US Mission Geneva

The United States and the World Health Organization (WHO) are moving to a higher level of cooperation, combining resources to help other countries boost their public health infrastructure for the good of their own people and the rest of the world.

Assistant Secretary Schwartz: “First, there is the moral imperative – the simple policy goal of saving lives. Our supporters in Congress well understand that our entire annual civilian humanitarian assistance funding is only a small fraction of the less than one percent of our federal budget that is dedicated to overseas assistance.”

The United States is profoundly committed to combating racism and eliminating racial discrimination in all forms and all places. Through our own experience, and in learning from the example of Mandela, we know that tolerance and reconciliation are important tools in that effort.

The United States and other CTBT signatories have a clear understanding of what is prohibited by the CTBT. Once the Treaty enters into force, we will have the opportunity to hold other States Parties accountable to this standard of Treaty obligations when judging compliance.

Ambassador Betty King delivered a statement on behalf of the Group B, industrialized countries, at the General Assembly of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). She stated that “we are pleased with WIPO’s efforts in encouraging innovation and creativity throughout all regions of the world, while promoting a balanced and effective international intellectual property system. These efforts will continue to foster the economic, social and cultural development of all countries.”

In relation to adoption of the agenda, the United States welcomes Korea’s decision to withdraw its panel request from the agenda of today’s meeting. We consider that Korea has withdrawn its panel request as of right. Korea’s withdrawal of its proposed item is not subject to a consensus decision by the DSB.

Our concerns about the 2001 Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (DDPA) are well-known, including its unfair and unacceptable singling out of Israel and its endorsement of overbroad restrictions on freedom of expression that run counter to the U.S. commitment to robust free speech. But we will always stand ready to work with others in the effort to combat racism, bigotry, and racial discrimination.

We are concerned that the Special Rapporteur recommends that States prohibit advocacy of national, racial, or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility, or violence; dissemination of ideas based on racial superiority or hatred; and incitement to racial discrimination. He also invokes the limitations in Articles 19-22 of the ICCPR, apparently to suggest that States should control the Internet or other new technologies to prevent extremists from spreading material that is deemed racist.

President Obama is committed to a more peaceful world by seeking a world free of nuclear weapons. He cautioned that achieving that goal will take patience and persistence. But in setting the destination, President Obama also mapped out the concrete steps we can take to get there, making the journey far less daunting.