2008 Annual Report on Human Rights

Special Press Briefing and Release of 2008 Annual Report on Human Rights

Bureau of Public Affairs

Office of the Spokesman

Washington, DC

February 25, 2009

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will deliver opening remarks on the release of the Department of State’s 2008 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices today, Wednesday, February 25, at 12:15 p.m. Following the Secretary’s remarks, Acting Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Karen Stewart will respond to reporters’ questions. This event is on camera and on the record, and will be held in the Department of State’s press briefing room (Room 2209).

Advance Viewing of the Embargoed Report
Instructions for obtaining embargoed access to the report via Internet will be available on Wednesday, February 25, at 10:45 a.m. in the Department of State Press Office (Room 2109). The entire report is EMBARGOED until the end of the press briefing, approximately 1:00 p.m.

Media representatives who plan to attend this briefing should allow adequate time to process through security at the 23rd Street entrance and present one of the following: (1) A U.S. Government-issued identification card (Department of State, White House, Congress, Department of Defense or Foreign Press Center), (2) a media-issued photo identification card, or (3) letter from their employer on letterhead verifying their employment as a journalist, accompanied by an official photo identification card (driver's license, passport).

Electronic Access to the Report via Internet
The full text of the report will be available for downloading from the Department of State web site at www.state.gov as soon as possible after the briefing on February 25. The press briefing itself will be available via live video streaming on the www.state.gov web site as well.

ENDS

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