights. Guidelines for a somewhat broader focus on these rights are included. A shorter section dealing with vital economic and social needs should be rewritten, using universal economic indicators to be provided posts by the Department. Objectivity should be maintained. A schedule of submission dates will be established by septel, with the first group of reports due September 15. End summary.
2. The Department plans to provide Country Human Rights Reports to Congress for 1981, in keeping with the continuing legal requirement for such materials. As you are aware, the reports are intended to assist Congress in assessing human rights conditions in connection with congressional decisions on economic and military assistance. It is essential that the reports maintain the objectivity for which they are widely recognized. The reports volume should continue to serve as a work of reference on human rights conditions in each country in the light of that country’s historical, economic and security situation.
3. It will not be necessary to draft entirely new reports for 1981. Instead, posts should largely update last year’s reports with information concerning events in 1981, using the basic text (if still applicable) and same general approach of the 1980 reports. Any new trends, positive as well as negative, should be identified and fully documented.
4. The section dealing with the fulfillment of vital needs should be totally revised and shifted from Section II to become Section IV of the 1981 report. This reflects a strong USG concern that while human aspirations repeat aspirations for the fulfillment of vital economic, social and cultural needs must be met to the maximum extent, the [Page 158] urgent and pressing rights repeat rights involving the integrity of the person and civil and political liberties should be emphasized.
5. The new report format would thus be as follows: Introduction (summary comments and description supported by information contained in the body of the report); Section I (entitled Respect for the Integrity of the Person, including freedom from: A. Torture, B. Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, C. Disappearances, D. Arbitrary Arrest and Imprisonment, E. Denial of Fair Public Trial, F. Invasion of the Home); Section II (entitled, Respect for Civil and Political Liberties, including: A. Freedom of Speech, Press, Religion and Assembly, B. Freedom of Movement Within the Country, Foreign Travel, Emigration and Repatriation, C. Freedom to Participate in the Political Process); Section III (entitled, Government Attitude and Record Regarding International and Non-Governmental Investigation of Alleged Violations of Human Rights); Section IV (entitled, Economic and Social Circumstances).
6. The Department expects that the primary focus of the report will be on the degree of respect for the right to the integrity of the person and for civil and political rights. Posts should be guided in their approach to updating in these areas by last year’s drafting instruction telegram, which is being repeated (80 State 224684). Additional mention, however, of the degree of respect accorded the right to participate in the political process should be made. A closer look at the right of assembly with respect to labor unions also is desirable.
7. Posts should broaden their focus on the rights of the person and civil and political rights by directing attention this year to significant violations of human rights perpetrated in the host country not only by the government but also by opposition or insurgent groups or by agents of other governments, excluding border skirmishes. The use of terrorist methods by foreign and domestic elements should be examined. An attempt should be made also to portray the wider context of the human rights situation, including threats from hostile powers. Such mention, as appropriate, may be included in Sections I and II.
8. The new Section IV should provide a brief survey of the economic, social and cultural environment within which the government administers polices affecting economic and social needs of the country. This should include reference to the extent to which these needs are met on a non-discriminatory basis. For most posts, Section IV should center upon the broad categories of (A) Health and Nutrition, (B) Education and, (C) Income and Poverty, using statistical economic indicators, which the Department will provide, to support the discussion.
9. The following indicators for each country drawn from World Bank figures will be sent septel to be integrated into the discussion:
[Page 159]—GNP per capita
—Life expectancy at birth
—Infant mortality rate
—Adult literacy rate (total, urban, and rural)
—Population growth and total fertility rates
—Percentage of population with access to safe water (total, urban and rural)
—Adjusted primary school enrollment ratio (total, female, urban, and rural)
—Average number of persons housed per room (total, urban, and rural)
—Ratio of calorie supply available for consumption relative to nutritional requirements
—Population below absolute poverty level (total, urban, and rural)
10. For Section IV, posts in industrial market economy countries (IMEC) need not submit more than a table with the economic indicators and a brief statement on the extent to which food, shelter, health care and education are available to all inhabitants regardless of race, religion, sex, ethnic background, or political opinion. More extensive reporting in this section is desirable from other countries so as to continue to inform Congress and the public of the degree of economic and social development in non-IMEC lands.
11. In updating the new Section III, posts need not report the international human rights and refugee conventions to which the host government is a party. The Department will place a table containing this information in the reports volume, derived from listings available in Washington, as was done last year.
12. A schedule for submission will be established shortly by septels from the regional bureaus.3
13. As before, drafts of the reports should not be shown to or discussed with foreign officials, foreign nationals, or other non-embassy persons.
- Source: Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, D810371–0204. Unclassified; Priority. Drafted by Simon; cleared in HA, EUR, ARA, IO/HR, INR, P, H, S/P, M, L/HR, RP, S/S, AF, EA, EB, NEA, and AID/PPC; approved by Stoessel.↩
- In telegram 224684 to all diplomatic and consular posts, August 23, 1980, the Department transmitted the instructions for the 1980 Human Rights reports. (Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, D800403–0131)↩
- The Department transmitted the regional submission schedule in telegram 214068 to all East Asian and Pacific diplomatic posts, August 12; telegram 215288 to all American Republic diplomatic posts, August 13; telegram 216807 to all African diplomatic posts, August 14; telegram 217546 to all European diplomatic posts, August 15; and telegram 225582 to all Near Eastern and South Asian diplomatic posts, August 24. (Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, D810377–0840, D810379–0364, D810381–0937, D810382–0617, and D810397–0095)↩