U.S. Statements at the Council on Human Rights - September 26 - 27
U.S. Intervention
Report of the Special Rapporteur on the Situation in Burma
Statement by
Ambassador Warren W. Tichenor
Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations in Geneva
September 27, 2006
Thank you, Mr. President.
The United States welcomes
the well-informed report by Special Rapporteur Sergio Pinheiro.
As the Special Rapporteur points out, the situation in Burma remains
a source of grave concern. For example, due to the Burmese
regime’s total disregard for its own people and unconscionable
human rights abuses, the Security Council added Burma to its formal
agenda on September 15. The First Lady of the United States,
Laura Bush, hosted a roundtable in New York on September 19 to further
raise awareness about this crisis.
The United States agrees with the observations in Mr. Pinheiro’s
report and would like to call attention to several areas of particular
concern.
A complete change in Burma's lack of democracy and in the regime’s
total disregard for the need to engage in meaningful and genuine
dialogue with all stakeholders are critical to ensuring that Burma
truly moves forward on political reform and human rights.
The situation of refugees and internally displaced persons is another
issue of concern that stems from the lack of democracy and respect
for human rights. Hundreds of thousands of Burmese refugees
have fled conflict and persecution over the last two decades.
Not only has the Burmese regime failed to provide programs to assist
the nearly one million Burmese who are IDPs, it has actually exacerbated
the situation, as Mr. Pinheiro clearly explains.
Another area of concern
is HIV/AIDS. The rate of infection of Burmese, about 360,000
Burmese infected, represents one of the most serious HIV/AIDS epidemics
in Asia. The U.S. began supporting international NGOs working
in Burma to address this problem through concrete action.
We have two questions
for the Special Rapporteur:
- First, how can the international community best support the work of civil society and human rights defenders in Burma?
- Second, what do you think it will take to achieve the release of all political prisoners, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, from detention?
Thank you, Mr. President.
Report of the Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty
Statement by Steven Hill
Advisor, U.S. Delegation, Human Rights Council
Thank you, Mr. President.
We welcomed the visit of the Special Rapporteur to the United States and were pleased that he had the opportunity to visit the United States.
We have studied his report with great interest and were gratified that the Special Rapporteur noted in his report over 80 programs designed to eradicate poverty at the federal level. The eradication of poverty is, of course, a major policy priority of the United States.
We have a few comments on the methodology used in the preparation of the report. We note that it tended to draw broad conclusions based on limited information, in particular a selection of interviews.
We had hoped that the Special Rapporteur would have consulted a broader range of information available in the society of the United States. This includes not only government information but also the wide range of information available from civil society, including academia, foundations, and NGOs.
We agree with the Special Rapporteur that transparency is key to the eradication of poverty.
We hope that if the Special Rapporteur visits the United States again, he would take advantage of the broad array of information available.
We have one question for the Special Rapporteur: what are his future plans to address this problem in other countries?
Thank you, Mr. President.
Report to the Human Rights Council of the
Independent Expert on Human Rights
Situation in Burundi
Statement by
Ambassador Warren W. Tichenor
Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations in Geneva
September 27, 2006
--Thank you Mr. President,
The Independent Expert should be commended for providing a thorough and often detailed overview of the situation in Burundi. The report is admirable for the extent to which it highlights the country’s positive political developments regarding elections and advancements in the empowerment of women while not neglecting to examine some of the country’s ongoing, serious, and widespread human rights problems, the summary executions of civilians by all parties in the ongoing conflict, gender-based violence, and the continued marginalization of indigenous people.
--The report is impressive in its coverage of the ongoing conflict involving the Government and the rebel group and the deplorable effects the conflict has had on civilians; the insecurity, and the often understated danger of allowing additional delays in the implementation of the country’s disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration program.
--The report should also be commended for its thoughtful recommendations particularly the recommendations that the UN Special Rapporteur for violence against women visit Burundi; that the Government make greater efforts to strengthen the judiciary, fight impunity, and establish transitional justice mechanisms; that the Government establish a national independent human rights institution; and that the international community continue to support the development of Burundi.
The United States has the following questions for the Independent Expert:
- The United States shares the Independent Expert’s concern about the continuing sexual violence in Burundi and supports his call on the GOB to take swift and concrete measures to combat this phenomenon.
