INDO-PACIFIC HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS.

SEC. 410. INDO-PACIFIC HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS. (a) Defined Term.—In this section, the term “human rights defenders” means individuals, working alone or in groups, who nonviolently advocate for the promotion and protection of universally recognized human rights and fundamental freedoms if the advocacy of such issues may result in the risk of safety or life. (b) Sense of Congress.—It is the sense of Congress that human rights defenders in the Indo-Pacific region have been facing increased difficulties with the rise of unprecedented crackdowns and conflicts. (c) Authorization of Appropriations.—There are authorized to be appropriated $1,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2019 through 2023 to provide critical assistance to human rights defenders through the Department of State’s Human Rights Defenders Fund. (d) Report.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter through 2023, the Secretary of State, in cooperation with the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, shall submit a report to Congress that includes— (1) a list and evaluation of the Human Rights Defenders Fund activities since its inception; (2) a strategy for any increased regional engagement and measures of success for the activities described in paragraph (1); and (3) an accounting of funds used to execute the Human Rights Defender Fund activities.