Special Central American Assistance Act of 1979

The United States statute's articulation was a consistent Act bolstering the Carter Administration's foreign policy with a prominent emphasis regarding international human rights law during the New Cold War.{{cite web |url=https://history.state.gov/milestones/1977-1980/human-rights |title=Carter and Human Rights, 1977–1981 |trans-title=Milestones: 1977–1980 |website=Office of the Historian - Foreign Service Institute |publisher=United States Department of State}}

The 96th congressional session penned the United States public law 96-257 as three sections citing the amendment and purpose of the Act with section five hundred and thirty-six conveyed as eleven subsections entitled Central American Economic Support.

:Special Central American Assistance Act of 1979 - 94 Stat. 422 § I

:Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 Amendment - 94 Stat. 422 § II

:Central American Economic Support - 94 Stat. 422-424 § DXXXVI

::(b) Appropriation authorization

::(c) Human rights violations

:::Human rights in Costa Rica

:::Human rights in El Salvador

:::Human rights in Guatemala

:::Human rights in Honduras

:::Human rights in Nicaragua

:::Panama Truth Commission

::(d) Presidential encouragement of human rights

::(e) Nicaragua acknowledgment or adherence of internationally recognized Universal Declaration of Human Rights

::(f) Report to congressional committees

::(g) Certification of nonterrorism; Transmittal to the Speaker of the House and the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations

::(h) U.S. support of Organization of American States members against terrorism

::(i) Funds available for National Agrarian University of Nicaragua and National Autonomous University of Nicaragua

::(j) Loan funds for private sector use and local currency loan programs

::(k) Assistance conditions and termination

:::Free and open elections

:::Loan funds and United States goods or services purchase

:::United States President reports to Congress

{{further|Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen|Habeas corpus}}

The Foreign Assistance Act of 1974 described the terms of gross violations of internationally recognized human rights as defined;

• Torture or cruel and unusual punishment, inhuman or degrading treatment, or punishment
• Prolonged detention without charges
• Flagrant denial of the right to life, liberty, and the security of person

The International Security Assistance and Arms Exports Control Act of 1976 acknowledge the international obligations of human rights as endorsed by Title III - General Limitations of the Act passed by the 94th United States Congress. The section amended the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 declaring United States human rights objectives as defined;

;Foreign policy of the United States is to foster increased observance of internationally recognized human rights by all countries

: Security assistance nullified for any country where the government engages in a consistent pattern of gross violations of internationally recognized human rights

; Coordinator for Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs establish within United States Department of State

: Continuous observation and review of human rights and humanitarian affairs with an inclusion concerning coordination of United States foreign policy

; Prohibition against discrimination

: Respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms without distinction of language, race, religion, or sex

; Prohibition of assistance to countries granting sanctuary to international terrorists

: Assistance terminated to any government granting sanctuary from prosecution whereas an act has been committed regarding a gross violation of internationally recognized human rights or international terrorism

The International Development and Food Assistance Act of 1977 mandated annual reports better known as Country Reports on Human Rights Practices.{{cite web |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/95th-congress/house-bill/6714 |title=H.R. 6714 ~ International Development and Food Assistance Act of 1977 |date=April 28, 1977 |series=P.L. 95-88 ~ 91 Stat. 533 |publisher=Congress.gov}}{{cite web |url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/STATUTE-91/pdf/STATUTE-91-Pg533.pdf |title=International Development and Food Assistance Act of 1977 ~ P.L. 95-88 |date=August 3, 1977 |series=91 Stat. 533 ~ House Bill 6714 |publisher=United States Government Publishing Office}} The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor published the human rights reports providing insight concerning global humanitarian affairs for countries receiving United States economic security and national security support as authorized by the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.{{cite web |url=https://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/serial?id=crhrp |title=Country Reports on Human Rights Practices Publication History |website=The Online Books Page |publisher=University of Pennsylvania}}

United States public laws relative to the Special Central American Assistance Act of 1979 subsequently under the auspices of the International Security and Development Cooperation Act. The United States statutes were endorsed to encourage harmonious international relations with Latin America.

