22 U.S. Code § 262d - Human rights and United States assistance policies with international financial institutions

(a) Policy goals

The United States Government, in connection with its voice and vote in the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the International Development Association, the International Finance Corporation, the Inter-American Development Bank, the African Development Fund, the Asian Development Bank, the African Development Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the International Monetary Fund, shall advance the cause of human rights, including by seeking to channel assistance toward countries other than those whose governments engage in—

(1) a pattern of gross violations of internationally recognized human rights, such as torture or cruel, inhumane, or degrading treatment or punishment, prolonged detention without charges, or other flagrant denial to life, liberty, and the security of person; or

(2) provide refuge to individuals committing acts of international terrorism by hijacking aircraft.

(b) Policy considerations for Executive Directors of institutions in implementation of duties

Further, the Secretary of the Treasury shall instruct each Executive Director of the above institutions to consider in carrying out his duties:

(1) specific actions by either the executive branch or the Congress as a whole on individual bilateral assistance programs because of human rights considerations;

(2) the extent to which the economic assistance provided by the above institutions directly benefit the needy people in the recipient country;

(3) whether the recipient country—

(A) is seeking to acquire unsafeguarded special nuclear material (as defined in section 6305(8) of this title) or a nuclear explosive device (as defined in section 6305(4) of this title);

(B) is not a State Party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons; or

(C) has detonated a nuclear explosive device; and

(4) in relation to assistance for the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, the People’s Democratic Republic of Laos, Russia and the other independent states of the former Soviet Union (as defined in section 5801 of this title), and Democratic Kampuchea (Cambodia), the responsiveness of the governments of such countries in providing a more substantial accounting of Americans missing in action.

(c) Requirements of United States assistance through institutions for projects in recipient countries

The United States Government, in connection with its voice and vote in the institutions listed in subsection (a), shall seek to channel assistance to projects which address basic human needs of the people of the recipient country.

(d) Criteria for determination of gross violations of internationally recognized human rights standards

In determining whether a country is in gross violation of internationally recognized human rights standards, as defined by the provisions of subsection (a), the United States Government shall give consideration to the extent of cooperation of such country in permitting an unimpeded investigation of alleged violations of internationally recognized human rights by appropriate international organizations including, but not limited to, the International Committee of the Red Cross, Amnesty International, the International Commission of Jurists, and groups or persons acting under the authority of the United Nations or the Organization of American States.

(e) Opposition by United States Executive Directors of institutions to financial or technical assistance to violating countries

The United States Executive Directors of the institutions listed in subsection (a) are authorized and instructed to oppose any loan, any extension of financial assistance, or any technical assistance to any country described in subsection (a)(1) or (2), unless such assistance is directed specifically to programs which serve the basic human needs of the citizens of such country.

(f) Consultative requirement

The Secretary of the Treasury or his delegate shall consult frequently and in a timely manner with the chairmen and ranking minority members of the Committee on Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs of the House of Representatives and of the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate to inform them regarding any prospective changes in policy direction toward countries which have or recently have had poor human rights records.

(g) Violations of religious freedom

In determining whether the government of a country engages in a pattern of gross violations of internationally recognized human rights, as described in subsection (a), the President shall give particular consideration to whether a foreign government—

(1) has engaged in or tolerated particularly severe violations of religious freedom, as defined in section 6402 of this title; or

(2) has failed to undertake serious and sustained efforts to combat particularly severe violations of religious freedom when such efforts could have been reasonably undertaken.

