June 9th, 2008 by Sarah

Freedom House releases an analysis of the Bush administration’s FY09 Budget Request.

 They made several recommendations including the reinstatement of funding for the State Department’s Bureau of Democracy Human Rights and Labor, and USAID’s Office of Transition.

In addition, they warn that cutting funding initiatives to Russia and China—countries with growing international influence and diminishing freedom domestically—will adversely affect the work of democracy and human rights advocates from these countries.

In regards to the Middle East, Freedom House urges Congress to fully fund democracy and human rights assistance for Egypt and consider conditioning a portion of Egypt’s military assistance on political reform. Country specific funding should be provided for democracy activists in the Gulf while Tunisia and Algeria should each receive $1 million.

For the full report, click here.

Posted in Congress, Human Rights, Legislation, US foreign policy |