{{columns-list|

• 1979 Salvadoran coup d'état
• Illegal drug trade in Latin America
• Belize–Mexico border
• Jesuit Missionaries in El Salvador
• Belizean–Guatemalan Dispute
• Junta of National Reconstruction
• Central American crisis
• Latin American and Caribbean Group
• Central American migrant caravans
• Latin American debt crisis
• CIA activities in Honduras
• Nicaragua v. United States
• CIA activities in Nicaragua
• Nicaraguan Revolution
• Colombia–Panama border
• Pink tide
• Contras
• Revolutionary Government Junta of El Salvador
• Dirty War
• Salvadoran Civil War
• Federal Republic of Central America
• Sandinista National Liberation Front
• Guatemala–Mexico border
• United States involvement in regime change in Latin America
• Guatemalan Civil War
• United States Missionaries in El Salvador
• Films depicting Latin American military dictatorships
• Alliance for Progress
• Inter-American Development Bank
• Aviation Drug-Trafficking Control Act of 1984
• Mutual Security Act of 1951
• Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act of 1983
• Torrijos–Carter Treaties

}}

{{reflist}}

• {{cite book |last=Pearce |first=Jenny |year=1981 |title=Under The Eagle: U.S. Intervention in Central America and The Caribbean |url={{google books|CQVOAAAAMAAJ|plainurl=y}} |location=London, United Kingdom |publisher=Latin American Bureau (Research and Action) |isbn=978-0906156131 |oclc=1200086651}}
• {{cite book |last=Pearce |first=Jenny |year=1982 |title=Under The Eagle: U.S. Intervention in Central America and The Caribbean |url={{google books|z04SAQAAIAAJ|plainurl=y}} |location=Boston, Massachusetts |publisher=South End Press |isbn=978-0896081536 |oclc=19841553}}
• {{cite book |last1=Dixon |first1=Marlene |last2=Jonas |first2=Susanne |year=1983 |title=Revolution and Intervention in Central America |url={{google books|f5pqAAAAMAAJ|plainurl=y}} |location=San Francisco, California |publisher=Synthesis Publications |isbn=978-0899350295 |oclc=892159501}}
• {{cite book |last=Leiken |first=Robert S. |year=1984 |title=Central America: Anatomy of Conflict |url={{google books|0jtQAQAAIAAJ|plainurl=y}} |location=New York, New York |publisher=Pergamon Press |isbn=978-0080309507 |oclc=10324983}}
• {{cite book |last=Leonard |first=Thomas M. |year=1985 |title=Central America and United States Policies, 1820s-1980s: A Guide to Issues and References |url={{google books|Pe5qAAAAMAAJ|plainurl=y}} |location=Claremont, California |publisher=Regina Books |isbn=978-0941690140 |oclc=11623613}}
• {{cite book |last1=Coleman |first1=Kenneth M. |last2=Herring |first2=George C. |year=1985 |title=The Central American Crisis: Sources of Conflict and The Failure Of U.S. Policy |url={{google books|At1qAAAAMAAJ|plainurl=y}} |location=Wilmington, Delaware |publisher=Scholarly Resources |isbn=978-0842022408 |oclc=11548365}}
• {{cite book |last=Arnson |first=Cynthia |year=1993 |title=Crossroads: Congress, The President, and Central America, 1976-1993 |url={{google books|Dv3DvAULQqMC|plainurl=y}} |location=University Park, Pennsylvania |publisher=Pennsylvania State University Press |isbn=978-0271010984 |oclc=28257490}}

