US Mission Geneva

Article 4 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that “No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; and slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.” The United States deplores the subjection of human beings to modern forms of slavery in the 21st Century.

The United States is deeply concerned and is closely monitoring developments in the Kyrgyz Republic and the affected border regions of Uzbekistan and supports international efforts to facilitate peace and order and the provision of humanitarian assistance coordinated by the United Nations and other international organizations.

The United States has committed $32.267 million to programs for humanitarian relief, reconstruction, and community stabilization, and expects additional efforts to be announced in the near future.

I’ve returned from a trip to the Gulf Coast to speak with you about the battle we’re waging against an oil spill that is assaulting our shores and our citizens.

Ambassador Donahoe: “Today’s joint statement on the human rights situation in Iran is a significant accomplishment for the Human Rights Council. Fifty-six states from every region of the world came together in this joint statement of solidarity with the Iranian people, bringing much-needed focus and world attention to the human rights conditions in Iran. “

We just returned from a two-week review conference of the International Criminal Court’s Assembly of States Parties in Kampala, Uganda, which we attended as an observer nation.

The agreement signed June 15 follows a decision by the governments of Brazil and the US to work jointly on issues related to the world of work, in particular child labour. It will support efforts by Haitian authorities and society, and is “inspired on successful Brazilian experiences which shall be adapted to the local context and needs of the Republic of Haiti.”

Mr. President, today we are joining several important joint statements, in addition to making our own. We applaud the cross-regional nature of all these joint statements, and the message they send about this Council’s ability to address critical human rights situations collectively and constructively.

Mr. President, the Vienna Declaration and Program of Action (VDPA) declares that “human rights and fundamental freedoms are the birthright of all human beings” and “their protection and promotion is the first responsibility of governments.” It also recognizes that “the promotion and protection of all human rights is a legitimate concern of the international community.

The Obama administration wants a coordinated international response to address the ongoing ethnic violence in Kyrgyzstan and is providing humanitarian assistance for the victims, State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said.

Speaking to reporters June 14, Crowley said Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton spoke earlier in the day about the situation with the foreign minister of Kazakhstan, which borders Kyrgyzstan, and Crowley affirmed that U.S. officials are maintaining “very close touch” with the Kyrgyz Republic’s provisional government over the situation.