Press Release

Office of the Historian
Bureau of Public Affairs
United States Department of State
August 22, 2013

The Department of State released today Foreign Relations of the United States, 1977–1980, Volume II, Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs.

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. The volume and this press release are available on the Office of the Historian website at http://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1977-80v02. Copies of the volume will be available for purchase from the U.S. Government Printing Office online at http://bookstore.gpo.gov (GPO S/N 044-000-02653-8 ISBN 978-0-16-091367-9), or by calling toll-free 1–866–512–1800 (D.C. area 202–512–1800). For further information, contact history@state.gov.