(Pub. L. 95–118, title VII, § 701, Oct. 3, 1977, 91 Stat. 1069; Pub. L. 96–259, title V, § 501(a), (b), June 3, 1980, 94 Stat. 431, 432; Pub. L. 97–35, title XIII, § 1342(b), Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 743; Pub. L. 97–375, title II, § 211, Dec. 21, 1982, 96 Stat. 1826; Pub. L. 98–181, title I [title X, § 1004], Nov. 30, 1983, 97 Stat. 1286; Pub. L. 101–240, title V, § 541(c), (d)(4), (e)(8), Dec. 19, 1989, 103 Stat. 2517–2519; Pub. L. 101–513, title V, § 562(b)(2), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 2034; Pub. L. 102–511, title X, § 1008, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 3361; Pub. L. 103–236, title VIII, § 823(b), Apr. 30, 1994, 108 Stat. 512; Pub. L. 105–292, title IV, § 422, Oct. 27, 1998, 112 Stat. 2810; Pub. L. 106–569, title XI, § 1103(g), Dec. 27, 2000, 114 Stat. 3031; Pub. L. 113–188, title XVI, § 1601(b), Nov. 26, 2014, 128 Stat. 2025.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2014—Subsecs. (c) to (g). Pub. L. 113–188, which directed amendment of this section by striking subsec. (c) and redesignating subsec. (d) through subsec. (g) as added by section “501(g)” of Pub. L. 96–259 as subsecs. (c) through (f), respectively, was executed by redesignating subsec. (d) to subsec. (g) as added by section 501(b) of Pub. L. 96–259 (relating to consultative requirement) as (c) to (f), respectively, and striking out former subsec. (c) which related to reporting requirements, to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

2000—Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 106–569 substituted “The Secretary of the Treasury shall report annually” for “Not later than 30 days after the end of each calendar quarter, the Secretary of the Treasury shall report quarterly”.

1998—Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 105–292 added subsec. (g) relating to violations of religious freedom.

1994—Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 103–236 amended par. (3) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (3) read as follows: “whether the recipient country has detonated a nuclear device or is not a State Party to the Treaty on Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons or both; and”.

1992—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 102–511, § 1008(a), substituted “the African Development Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the International Monetary Fund,” for “and the African Development Bank,”.

Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 102–511, § 1008(b), inserted “Russia and the other independent states of the former Soviet Union (as defined in section 5801 of this title),” after “Laos,”.

1990—Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 101–513 struck out “(2)” before “The Secretary” and substituted “of the Committee on Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs of the House of Representatives and of the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate” for “specified in paragraph (1)”.

1989—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 101–240, § 541(c), amended subsec. (c) generally, substituting provisions relating to quarterly reports by Secretary of the Treasury not later than 30 days after end of each calendar quarter for provisions relating to annual reports by Secretaries of State and the Treasury, and quarterly reports by Secretary of the Treasury.

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 101–240, § 541(e)(8), struck out at end “The annual report required under subsection (c) shall include a listing of categories of such assistance granted, with particular attention to categories that address basic human needs.”

Subsec. (g)(1). Pub. L. 101–240, § 541(d)(4), struck out par. (1) which related to quarterly reporting requirements by Secretary of the Treasury in consultation with Secretary of State.

1983—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 98–181 substituted “pattern” for “consistent pattern”.

Subsec. (g)(1). Pub. L. 98–181 substituted “Not later than thirty days after the end of each calendar quarter, the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall report.” for “The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall report quarterly”.

1982—Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 97–375 inserted “excluding section 262e of this title and”.

1981—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 97–35 inserted reference to the African Development Bank.

1980—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 96–259, § 501(a), designated existing provisions as par. (1) and added par. (2).

Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 96–259, § 501(b), added subsec. (g).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

Committee on Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs of House of Representatives treated as referring to Committee on Banking and Financial Services of House of Representatives by section 1(a) of Pub. L. 104–14, set out as a note preceding section 21 of Title 2, The Congress. Committee on Banking and Financial Services of House of Representatives abolished and replaced by Committee on Financial Services of House of Representatives, and jurisdiction over matters relating to securities and exchanges and insurance generally transferred from Committee on Energy and Commerce of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 5, One Hundred Seventh Congress, Jan. 3, 2001.

Effective Date of 1994 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 103–236 effective 60 days after Apr. 30, 1994, see section 831 of Pub. L. 103–236, set out as an Effective Date note under section 6301 of this title.

