Karen Smid

The Africa Office of the US Department of State’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor is responsible for reporting and policy formulation on issues of democracy and human rights in Africa, as well as advising Bureau and Department leaders on policy and political asylum cases and overseeing democracy promotion programs. The Human Rights/Democracy Promotion Specialist reviews and monitors democracy and human rights grants programs in assigned countries; conducts research for the annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices; and liaises with other bureaus at State, and within the interagency and the NGO community, to develop and coordinate strategy and policy on priority issues. The Specialist also provides briefing documents and guidance to Bureau and Department leaders, the Department of Homeland Security, US Immigration Courts, and the US Congress.