State Department Releases Country Reports on Human Rights

The U.S. State Department released the 2011 report on human rights practices around the globe.   It's been a busy year.  While Libya is responding harshly to calls for a democratically-elected government, Burma (also known as Myanmar) appears to be loosening its restrictions on political dissent. Noting that "the yearning for change we have witnessed in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Yemen, and Syria is inspirational", the report also notes troubling increases in persecution of religious groups, ethnic and racial minorities, and gays, lesbians, and transgendered individuals. 

For additional resources, consult our Human Rights page which includes links from other governmental entities and international organizations such as Amnesty Internation, Human Rights Watch, and others.  Many in the international community are critical of the United States for its practice of the death penalty.