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Title 22, Foreign Relations and IntercourseRelease 119-110

§7812 Support for Human Rights and Democracy Programs

Title 22 › CHAPTER 85 — NORTH KOREAN HUMAN RIGHTS › SUBCHAPTER I — PROMOTING THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF NORTH KOREANS › § 7812

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The President can give grants to private, nonprofit groups to support programs that boost human rights, democracy, the rule of law, and a market economy in North Korea. Grants can fund education and cultural exchanges with North Korean participants if other laws allow it. Grants can also pay for research into North Korea’s human rights abuses, including who in the political and military chains ordered or carried out abuses at prison camps and detention facilities holding political prisoners. Congress authorized $2,000,000 for each fiscal year 2005 through 2008 and $2,000,000 for each fiscal year 2009 through 2022 to carry out these grants. That money may remain available until it is spent.

Full Legal Text

Title 22, §7812

Foreign Relations and Intercourse, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Support
The President is authorized to provide grants to private, nonprofit organizations to support programs that promote human rights, democracy, rule of law, and the development of a market economy in North Korea. Such programs may include appropriate educational and cultural exchange programs with North Korean participants, to the extent not otherwise prohibited by law. The President is also authorized to provide grants to entities to undertake research on North Korea’s denial of human rights, including on the political and military chains of command responsible for authorizing and implementing systemic human rights abuses, including at prison camps and detention facilities where political prisoners are held.
(b)Authorization of appropriations
(1)In general
There are authorized to be appropriated to the President $2,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2005 through 2008 and $2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 through 2022 to carry out this section.
(2)Availability
Amounts appropriated pursuant to the authorization of appropriations under paragraph (1) are authorized to remain available until expended.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2018—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 115–198, § 7(a)(1), inserted at end “The President is also authorized to provide grants to entities to undertake research on North Korea’s denial of human rights, including on the political and military chains of command responsible for authorizing and implementing systemic human rights abuses, including at prison camps and detention facilities where political prisoners are held.” Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 115–198, § 7(a)(2), substituted “2022” for “2017”. 2012—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 112–172 substituted “2017” for “2012”. 2008—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 110–346 inserted “and $2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 through 2012” after “2008”.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

22 U.S.C. § 7812

Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110