§8211 Democracy promotion at the Department of State

Summary

Create and fill Democracy Liaison Officer jobs at the State Department. These officers report to the Assistant Secretary and can work at U.S. missions to regional and multilateral bodies (including the EU, African Union, Organization of American States, OSCE, UN and its agencies, and NATO), at regional public diplomacy centers, at U.S. combatant commands, or at other posts the Secretary names. Each officer must give advice on how to promote democracy, help plan and carry out democratic transitions, and do other tasks assigned by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary. As much as possible, these should be new positions added to existing human-rights and democracy staff, given available funding and people. This does not change the authority of the top U.S. diplomat at an embassy or other diplomatic officials. The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor must identify at least one office to work with democratic movements and help countries move to full democracy. The Assistant Secretary must support the Democracy Liaison Officers, build relationships with and help nongovernmental groups and peaceful pro-democracy movements, and help regional bureaus make strategies and programs for peaceful change. The Bureau must also name staff who specialize in working with foreign NGOs and movements. In nondemocratic or transition countries, the chief of mission should make annual plans to promote democratic values, meet and support local pro-democracy groups, publicly speak out about human-rights abuses and visit peaceful protest sites, discuss democratic progress with national leaders, and meet with civil society, media, students, and young people. The Secretary should try to raise the share of Foreign Service members in the Bureau. Funding as needed may be provided to carry out these duties.