US Mission Geneva

The United States is deeply concerned about violent repression of peaceful protests in some countries around the world. Governments must be held accountable for violation of the fundamental freedoms of association, expression, religion, and speech of their citizens. Too many governments repress dissent with impunity.

I would like to assure you of President Obama’s unshakeable commitment to ratification of the CTBT by the United States and its entry into force at the earliest possible date. Entry into force of the CTBT is an essential step toward the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons, a vision articulated by the President when he spoke in Prague in 2009.

Two years ago Iranian citizens went to the polls in the hopes of expressing their democratic rights. But the authorities in Tehran had no interest in the will of the people. When the people reached for their aspirations, the government responded with brutal repression. Today in Syria, Iran is supporting the Asad regime’s vicious assaults on peaceful protesters and military actions against its own cities.

U.S. Ambassador for religious freedom Suzan Johnson Cook spoke at the U.N. Human Rights Council on the actions that the international community and political leaders need to take to combat intolerance and discrimination based on religion or belief.

Today, space systems are vital to enhancing, for example, our national security, foreign policy, and global economic interests, as well as expanding scientific knowledge. Yet space is becoming increasingly contested – meaning, space systems and their supporting infrastructure confront a range of natural and man-made threats that could potentially deny, degrade, deceive, disrupt, or destroy them.

Today we are here to celebrate Feed the Future in Tanzania.This is our, United States, commitment to support country-led plans that address the root causes of poverty, hunger, and under-nutrition. And we are working with Tanzania’s agriculture and food security investment plan.

Dr. Shah: “This multi-year commitment leverages the billions of dollars that other donors have committed to GAVI, multiplying the impact of our funding more than eight-fold. At a time when budgets around the world are being scrutinized, this partnership with donor and host country governments, civil society and private sector partners ensures our development dollars have the greatest impact.”

U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom Suzan Johnson Cook will participate in panel on “Combating Intolerance and Discrimination based on Religion or Belief” hosted by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on June 14, 2011 at UNOG.

The world has made incredible progress in closing the gap in developing countries thanks in great part to the commitment of the American people. In fiscal year 2010, the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) programs focused on preventing mother-to-child-transmission directly supported services that led to more than 114,000 children estimated to have been born free of HIV.