Waging Peace:  The United States

Human Rights Defenders Policy Forum
Courageous and effective activists for the rights of others often face great risks in countries where basic human rights are still ignored. These unsung heroes from countries worldwide gather annually at the Human Rights Defenders Policy Forum at The Carter Center to discuss national and global issues affecting the enjoyment of human rights, such as the state of U.S. commitments to human rights and effective ways to bridge gaps between religious, traditional, and formal state institutions to advance the protection of women's rights. Discussions are led by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, and following each event, a delegation meets with U.S. officials in Washington, D.C., to discuss the forum's issues and goals as they relate to U.S. policy. Learn more about the Human Rights Defenders Policy Forum >

Carter-Menil Human Rights Prize
The Carter-Menil Human Rights Prize was awarded in 1992 to two U. S. groups: the Haitian Refugee Center, founded to protect the civil and constitutional rights of Haitians seeking refuge in the United States, and the Native American Rights Fund, a national advocacy group specializing in the law and legal representation of Native Americans.

President Carter and Dominique de Menil established the $100,000 prize to recognize individuals or organizations for their outstanding efforts on behalf of human rights, often at great personal sacrifice. The award enables human rights activists to continue their work and focuses global attention on their struggles for justice.

The Atlanta Project

The Carter Center launched The Atlanta Project in 1991 to address some of the complex and entrenched social problems associated with urban poverty in the city. Based on grassroots participation by volunteers and community leaders, The Atlanta Project worked to generate creative responses in the areas of education, housing, economic development, health, and criminal justice. In 1999, Georgia State University was given a grant to continue the groundbreaking work of The Atlanta Project.

Monitoring Elections

2011 Elections
In September 2011, a Carter Center delegation observed the Cherokee Nation's special election for principal chief. The election marked a transition of power from a 12-year incumbency in a vote that was inclusive and a counting process that was credible and accurate.

The Carter Center was invited to observe the special election for principal chief by the Cherokee Nation Election Commission. Twelve Carter Center observers were deployed throughout the 14 counties of the Cherokee Nation and visited all 38 polling precincts. Carter Center observers were present at the Election Commission for much of election day, observing the sealing of absentee ballot materials, walk-in voting at the commission, the receipt and logging of election materials at the commission after the close of polls, and the securing of all election materials for the later count. The Center assessed the electoral process based on the Cherokee Nation legal framework and international obligations and good practice for democratic elections. Read full text >

Cherokee Nation Election Reports

View Carter Center Cherokee Nation election reports >