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:
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 – 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, Tillis call for release of human rights defenders across Latin America
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 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 establishing the John S. McCain III Human Rights Commission.