The Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs is a former position within the

United States Department of State The United States Department of State (DOS), or State Department, is an United States federal executive departments, executive department of the Federal government of the United States, U.S. federal government responsible for the country's fore ...

that, according to the Department website, "coordinates U.S. foreign relations on a variety of global issues, including democracy, human rights, and labor; environment, oceans, and science; population, refugees, and migration; women's issues; and trafficking in persons." The office was last held by

Maria Otero Maria Otero (born 1950) was the first holder of the office of the Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights from January 15, 2012 through February 4, 2013. She also served as the President's Special Coordinator for Tibetan ...

. Other former Under Secretaries were

Timothy Wirth Timothy Endicott "Tim" Wirth (born September 22, 1939) is an American politician from Colorado who served as a Democrat in both the United States Senate (1987-1993) and the United States House of Representatives (1975–1987). He also served i ...

Frank E. Loy Frank E. Loy (born December 25, 1928) is an American diplomat, business and nonprofit executive, and attorney. He is best known for serving as United States Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs from November 2, 1998, to January 20, 2001, un ...

, and

Paula Dobriansky Paula Jon Dobriansky (born September 14, 1955) is an American diplomat, public official, and foreign policy expert who served as Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs (2001-2009) and the President's Envoy to Northern Ireland (2007-2009). A sp ...

. The State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 states the Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs had the responsibility to coordinate with the

Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs The Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs is currently a top-10 ranking position in the U.S. Department of State that is intended to help ensure that public diplomacy is practiced in combination with public affairs and traditio ...

and other offices from regional bureaus to promote democracy in nondemocratic countries. The Under Secretary also advises the Secretary of the Department of State of the effects on human rights and democracy on a foreign country on any recommendation requested by another official, or any agency program. The position was created when Section 161(b) of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 1994 and 1995 authorized the appointment of a fifth Under Secretary of State.

Change

On January 17, 2012, the Office of the Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs (State Department designation G) became the

Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights The Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights is a position within the U.S. Department of State that leads the State Department's efforts to prevent and counter threats to civilian security. The Under Secretary oversees ...

(State Department designation J).

List of Under Secretaries of State for Democracy and Global Affairs, 1994—2012

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Under Secretary Of State For Democracy And Global Affairs Defunct agencies of the United States government