Clinton releases human rights report

WASHINGTON, March 11 (UPI) -- The annual human rights report released Thursday by the U.S. State Department cited abuses around the world, including Iran, China, Afghanistan and Myanmar.

"The idea of human rights begins with a fundamental commitment to the dignity that is the birthright of every man, woman and child," Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said when releasing the report. "Progress in advancing human rights begins with the facts."

She called the department's Country Reports on Human Rights Practices "essential tools" for individuals and organizations protecting, reporting on or crafting policies protecting human rights.

"The principle that each person possesses equal moral value is a simple, self-evident truth, but securing a world in which all can exercise the rights that are naturally theirs is an immense practical challenge," Clinton said. "This is why we are committed to holding everyone to the same standard, including ourselves."

She said this year the United States is participating in the universal periodic review process as part of its participation in the U.N. Human Rights Council.

The State Department said the Iranian government severely limited citizens' right to peacefully change their government through free and fair elections, Voice of America said.

It said the Chinese government's human rights record "remained poor and worsened in some areas." Besides noting human rights violations continued in Myanmar, the report said the abuses were "egregious."

The security situation in Afghanistan "deteriorated significantly" in 2009 because of increased insurgent attacks, with civilians bearing the brunt of the violence.

"Human rights may be timeless, but our efforts to protect them must be grounded in the here and now," Clinton said. "We find ourselves in a moment when an increasing number of governments are imposing new and crippling restrictions on the non-governmental organizations working to protect rights and enhance accountability. "