US Mission Geneva

The United States encourages Vietnam to implement more fully its stated policy of respecting and ensuring human rights as enshrined in its Constitution and its expressed recognition that human rights are universal values. The United States further encourages Vietnam to comply fully with its commitment to protect and promote human rights. The United States strongly urges Vietnam to reconsider its rejection of the recommendation to comply with its commitment in Article 69 of its Constitution, Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by ensuring freedom of expression for members of the press without fear of arbitrary arrest or prosecution, providing for the free flow of information on the Internet, and abolishing restrictive regulations on blogging and the media.

The United States thanks Chile for their serious and thoughtful engagement with the UPR process. As we adopt the UPR report on Chile, we would like to highlight some of the positive results of their review by the Working Group. The United States praises Chile for endorsing the recommendation to increase efforts to ensure implementation of legislation guaranteeing the principles of non-discrimination and adopting a comprehensive strategy to eliminate all forms of discrimination, particularly gender-based discrimination.

The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) today announced that it has monitored the elimination of more than 375 metric tons (MT) of Russian highly enriched uranium (HEU) – the equivalent of more than 15,000 nuclear weapons – under a landmark nuclear nonproliferation program. The 1993 U.S.-Russian HEU Purchase Agreement, which will convert 500 MT of HEU from dismantled Russian nuclear weapons into peaceful use by 2013, is now 75 percent complete.

I have been in office for just nine months — though some days it seems a lot longer. I am well aware of the expectations that accompany my presidency around the world. These expectations are not about me. Rather, they are rooted, I believe, in a discontent with a status quo that has allowed us to be increasingly defined by our differences, and outpaced by our problems. But they are also rooted in hope — the hope that real change is possible, and the hope that America will be a leader in bringing about such change.

The United States welcomes the Central African Republic’s adoption of reforms, particularly those favoring increased press freedom, and its efforts to improve human rights through actions taken in the social and security sectors. However, the United States remains concerned regarding the impunity enjoyed by perpetrators of human rights abuses in the security forces, including the presidential guard, particularly for alleged summary executions in the north committed by the military between 2005 and 2007.

The United States welcomed the opportunity to discuss our Universal Periodic Review recommendations with the Government of Chad Human Rights Ministry during a bilateral consultation in Ndjamena in May. Such dialogue is important for advancing human rights. The United States urges the Government of Chad to continue and to strengthen its efforts to demobilize child soldiers and to end their unlawful recruitment and use, including in the Chadian National Army and other armed groups. Recruitment from refugee camps continues to be a particular concern.

The United States welcomes the Republic of the Congo’s efforts to provide free treatment for those living with HIV/AIDS. In light of the concerns documented in the Working Group report about conditions in prisons and detention centers, the United States welcomes the Republic of the Congo’s willingness to allow its prisons to be monitored. Additionally, we welcome the government’s efforts to better ensure separation between women, men, and children in detention centers.

The United States recognizes the many challenges Malta faces as it tries to deal with a large number of seaborne irregular migrants, given the country’s small size and large area of responsibility. We welcome Malta’s commitment to continue honoring its international obligations with respect to refugees and persons who qualify for humanitarian protection. We commend the government’s decision to establish a detention service with suitably trained civilians as managers who can help address the humanitarian needs of irregular migrants, and who can work with NGOs to facilitate the provision of legal advice and services.

The United States notes positively that the government of Slovakia is dealing swiftly and seriously with the case of police officers involved in the abuse of Romani minors in Kosice. Police mistreatment of the Roma during arrest and while in custody has been noted by the United States as an ongoing human rights problem and we welcome efforts by the government of Slovakia to implement human rights training programs for officers throughout law enforcement agencies.