Human Rights Initiatives - Program Reports

Dec. 5, 2018
Scripturally Annotated Universal Declaration of Human Rights (PDF)
To mark the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), and inspired by President Carter’s long commitment to these same values, The Carter Center has published a compilation of Biblical texts that demonstrate alignment with the UDHR. This document does not offer a definitive analysis, but hopes to inspire thought and initiate discussions, as well as provide Christian validation of the basic values and principles that the UDHR espouses.

May 23, 2017
Final Statement of the Human Rights Defenders Forum (PDF)
We, human rights defenders from 31 countries, work with different strategies in different contexts for one common purpose: to protect and expand human freedom. The struggle for justice and equality is one we wage for all humanity, and we see in all regions of the world attacks on rights won over generations.

Dec. 7, 2015
Mobilizing Action for Women and Girls in West Africa (PDF)
The oppression and abuse of women and girls are recognized globally as a serious impediment to sustainable development and human security, contributing to the suffering of entire families and communities. Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter has often argued that the mistreatment of women and girls is the number one human rights abuse of our lifetime. He has blamed this abuse largely on the misinterpretation of holy texts, which relegate women to secondary positions to men.

March 21, 2014
Mobilizing Faith for Women (PDF)
On June 27–29, 2013, religious leaders, scholars, and activists joined former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and the U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights at The Carter Center for the 2013 Human Rights Defenders Forum on the theme Mobilizing Faith for Women: Engaging the Power of Religion and Belief to Advance Human Rights and Dignity. Building on earlier forums, which had explored the bases for human rights within religious traditions, participants pursued an ambitious agenda with the goal of mobilizing religious and political leaders to advocate for the human rights of women and girls.

Oct. 1, 2012
Les Investissements Miniers en République Démocratique du Congo: Développement ou Appauvrissement des Communautés Locales? (PDF)
Rapport d'impact des investissements miniers étrangers sur les droits humains Cas des investissements Chemical of Africa (Chemaf) et Ruashi Mining au Katanga.

English Translation:
Investments in Mining in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: Development or Impoverishment of Local Communities? (French only - PDF)
Report on the impact of foreign mining investment on human rights.

Feb. 17, 2010
U.S. Engagement With the U.N. Human Rights System (PDF)
The Carter Center and the Brookings Institution's Managing Global Insecurity Initiative convened human rights advocates from Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, Indonesia, Israel, Malaysia,Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, and the United States to evaluate the impact of the U.N.'s human rights system on their work.

Dec. 3, 2008
Human Rights Leaders Urge President-Elect Obama to Renew U.S. Commitments to Human Rights
An international group of human rights organizations and human rights defenders meeting at The Carter Center today issued an urgent appeal for President-elect Barack Obama to renew U.S. commitments to human rights principles and practices that have been abandoned since the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks against the United States.

Sept. 7, 2007
Final Report: The Fourth Human Rights Defenders Policy Forum (PDF)
The forum, titled "Faith and Freedom: Protecting Human Rights as a Common Cause," convened on Sept. 6–7, 2007. Human rights defenders from 20 countries around the world to discuss the importance of faith communities in protecting human rights and to propose strategies for addressing mass atrocities.

Sept. 7, 2007
Final Statement: 2007 Human Rights Defenders Policy Forum
On Sept. 5, human rights defenders, including several from faith-based organizations, came from 20 countries to discuss the challenges they face in addressing mass atrocities and to develop recommendations for the international community. On Sept. 6 and 7, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour co-chaired a meeting to consider the recommendations and to discuss the matter in more detail with representatives of governments and multilateral institutions.

May 23, 2006
Defenders Gather to Examine Global Human Rights in Age of Democratization
The May 23-24 Human Rights Defenders Policy Forum, sponsored by The Carter Center and Human Rights First, seeks to amplify the voices of those on the front lines of the struggle for human rights and democracy, and initiate action on pressing human rights issues to the international community.

May 5, 2005
Global and National Trends Affecting the Protection of Human Rights: Discussion Document
This represents a summary of major issues discussed by participants in the Human Rights Defender Policy Forum organized by The Carter Center and Human Rights First in Atlanta. It is not an exhaustive review of the discussions, nor does it necessarily represent the views of any of the individual participants in the meeting or the organizations they represent. A full report of the meeting will be issued later this year.

May 14, 2004
Human Rights Defenders on the Frontlines of Freedom: Protecting Human Rights in the Context of the War on Terror
Carter Center report from the Human Rights Defenders Conference, November 11-12, 2003.

May 3, 1999
Transparency in the Americas (PDF)
The Carter Center hosted hemispheric leaders at a conference to examine corruption problems and potential remedies, May 3-5, 1999. This report summarizes participants’ discussions and conclusions.

Dec. 31, 1997
Human Rights, The United Nations, and Nongovernmental Organizations (PDF)
The following collection of articles examines specific areas where NGOs have made significant contributions to U.N. human rights work. The opbjective is to paint a diverse picture - not a comprehensive one - of the vital partnership that is emerging between human rights NGOs and the United Nations and of areas in which some change is needed.

Dec. 15-17, 1997
Education for Human Rights and Democratic Citizenship: The Liberia Model (PDF)
This document summarizes a consultation with Liberia’s Ministry of Education on incorporating human rights into Liberia’s educational system.

Nov. 13, 1997
The United States and the Establishment of a Permanent International Criminal Court (PDF)
The Carter Center and No Peace Without Justice brought key players to Atlanta to discuss the United States and the establishment of a permanent International Criminal Court. This document summarizes the conference proceedings, including excerpts of transcripts, panel presentations, and discussion sessions.

Dec. 4-7, 1996 & Dec. 11-14, 1996
Education for Human Rights and Democratic Citizenship: The Ethiopia Experience (PDF)
This report summarizes two training workshops held at Bahir Dar Teachers’ College and the Ministry of Education in December 1996. Incorporation of human rights education into schools through curricula, teaching methods, and practices was discussed.

July 1, 1992
Investigating Abuses and Introducing Safeguards in the Democratization Process
A report from the 1990 Carter Center conference, "Investigating Abuses and Introducing Human Rights Safeguards in the Democratization Process." Includes welcome address by Jimmy Carter and opening presentation by Jamal Benomar (PDF format).

Jan. 14, 1992
Human Rights: The Real Cost of War / Globalism and Meaningful Peace: A New World Order Rooted in International Community (PDF)
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former Commonwealth Secretary-General Shridath Ramphal’s plenary addresses for the 1992 Consultation of the International Negotiation Network, Jan. 14-17, 1992. This document contains the English, Arabic, French, Russian, and Spanish translations.