- Does the I.E. have any recommendations for the GOB to implement to address this problem?
- In his report the I.E. discussed the issue of transitional justice mechanisms and observed that the time frame for the establishment of these mechanisms has not been set. Can the I.E. elaborate on this?
And with that, I thank you Mr. President.
Report of the Independent Expert
on the Situation of Human Rights in Haiti
Statement by Mr. Gianni Paz
Adviser, U.S. Delegation
Human Rights Council
September 27, 2006
Thank you, Mr. President.
The independent expert, Mr. Joinet, should be commended for his work.
The United States agrees with the Mr. Joinet’s assessment that organized acts of violence are no longer orchestrated or condoned by the state, nor were they condoned under the interim government.
We would also like to highlight that after months of delays and planning, the elections in February and April of 2006 were a success, with a record voter turnout. As Mr. Joinet explains, some political activists have sought to foment unrest, but the primary security issue in Haiti and priority issue for the new government is the violence, kidnapping, and gang-activity in Port-au-Prince.
We welcome the government's decision to hold local elections on
December 3, 2006.
We also welcome the government’s ongoing effort to vet, train, and professionalize the Haitian National Police. We note that corruption and the lack of institutional capacity within the judiciary remains a major concern, as does the woeful state of Haiti’s corrections facilities. The United States’ 2007 budget request for Haiti is over $197 million, part of which will be used to help address these problems. Donors are often reticent to provide funding for prisons, but this is a serious human rights issue, as the report notes, and the international community must do its best to assist in this area.
We have three questions for Mr. Joinet:
- First, in your visits, did you review the impact of international programs on problems such as pre-trial detention?
- Second, could you elaborate on your suggestion for reform of the land register and explain how it would help address problems of speculation, corruption, and inefficiency?
- Finally, do you have any recommendations on how to improve coordination between the key stakeholders, such as international organizations, donors, and the government in tackling the problems he highlighted?
Thank you, Mr. President.
Report of the Special Rapporteur on the
Situation of Human Rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
Statement by Ambassador Warren W. Tichenor
Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations in Geneva
September 26, 2006
Thank you, Mr. President.
The United States deplores the continued systematic violation of basic human rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, including extrajudicial killings, disappearances, arbitrary detention, torture, religious repression, a complete lack of freedom of speech, association, movement, and worker's rights.
We regret that to date, the regime has refused to allow the Special Rapporteur access to examine the conditions in the country.
The United States fully supports the mandate of the Special Rapporteur and encourages him to work closely with United States Special Envoy Jay Lefkowitz and Japanese Ambassador Fumiko Saiga in building an international coalition calling for the DPRK to abide by applicable human rights law.
We have two questions for the Special Rapporteur:
First, what will it take to encourage the DPRK to view your mandate as a window of opportunity to engage with the United Nations system?
Second, why do you think the DPRK has engaged with the monitoring bodies under the four human rights treaties to which it is a party, but has not engaged with you?
Thank you, Mr. President.
Statement by the United States on the
Report of the Special Rapporteur on Cambodia
Statement by Ambassador Warren W. Tichenor
Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations in Geneva
September 26, 2006
Thank you, Mr. President.
The United States welcomes the opportunity to respond to Mr. Ghai’s first report.
The United States is encouraged by improvements to the democratic political climate over the past year, including actions taken by the Royal Cambodian Government to restore parliamentary immunity to Sam Rainsy and two other opposition party members of Parliament, as well as to abolish criminal defamation from the Criminal Code.
However, the United States remains concerned about rule of law, property rights issues, and corruption, and urges progress in these areas.
The United States supports the efforts of the Special Representative and encourages the Royal Cambodian Government to cooperate closely with him. The United States supports keeping the UN Human Rights Office in Phnom Penh at least until the 2008 elections have concluded.
We have three questions for the Special Rapporteur:
First, you discussed the delays in drafting eight pieces of legislation “essential to the rule of law” and observed that there are many ways to improve the process. Could you elaborate on this point?
Second, you expressed concern about the difficulties Cambodia’s indigenous and rural communities are having sustaining their traditional way of life as a result of losing access to land and water due to government decisions. Can you suggest ways to address this issue?
Third, given the recent progress in 2006 have your areas of concern changed?
Thank you, Mr. President.
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