Foreign Relations of the United States, 1977–1980, Volume II, Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs

Background to series: The "Foreign Relations of the United States "series presents the official documentary historical record of major foreign policy decisions and significant diplomatic activity of the United States Government. The Historian of the Department of State is charged with the responsibility for the preparation of the "Foreign Relations "series. The staff of the Office of the Historian, Bureau of Public Affairs, under the direction of theGeneral Editor of the "Foreign Relations "series, plans, researches, compiles, and edits the volumes in the series. Secretary of State Frank B. Kellogg first promulgated official regulations codifying specific standards for the selection and editing of documents for the series on March 26, 1925. These regulations, with minor modifications, guided the series through 1991.Public Law 102-138, the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, established a new statutory charter for the preparation of the series, which was signed by President George H.W. Bush on October 28, 1991. Section 198 of P.L. 102-138 added a new Title IV to the Department ofState's Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 4351, et seq.). The statute requires that the "Foreign Relations "series be a thorough, accurate, and reliable record of major United States foreign policy decisions and significant United States diplomatic activity. The volumes of the series should include all records needed to provide comprehensive documentation of major foreign policy decisions and actions of the United States Government. The statute also confirms the editing principles established by Secretary Kellogg: the "Foreign Relations "series is guided by the principles of historical objectivity and accuracy; records should not be altered or deletions made without indicating in the publishedtext that a deletion has been made; the published record should omit no facts that were of major importance in reaching a decision; and nothing should be omitted for the purposes of concealing a defect in policy. The statute also requires that the "Foreign Relations "series be published not more than 30 years after the events recorded. The editors are convinced that this volume meets all regulatory, statutory, and scholarly standards of selection and editing. This volume is part of a Foreign Relations subseries that documents the most important issues in the foreign policy of the administration of Jimmy Carter. It illustrates the Carter administration's efforts to define and implement a broad-based human rights policy, including the establishment of the Bureau of Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs within the Department of State, the creation of human rights coordinating and review groups, issuance of a Presidential Directive on human rights, institutionalization and standardization of human rights reporting, and pursuit of human rights within the United Nations and other multilateral venues.The volume also documents steps undertaken by the Carter administration to fight hunger, launch a global health initiative, and advocate for women's rights. This volume was compiled and edited by Kristin L. Ahlberg.