• {{cite web |url=https://archive.org/details/4732130.1977.001.umich.edu/page/444/ |title=Jimmy Carter - United Nations Address Before the General Assembly, March 17, 1977 |last=Carter |first=Jimmy E. |date=March 17, 1977 |website=Internet Archive |publisher=U.S. National Archives & Records Administration |pages=444–451}}
• {{cite web |url=https://archive.org/details/4732197.1979.001.umich.edu/page/390/ |title=Presidential Proclamation 4644: Pan American Day and Pan American Week, 1979 |last=Carter |first=Jimmy E. |date=March 6, 1979 |website=Internet Archive |location=Washington, D.C. |publisher=National Archives and Records Service |page=390}}
• {{cite web |url=https://archive.org/details/4732197.1979.001.umich.edu/page/836/ |title=Meeting with President Aristides Royo of Panama |last=Carter |first=Jimmy E. |date=May 10, 1979 |website=Internet Archive |location=Washington, D.C. |publisher=National Archives and Records Service |pages=836–837}}
• {{cite web |url=https://www.pbs.org/wnet/wideangle/interactives-extras/maps/cause-for-murder-human-rights-in-central-america/3162/ |title= Cause for Murder: Human Rights in Central America |date=September 5, 2002 |website=Wide Angle (PBS) |publisher=Public Broadcasting Service (PBS)}}
• {{cite web |url=https://dash.harvard.edu/bitstream/handle/1/33825944/MILLER-DOCUMENT-2017.pdf |title=Jimmy Carter’s Policy Toward the El Salvador Civil War: The Demise of Human Rights as a Priority |last=Miller |first=Arthur Keith |date=May 2017 |website=DASH: Digital Access to Scholarship at Harvard |publisher=Harvard Business School - Harvard University}}
• {{cite web |url=https://history.state.gov/milestones/1981-1988/central-america |title=Central America, 1981–1993 |website=Office of the Historian - Foreign Service Institute |publisher=United States Department of State}}
• {{cite web |url=https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1977-80v15 |title=Foreign Relations of the United States 1977–1980; Volume XV; Central America |website=Office of the Historian - Foreign Service Institute |trans-title=Central America - Documents 1-496 |publisher=United States Department of State}}
• {{cite web |url=https://history.state.gov/milestones/1977-1980/panama-canal |title=The Panama Canal and the Torrijos-Carter Treaties |website=Office of the Historian - Foreign Service Institute |publisher=United States Department of State}}
• {{Commons category-inline|Central America}}
• {{Commons category-inline|Political events in Central America}}

• {{YouTube|QXsfk7KppME|February 8, 1977 - Carter Administration and Challenges of International Human Rights}}
• {{YouTube|x7eKe0NJKSA|March 17, 1977 - U.S. President Carter at General Assembly of United Nations in New York}}
• {{YouTube|0DxpA3qJKPU|September 7, 1977 - Jimmy Carter Signing Panama Canal Treaty}}
• {{YouTube|BIKHWbaZSSw|February 6, 1978 - Democratic Elections in Nicaragua}}
• {{YouTube|ybCwCGTMuxM|June 17, 1978 - U.S. President Carter and General Torrijos Signing Panama Canal Treaties}}
• {{YouTube|BdnH1BlB1r0|December 6, 1978 - U.S. President Carter on Human Rights}}
• {{YouTube|oEy-3GO0Nos|July 19, 1979 - Nicaraguan Capital Seized by Sandinista National Liberation Front}}
• {{YouTube|61qRycxnMkY|December 31, 1979 - Nicaragua and Sandinista National Liberation Front Victory}}
• {{YouTube|l6bh081gauU|December 31, 1979 - El Salvador in Conflict and Coup}}
• {{YouTube|8E_-VwWXKLU|December 2, 1980 - United States Missionaries in El Salvador}}
• {{YouTube|NcITWJkqWss|April 7, 1986 - Strengthening Democracy in Latin America}}
• {{YouTube|9XuM4DCSXbo|November 16, 1995 - El Salvador: Anniversary of Jesuit Priests Carnage}}
• {{YouTube|G9vf1Y81baQ|July 17, 2014 - Defending Human Rights During Argentina's 'Dirty War'}}
• {{YouTube|5RR4VXNX3jA|May 15, 2017 - Universal Declaration of Human Rights}}

{{International human rights organisations|state=collapsed}}

{{Latin America topic templates|state=collapsed}}

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