Dec 8, 2017
Governments that sponsor or condone violence or discrimination against their own people are more likely to see extremism grow in their country. If left unchecked, human rights violations and abuses and poor governance spawn radicalized individuals and communities that can escalate into threats to international peace and security, said Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Steve Goldstein.
“It's very clear in countries where human rights abuses occur, there's a greater growth of terrorism,” said Undersecretary Goldstein.
Handcuffs are pictured inside a prison, which according to Syria Democratic Forces (SDF) fighters belonged to Islamic State militants, in Manbij, Aleppo Governorate, Syria.
“Preventing violent extremism is core to the work of the Trump administration. The tools of democracy are a critical component to how we confront terrorism.”
President Donald Trump's administration is exploring opportunities to build tolerance and accountability to counter violent extremism and bring new voices to conversations about inclusive governance.
“We work daily to try to address human rights issues around the world,” said Undersecretary Goldstein. “The Secretary and other members of the administration bring issues of human rights up with foreign leaders when they travel. We try to make the point that ensuring democracy is vital and that we have a responsibility to our citizens and that these world leaders have responsibility to their citizens to provide an environment where [human rights] can grow and prosper.”
The United States will continue to advance human rights through bilateral and multilateral engagement, public diplomacy, and supporting human rights defenders and civil society organizations.