US Mission Geneva

The United States has consistently sought to support practical and concrete efforts to end racism and racial discrimination wherever it occurs.

The Obama administration has made the fight against AIDS central to the Global Health Initiative, our commitment to strengthening global health systems and implementing sustainable solutions to improve the health of entire communities.

The United States is pleased to be able to join consensus on this resolution on the right to food. Food is essential to the rights of all people to an adequate standard of living, as recognized in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and is also an interdependent with the protection of other human rights.

Last September, President Obama announced the Presidential Policy Directive on Global Development, which elevated development to a core pillar of American power and charted a course for development, diplomacy and defense to mutually reinforce and complement one another in an integrated comprehensive approach to national security.

Ambassador Donahoe: “We deplore the gross abuses of human rights and trampling of fundamental freedoms in Côte d’Ivoire. We fully support this resolution’s call for the immediate establishment of an International Commission of Inquiry and we hope that through their work, all those who lost their lives during this troubled period will find a measure of justice.”

The United States supports the independence of the Office of the High Commissioner, and the ability of the High Commissioner and her staff to do their jobs. As we have said on multiple occasions, we remain vigilant to attempts of the Council to inappropriately assert control over the Office. Moreover, the United States reiterates that international cooperation cannot be an excuse for failing to fulfill human rights obligations.

Without a doubt, the Council’s disproportionate and biased treatment of Israel is its Achilles heel. The effectiveness and legitimacy of this Council can never be complete as long as one country is unfairly and uniquely singled out for its own agenda item, while others, including chronic human rights abusers subject to UN General Assembly action, escape similar scrutiny.

We deeply regret the tragic loss of life and injuries suffered among those involved in the incident aboard the Gaza-bound ships last spring. We have repeatedly underscored the importance of a credible, impartial, and transparent investigation into the tragic events of May 31.

The United States is deeply troubled by violence and civilian deaths in Dara’a at the hands of security forces. We are concerned by the Syrian Government’s use of violence, intimidation and arbitrary arrests in Dara’a to hinder the ability of its people to freely exercise their universal rights. We condemn these actions and extend our deepest condolences to the families and friends of those who have been injured or lost their lives. We call on the Syrian Government to exercise restraint and refrain from the threat and/or use of violence against peaceful protestors.