US Mission Geneva

The question before us today is whether we will – at last – agree to end the dedicated production of fissile material for use in nuclear weapons. Halting production is in the interest of every country, and I urge this conference to end the stalemate and open negotiations on a Fissile Material Cutoff Treaty without further delay.

We are here to launch a new illustrated booklet published by the U.S. Mission, and to celebrate the rich and multidimensional connections between the United States of America and Geneva, Switzerland. These connections run deep – they span centuries – and they continue to have a positive international impact today.

Secretary Clinton: The international community is speaking with one voice and our message is unmistakable. These violations of universal rights are unacceptable and will not be tolerated. This Council took an important first step toward accountability on Friday by establishing an independent commission of inquiry.

In the midst of ongoing violence, the humanitarian situation in Libya is growing more acute. Restricted access and limited information pose distinct challenges, but the United States is actively responding and stands prepared to assist Libya’s people through this turbulent period.

We made a determination in this Administration to join the Human Rights Council. I think it’s proven to be a good decision because we’ve been able to influence a number of actions that we otherwise would have been on the outside looking in. There are a number of issues on that agenda that we will be working on. I will also go to the Conference on Disarmament because we continue to press for further action in accordance with President Obama’s Prague agenda. So it will be a very busy, exhausting day, but a very fruitful one for me to be there.

The United States welcomes today’s action by the UN Human Rights Council condemning human rights violations and violence committed by the Libyan government against its own people, and we strongly support the Council’s establishment of an independent commission of inquiry to investigate these violations with a view towards ensuring that those responsible are held accountable.

The United States strongly supports the convening of this special session to address the crisis in Libya. The Government of Libya has a responsibility to protect its population. It is failing to do so. In fact, it is attacking its population. The Human Rights Council has a responsibility to take action in response to ongoing emergency situations like the one in Libya, where a government is continuing to commit gross and systematic human rights violations.

The United States undertook this process with a view to improving the Council. We started our work here with a number of our own proposals, and with an open mind to hearing those of others. Yet we were met with a process that seemed designed to be a race to the bottom.

Mr. Chairman, the United States provided a status report in this dispute on February 11, 2011, in accordance with Article 21.6 of the DSU.

As has been noted, a number of legislative proposals that would implement the DSB’s recommendations and rulings in this dispute were introduced in the 111th Congress.

The U.S. Administration will continue to work with Congress to implement the DSB’s recommendations and rulings.