The U.S. Department of State has released its annual report to Congress on the vetting process for foreign security assistance, revealing that out of more than 227,000 cases reviewed in fiscal year 2024, only 96 were rejected due to credible information linking those units to gross violations of human rights (GVHR).
The report, mandated under the Leahy Law, underscores ongoing U.S. efforts to promote accountability within partner nations’ security forces and provides details on diplomatic and programmatic initiatives worldwide, including targeted engagements in Nepal.
The vetting process—required for assistance authorized under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 or the Arms Export Control Act—evaluates proposed aid to foreign security units to ensure compliance with human rights standards. According to the report, a total of 227,571 cases were completed in FY 2024, marking a slight increase from the previous year and surpassing pre-COVID-19 levels. Of these, 222,358 cases were approved; 96 were rejected for human rights reasons; 186 were rejected for non–human rights reasons; 1,383 were suspended pending further human rights assessments; 538 were suspended for other reasons; and 2,783 were canceled, often due to administrative issues such as incomplete data or event cancellations.
The Department noted that suspensions occur when derogatory information requires additional verification and that cases are automatically canceled after 30 days without resolution. U.S. embassies inform host governments of rejections tied to GVHR and urge them to pursue accountability against responsible individuals. An annual list of ineligible units is published, and ongoing reminders emphasize the U.S. policy against aiding violators.
Beyond statistics, the report highlights region-specific actions taken in FY 2024 to support foreign governments in enhancing accountability and professionalizing their security forces. These efforts extend beyond the rejected cases and aim to prevent future violations.
In Africa, the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs’ Global Defense Reform Program (GDRP) provided military justice advisory support in Madagascar to reform the uniformed code of military justice, focusing on accountability and civilian protection. In Nigeria, similar advisors worked with the armed forces to promote harm mitigation. Additionally, the Global Peace Operations Initiative (GPOI) built capacity for African troop-contributing countries to U.N. and African Union peacekeeping missions, including training national investigation officers to address issues such as sexual exploitation and abuse.
In the Near East, a milestone was reached in Tunisia with the transfer of the Enfidha Law Enforcement Institute to the government in August 2024. Funded by the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) with $20 million in infrastructure, the facility includes modern classrooms, dormitories, and administrative buildings. The Tunisian government committed to using it for police professionalization, aligning with a new code of conduct developed through INL support. In Morocco, INL assistance helped the General Directorate for National Security’s forensics laboratory achieve international accreditation in May 2024—the first on the African continent—advancing evidence-based investigations to reduce wrongful convictions.
In South and Central Asia, efforts in Nepal involved the U.S. Office of Defense Cooperation and Embassy Kathmandu engaging proactively with the Nepali Army and Police on human rights and accountability issues. This included discussions to foster greater transparency and adherence to international standards. Broader INL rule-of-law programming across the region, including in Nepal, aimed to strengthen the criminal justice sector’s capacity to combat crime and corruption through mentoring, technical assistance, and material support to justice-sector ministries.
In East Asia and the Pacific, initiatives in Indonesia supported the national police’s internal affairs unit in developing an online complaint system for public and institutional submissions. In the Philippines, U.S. training emphasized human rights awareness, rule-of-law compliance, and evidence-based prosecutions in partnership with the Department of Justice.
In Europe and Eurasia, programs focused on anti-corruption enforcement, cybersecurity, and human rights promotion within security forces, with additional support for Ukraine amid its defense against Russian aggression.
In the Western Hemisphere, Embassy Buenos Aires in Argentina delivered training to professionalize security forces, combat gender-based violence, and encourage judicial accountability for GVHR. Collaboration with the Ministry of Defense also addressed historical violations from the dictatorship era, supporting a national policy of truth and justice.
Kishor Panthi
View More PostsKishor Panthi is the founder and editor-in-chief of Khasokhas and NepYork. He is the author of three books, “Kampan,” "UNTRANSLATABLE" and “Zero Mile.” He writes about social issues, immigration, and politics.