Effective Date of 1989 Amendment

Pub. L. 101–240, title VIII, § 801, Dec. 19, 1989, 103 Stat. 2524, provided that:

“Except as otherwise provided in this Act, this Act and the amendments made by this Act [enacting sections 262m–7, 262p–4g to 262p–4k, 262r to 262r–2, 262s–1, 262t, 283z–5 to 283z–8, 286e–12, 286kk, and 2281 to 2286 of this title and section 3904a of Title 12, Banks and Banking, amending this section, sections 262m–7, 262p–1, 262p–5, 262s–2, 282b, 283b, 283cc, 284b, 285b, 286b, 286e–9, 286k–1, 286s, 290g–2, 290i–3, and 290k–5 of this title, and sections 635 and 635i–3 of Title 12, transferring former section 262q of this title to section 262s of this title and former section 4722 of Title 15, Commerce and Trade, to section 262s–2 of this title, repealing sections 262i, 262m–6, 276c–3, 283i, 286b–1, and 286b–2 of this title, enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 283z–6, 2151, and 2291 of this title and sections 635, 3901, and 3904a of Title 12, amending provisions set out as a note under section 262l of this title, and repealing provisions set out as notes under sections 262g–2 and 283 of this title] shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 19, 1989].”

Effective Date of 1981 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 97–35 effective Aug. 13, 1981, see section 1372 of Pub. L. 97–35, set out as an Effective Date note under section 290i of this title.

Effective Date

Section effective Oct. 3, 1977, see section 1001 of Pub. L. 95–118, set out as a note under section 282i of this title.

United States Support for Integration of Anti-trafficking Interventions in Multilateral Development Banks

Pub. L. 115–427, § 8, Jan. 9, 2019, 132 Stat. 5507, provided that:

“(a) Requirements.—

The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, acting through the Ambassador at Large for Monitoring and Combating Trafficking in Persons, shall instruct the United States Executive Director of each multilateral development bank to initiate discussions with the other executive directors and management of the respective multilateral development bank to—

“(1) further develop anti-human trafficking provisions in relevant project development, safeguards, procurement, and evaluation policies;

“(2) employing a risk-based approach, require human trafficking risk assessments and integration plans as a routine part of developing projects through existing, forthcoming or new mechanisms and processes;

“(3) support analyses of the impact of severe forms of trafficking in persons on key indicators of economic and social development and of the benefits of reducing human trafficking on economic and social development;

“(4) support the proactive integration of effective anti-trafficking interventions into projects with the objectives of enhancing development outcomes and reducing the incidence of severe forms of trafficking in project areas;

“(5) increase the capacity of multilateral development banks and of recipient governments to conduct human trafficking risk assessments and integrate anti-trafficking interventions into projects;

“(6) support the development of meaningful risk mitigation and reduction policies, regulations, and strategies within the multilateral development banks to reduce the incidence and prevalence of severe forms of trafficking in persons and enhance development outcomes that may be improved by reducing the incidence and prevalence of human trafficking; and

“(7) support the inclusion of human trafficking risk analysis in the development of relevant country strategies by each multilateral development bank.

“(b) Briefings.—

The Secretary of the Treasury shall make relevant officials available to brief the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate, the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives on the implementation of this section.”

Consultations for Adoption of Amendment to Articles of Agreement Respecting Human Rights Standards in Connection With Any Application for Assistance

Pub. L. 95–118, title VII, § 705, as added by Pub. L. 96–259, title V, § 501(c), June 3, 1980, 94 Stat. 432, provided that:

“The President shall direct the United States Governor of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the United States Governor of the International Finance Corporation, the United States Governor of the International Development Association, the United States Governor of the Inter-American Development Bank, the United States Governor of the Asian Development Bank, and the United States Governor of the African Development Fund, to consult with the other Governors of those institutions concerning adoption of an amendment to the Articles of Agreement of their respective institutions to establish human rights standards to be considered in connection with each application for assistance.”

Amendment of Articles of Agreement of International Financial Institutions; Establishment of Human Rights Standards To Be Considered in Connection With Assistance Application

Pub. L. 95–481, title VI, § 611, Oct. 18, 1978, 92 Stat. 1602, provided that:

“The President shall direct the United States Governor of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the United States Governor of the International Finance Corporation, the United States Governor of the International Development Association, the United States Governor of the Inter-American Development Bank, the United States Governor of the Asian Development Bank, and the United States Governor of the African Development Fund, to propose and seek adoption of an amendment to the Articles of Agreement for their respective institutions to establish human rights standards to be considered in connection with each application for assistance.”