All articles from: Tuesday, September 15th, 2009

Item 2 General Debate – Update by the High Commissioner for Human Rights

Thank you, Mr. President, and thank you, Madame High Commissioner, for your extremely engaging remarks. It is the commitment of the Obama administration to human rights that brings the United States to this Council as a member, and that same commitment drives our desire to make new friendships, pursue new endeavors, and forge new paths to ensure that we meet each threat to human rights with a renewed strength and a collective effort.

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Agenda Item 3 – Interactive dialogue with the SR on Contemporary Forms of Slavery and the SR on the Sale of Children

Thank you, Mr. President. We thank the Special Rapporteurs for presenting their reports and applaud their efforts over the last year. Our remarks today will focus on the SR on contemporary forms of slavery.

We are pleased to see in Ms. Shahinian’s report that she is working with other Special Rapporteurs to develop a work plan and schedule to ensure complementarity, in conjunction with the relevant UN agencies, human rights mechanisms and NGOs. We look forward to hearing about the substance of this work plan.

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U.S. Statement for the UNCTAD Trade and Development Board

I would like to first, to congratulate Ambassador Feyder (Luxembourg) on his election as President of the Trade and Development Board and to thank Ambassador Djani of Indonesia for his exceptional service in the same capacity. I also wish to congratulate the Vice Presidents on their election to the Board. We look forward to working together to ensure a faithful and full implementation of the Accra Accord.

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