On Tuesday, November 1, the GII teamed with Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS) and former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright to co-host Uncommon Leadership for Common Values: Bipartisan Action on Human Rights, a conference that explored prospects for political cooperation on a range of international human rights concerns, from human trafficking, to refugees, to genocide, to religious liberty.

Four morning sessions at Georgetown University drew an audience that filled the university's largest auditorium, the ornate Gaston Hall. Each session featured a prominent Republican and Democrat deeply invested in the issue, and an expert moderator. Participants ranged from Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) to Dr. Richard Land, President of the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. Dr. Albright and Senator Brownback then led a roundtable lunch discussion with the speakers, journalists, human rights advocates, and policymakers. The lively dialogue, moderated by the Aspen Institute's president, Walter Isaacson, began converting the morning talk into political momentum, and possible action.

It was a remarkable event. Democrats and Republicans, together with advocates from secular NGOs and faith-based efforts, consistently hit on important themes: ideological, partisan and sectarian differences should not impede cooperation when lives and basic freedoms are at stake. Human rights should be THE area where partisanship for its own sake is not at play. (Download the companion publication which includes case studies and opportunities for action from the Exchange.)

Second, both Republicans and Democrats talked about why U.S. leadership on human rights is right, but also smart. Speakers seemed to agree that more often than not values and interests coincide: it matters a great deal right now whether people in troubled societies have hope and whether they believe America is on their side. Senator Clinton and Dr. Land found common ground, for example, as Clinton acknowledged that even when American leaders won't participate in multilateral conventions (like the one protecting the rights of children) on narrow technical grounds, we can and should offer constructive alternatives to demonstrate our support for the underlying, universal principles. In a similar vein, Dr. Land urged those working toward religious freedom around the world to base their claims on the UN's Universal Declaration of Human Rights because it makes for a more practical and appropriate standard than does the U.S. Bill of Rights.

And yet, the speakers did not romanticize the prospects for cooperation. Yes, they insisted that human rights issues are intricately connected and that bipartisan cooperation on the full range of issues will reinforce progress on the full range of issues. However, they reminded us emphatically that progress will not come without continual and systematic effort to work through disagreements. That is more likely with the encouragement of a strong network of private voluntary and non-governmental organizations, corporations, students and academic leaders, media, faith-based and other civic groups and just plain citizen involvement, all of which will create constituencies for human rights.

Indeed, the conference highlighted the importance of citizen involvement: student organizations like STAND and the Genocide Intervention Network have been very influential in raising visibility, funds and pushing specific ways forward in dealing with the genocide in Darfur. Both Senator Brownback and Dr. Albright consider these groups essential partners. They and several faith groups of different stripes, all of whom were involved in the Uncommon Leadership conference, made it very clear how large the constituency behind human rights can be.

The lunchtime discussion got at the challenge of how to instigate continual and systematic bipartisan work on human rights. Participants were obviously eager to figure out ways to do just that in more specific ways. We're eager to see what shape that takes and to play our part in support. Stay tuned as we explore the possibilities.

A few quick notes: Be sure to tune in tonight to the final night of RX for Survival on your local PBS station. This miniseries on global health is part of a multi-mode coordinated effort incorporating a website, a public-will campaign focusing on children's health, and a nicely messaged package in Time Magazine on the issue. For some smart strategic messaging advice linked to the series, visit Why Global Health Matters.

Also, young leaders interested in building their effectiveness in working on non-proliferation issues should consider attending this weekend's young leaders summit, sponsored by Americans for Informed Democracy, entitled Thinking Outside the Bomb.