U S Government Accountability Office

Human rights U S Government Accountability Office

" The Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended, prohibits assistance to a unit of a foreign government's security forces if the Secretary of State has credible information that such unit has committed a gross violation of human rights. DOD's annual appropriation contains a similar provision that applies to DOD-funded training programs. State administers a vetting process to address these laws, commonly referred to as the Leahy laws. GAO was asked to review implementation of these laws. This report examines the extent to which (1) State and DOD provide guidance to their personnel to address the Leahy laws, (2) State monitors whether U. S. embassies have developed procedures to address the requirements of the Leahy laws, and (3) State provides training to personnel who conduct human rights vetting. This is a public version of a sensitive but unclassified GAO report. Information State deemed sensitive has been redacted. GAO reviewed agency guidance and training materials and interviewed officials in Washington, D. C., and at eight U. S. embassies selected in part based on whether they were in countries that State identified as countries of human rights concern. "