Human Rights Caucus

Senator Coons is committed to promoting human rights through U.S. foreign policy and co-chairs the Senate Human Rights Caucus with Senator Thom Tillis (R-N.C.). Senator Coons co-founded the bipartisan Senate Human Rights Caucus in 2014 with former Senator Mark Kirk to build support in Congress for efforts to preserve and protect fundamental human rights around the world. The Caucus holds briefings on a wide range of issues, such as the persecution of the Rohingya, human rights in Iran, and threats to religious minorities.

Current members of the Human Rights Caucus include Senators Coons, Tillis, Merkley, Ernst, Markey, Hirono, Young, Sinema, Peters, Cassidy, Klobuchar, and Braun.

Events:

2024 – Human Rights in the Horn of Africa: A discussion on the state of violence, conflict, and human rights in Sudan and Ethiopia.

2023 – Coups & Human Rights: A discussion of the implications of coups on the state of human rights in Africa.

2023 – Human Rights in Turkey: Human Rights, Civil Liberties, and Foreign Policy ahead of the May 14 general elections

2022 – Human Rights in China: Policy Approaches in and around the 2022 Winter Olympic Games

2021 – Responding to Sexual Violence in Conflict

2020 – Atrocity Prevention and Early Warning: The U.S. Government Framework and Côte d'Ivoire

2020 – COVID-19 and the Erosion of Human Rights  

2019 – Detained in Iran: A Discussion of the Arbitrary Detention of U.S. and Foreign Nationals in Iran 

2019 – Religious Freedom in China: Assessing the Role of Surveillance Technology in Abuses Against the Uyghurs and Across China

2019 – The 25th Commemoration of the Genocide in Rwanda 

2019 – Mobilizing Resources to Combat Modern Slavery

2018 – Advancing Human Rights in Iran

2018 – Assessing Electoral Progress in the DRC

2018 – World Refugee Day 2018: Rohingya at Risk

2018 – Turkey: Human Rights and Religious Freedom in Crisis

2017 – Forced to Flee Burma: Stories of Rohingya in Bangladesh

Statements:

Senators Coons, Lankford, Kaine, and Tillis reintroduce bipartisan resolution supporting international religious freedom

Senators Coons, Tillis, colleagues issue bipartisan call for immediate release of renowned economist Gubad Ibadoghlu and express concern over state of human rights in Azerbaijan

Senators Coons, Tillis call for release of human rights defenders across Latin America

Senators Coons, Tillis release statement calling for release of wrongfully imprisoned reporters on World Press Freedom Day

More than 100 advocates urge Senate leadership to move resolution protecting religious freedom forward

Senators Coons, Tillis mark two-year anniversary of Rohingya genocide determination

Tillis and Coons Statement on Reports of Russian War Crimes in Ukraine

Sens. Coons, Tillis statement on the anniversary of Jamal Khashoggi's murder

Sens. Coons, Tillis statement on the 30th anniversary of Tiananmen Square

Sens. Coons, Tillis introduce resolution to establish a human rights commission in honor of the late Senator McCain

Sens. Coons and Tillis, Rep. Lowenthal introduce resolution honoring Human Rights Day

Sens. Coons, Tillis join VP Pence in condemning violence against Burma's Rohingya

Sens. Coons, Tillis call on Saudis to investigate disappearance of Jamal Khashoggi

Sens. Coons, Tillis introduce resolution recognizing critical work of human rights defenders

Sens. Coons, Tillis statement on Reuters journalists in Burma

Sens. Coons, Tillis issue joint statement on protests in Iran

Sens. Coons, Tillis statement on Reuters journalists arrested in Burma

Sens. Coons, Tillis statement on President Trump's trip to Asia

Sens. Coons, Tillis on the passing of Liu Xiaobo

Legislation:

A resolution establishing the Senate Human Rights Commission

A bipartisan 2025 resolution supporting international religious freedom

A bipartisan resolution supporting international religious freedom

A resolution designating December 10, 2018, as "Human Rights Day" and recognizing the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

A resolution establishing the John S. McCain III Human Rights Commission.

A resolution recognizing the critical work of human rights defenders in promoting human rights, the rule of law, democracy, and good governance.