US Codex
Pub. L.
Notes

Title IV — Promoting United States Values in the Indo-Pacific Region

115th Congress · Approved Dec 31, 2018 · 132 Stat. 5387 · Lineage

TITLE IV Promoting United States Values in the Indo-Pacific Region

SEC. 401. Findings.

Congress makes the following findings:
(1)
The promotion of human rights and respect for democratic values in the Indo-Pacific region is in the United States’ national security interest.
(2)
Continued support for human rights, democratic values, and good governance is critical to a successful United States diplomatic strategy in the Indo-Pacific.
(3)
Strong support for human rights and democracy in the Indo-Pacific region is critical to efforts to reduce poverty, build rule of law, combat corruption, reduce the allure of extremism, and promote economic growth.
(4)
There are serious concerns with the rule of law and civil liberties in Cambodia, China, North Korea, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam, which have all been identified by Freedom House as “Not Free”.
(5)
There have been unacceptable human rights developments in—
(A)
Burma (Myanmar), which has been identified by Freedom House as “Partly Free”, and the Department of State has declared that the violence against the Rohingya constitutes ethnic cleansing;
(B)
the Philippines, which has been identified by Freedom House as “Partly Free”, and where there are continued disturbing reports of extra-judicial killings; and
(C)
China, where forced disappearances, extralegal detentions, invasive and omnipresent surveillance, and lack of due process in judicial proceedings remain troublesome.
(6)
according to the National Security Strategy, the United States—
(A)
will “support, with our words and actions, those who live under oppressive regimes and who seek freedom, individual dignity, and the rule of law”;
(B)
“may use diplomacy, sanctions, and other tools to isolate states and leaders who threaten our interests and whose actions run contrary to our values”; and
(C)
“will support efforts to advance women’s equality, protect the rights of women and girls, and promote women and youth empowerment programs”.

SEC. 402. Trafficking-In-Persons.

The President is encouraged to pursue additional efforts to combat trafficking in persons and human slavery in the Indo-Pacific region.

SEC. 403. Freedom of the Press.

It is the sense of Congress that—
(1)
United States Government officials should lead by example—
(A)
by continuing to advocate for freedom of the press in the Indo-Pacific region; and
(B)
by engaging with the press corps at every appropriate opportunity; and
(2)
the United States should advocate and support a Ministerial to Advance Press Freedom in the Indo-Pacific to convene government and civil society, including journalists, to discuss and address the challenges facing press freedom in the Indo-Pacific region.

SEC. 404. Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor Personnel.

It is the sense of Congress that—
(1)
United States embassies and consulates in the Indo-Pacific region should have personnel, as appropriate, who are dedicated to reporting on and advancing United States democracy, human rights, labor, anti-corruption, and good governance policy interests; and
(2)
appropriate resources should be made available to carry out such activities.

SEC. 405. Bilateral and Regional Dialogues; People-To-People Engagement.

The Secretary of State should, as appropriate—
(1)
establish high-level bilateral and regional dialogues with nations in the Indo-Pacific region regarding human rights and religious freedom violations;
(2)
establish or support robust, people-to-people exchange programs in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly programs engaging young leaders; and
(3)
establish educational exchanges and capacity-building programs emphasizing civil society development.

SEC. 406. Association of Southeast Asian Nations Human Rights Strategy.

(a)
Sense of Congress.— It is the sense of Congress that the United States should continue to work with ASEAN to improve the capacity of ASEAN to address human rights, democracy, and good governance issues in Southeast Asia.
(b)
Strategy.— Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, after consultation with the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, shall submit a strategy to the appropriate congressional committees to increase cooperation with ASEAN to promote human rights, democracy, and good governance in Southeast Asia.
(c)
Contents.— The strategy submitted under subsection (b) should include—
(1)
an assessment of the types of United States Government resources available to support increased cooperation; and
(2)
an assessment to identify entities within ASEAN that the United States could potentially support or partner with to promote human rights, democracy, and good governance in Southeast Asia.

SEC. 407. Freedom of Information to North Korea.

The President is encouraged to continue efforts to enhance freedom of information access with regard to North Korea.

SEC. 408. Sense of Congress on Imposition of Sanctions and Suspension of United States Assistance.

(a)
Sanctions.— It is the sense of Congress that the President should impose targeted financial penalties and visa ban sanctions, in accordance with applicable law and other relevant authorities, on any individual or entity that—
(1)
violates human rights or religious freedoms; or
(2)
engages in censorship activities.
(b)
Suspension of Foreign Assistance.— It is the sense of Congress that the President should, in accordance with applicable law, terminate, suspend, or otherwise alter United States economic assistance to any country that has engaged in serious violations of human rights or religious freedoms.

SEC. 409. Authorization of Appropriations.

(a)
Promotion of Democracy in the Indo-Pacific Region.—
(1)
In general.— There is authorized to be appropriated $210,000,000, for each of the fiscal years 2019 through 2023, to promote democracy, strengthen civil society, human rights, rule of law, transparency, and accountability in the Indo-Pacific region, including for universities, civil society, and multilateral institutions that are focusing on education awareness, training, and capacity building.
(2)
Democracy in china.— Amounts appropriated pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be made available for United States Government efforts, led by the Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, to promote democracy, the rule of law, and human rights in the People’s Republic of China.
(3)
Tibet.— Amounts appropriated pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be made available for nongovernmental organizations to support activities preserving cultural traditions and promoting sustainable development, education, and environmental conservation in Tibetan communities in the Tibet Autonomous Region and in other Tibetan communities in China, India, and Nepal.

SEC. 410. Indo-Pacific Human Rights Defenders.

(a)
Defined Term.— In this section, the term “human rights defenders” means individuals, working alone or in groups, who nonviolently advocate for the promotion and protection of universally recognized human rights and fundamental freedoms if the advocacy of such issues may result in the risk of safety or life.
(b)
Sense of Congress.— It is the sense of Congress that human rights defenders in the Indo-Pacific region have been facing increased difficulties with the rise of unprecedented crackdowns and conflicts.
(c)
Authorization of Appropriations.— There are authorized to be appropriated $1,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2019 through 2023 to provide critical assistance to human rights defenders through the Department of State’s Human Rights Defenders Fund.
(d)
Report.— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter through 2023, the Secretary of State, in cooperation with the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, shall submit a report to Congress that includes—
(1)
a list and evaluation of the Human Rights Defenders Fund activities since its inception;
(2)
a strategy for any increased regional engagement and measures of success for the activities described in paragraph (1); and
(3)
an accounting of funds used to execute the Human Rights Defender Fund activities.

SEC. 411. Young Leaders People-To-People Initiatives.

There are authorized to be appropriated $25,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2019 through 2023 to support Indo-Pacific young leaders initiatives, including the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative, the ASEAN Youth Volunteers Program, and other people-to-people exchange programs that focus on building the capacity of democracy, human rights, and good governance activists in the Indo-Pacific region.

SEC. 412. Savings Provision.

Nothing in this Act may be construed as authorizing the use of military force.