Statement by Jen Psaki,
Spokesperson
U.S. Department of State
Washington,
June 18, 2013

The United States welcomes the adoption today of the resolution on the deterioration of the human rights situation in the Syria Arab Republic and the need to grant immediate access to the commission of inquiry. The resolution passed by a significant majority of the Human Rights Council membership.

The resolution had several purposes, the first of which is to press for immediate unfettered access for the commission of inquiry.  The resolution welcomes the statement by the Syria Opposition Coalition of June 5, 2013 offering cooperation with the commission of inquiry in opposition-controlled areas, and denounces the Syrian authorities’ denial of access which has hampered investigation of widespread and systematic gross violations of human rights as well as violations of international humanitarian law.

Further, the resolution condemns in the strongest terms the continued widespread and systematic violence by Syrian authorities and government-affiliated shabbiha militias, as well as human rights abuses and violations of international law by all parties including anti-government armed groups.  The resolution notes the finding of the commission of inquiry that the intensity and scale of the violations committed by government forces and affiliated militia are unmatched.

The United States welcomes the clarity of the resolution’s condemnation of the massacres taking place in Syria, and the denunciation of the role of foreign fighters, especially Hizbollah, fighting on behalf of the regime.  Recalling the most recent urgent debate on the massacre in Al-Qusayr, the resolution condemns the influx of all foreign combatants, in particular Hizbollah, whose involvement has had a significant deleterious effect on the human rights and humanitarian situation on the ground, which has serious negative consequences for neighboring countries.

Hizbollah’s intervention on behalf of the regime is unacceptable, and could have devastating consequences for Syria and the entire region.  The UN Secretary General, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the independent Commission of Inquiry have all condemned Hizbollah’s intervention.  It is only appropriate that the HRC do so as well.

The desperate humanitarian situation inside Syria is deepening.  Access for relief efforts is an urgent priority.  The resolution we have just adopted also demands that Syrian authorities facilitate the access of humanitarian organisations to all people in need, by allowing aid agencies to use the most efficient routes and providing authorization for cross-border humanitarian operations.  One week ago, the UN issued the largest appeal in its history to help those caught up in the conflict. Humanitarian agencies have estimated that over 10 million Syrians may be in need of aid by years end.  With this resolution the Human Rights Council urges all donors to act rapidly to provide financial support for this enormous and essential effort.

This tragic chapter in Syria’s history began over 800 days ago with the Assad regime’s decision to meet peaceful protests with violence, a response which started this conflict that has killed more than 90,000 people.  We reiterate our call, united with the Syrian people and members of the international community, for an immediate end to all violations of human rights and abuses, but especially the Assad regime’s egregious, widespread and continued violations of human rights and international humanitarian law.
The international community must continue to support documentation and other efforts to lay the groundwork for accountability for human rights violations, even as work continues toward a political settlement based on the principles outlined in the Geneva Communiqué.  The United States is helping Syrians prepare for this accountability by supporting the documentation of violations committed by all sides of the conflict, and bolstering the capacity of civil society organizations to build the foundations for lasting peace.

The Human Rights Council is again showing its determination and responsibility in using the authority and tools entrusted to it to respond to urgent crises in real time. It is also rightly fulfilling the important role of drawing global attention to gross violations of human rights and collecting the evidence necessary to ensure future accountability for human rights violations and crimes against humanity.

Human Rights Council – 23^rd Session
Geneva,
June 14, 2013

The United States, along with Turkey, Qatar, Kuwait, and the United Kingdom, presents for adoption a resolution entitled “the deterioration of the situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic and the need to grant immediate access to the Commission of Inquiry.”

This Council has consistently condemned the continued widespread and systematic gross violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms and all violations of international humanitarian law by the Syrian authorities and the government affiliated shabbiha militias, as well as any human rights violations and abuses as well as violations of international humanitarian law by armed opposition groups.  Those responsible must be held to account.

We are particularly dismayed by the rapid deterioration of the situation in Syria.  This resolution condemns in the strongest terms all massacres taking place in Syria, such as most recently in Al-Qusayr, and the intervention of all foreign combatants in Syria, including those fighting on behalf of the regime and in particular Hezbollah, because their involvement and role in ongoing atrocities further exacerbates the deteriorating human rights and humanitarian situation.

The resolution also focuses on the continued lack of cooperation of the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic with the commission of inquiry, in particular the persistent denial of access to Syria for members of the commission. It is long past time that the Syrian government cooperate with the mechanisms of this Council.

We demand that the Syrian authorities cooperate fully with the commission of inquiry, including by granting it immediate, full and unfettered access throughout the Syrian Arab Republic and responding promptly to its communications and requests.

We believe the message of this resolution is clear and indisputable.  We urge the Council to adopt the resolution by consensus.

Thank you.

as delivered by Ambassador Eileen Donahoe
Human Rights Council – 23^rd Session
Geneva,
June 14, 2013

The United States welcomes the resolution entitled “Accelerating efforts to eliminate all forms of violence against women: preventing and responding to rape and other forms of sexual violence.” We strongly support this Council’s continuing commitment to the human rights of women and girls everywhere and to insisting upon the elimination of all forms of violence against women and girls. By renewing the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences, this Council is sustaining a vital tool in global efforts to eliminate violence against women and girls.

Ending the global scourge of violence against women and girls will require comprehensive support services for survivors, accountability for perpetrators, redoubled efforts to prevent abuse, and the common recognition that women and girls have inalienable human rights and fundamental freedoms. These efforts should be directed to ending all forms of gender-based violence, including intimate partner violence, which is the most prevalent form of violence against women and girls globally. One in three women worldwide will experience gender-based violence in her lifetime, and in some countries, 70 percent of females are affected. Members of particularly vulnerable populations, including women and girls with disabilities, lesbians and transgender persons, and indigenous women and girls are at increased risk.

Intimate partner violence and this resolution’s particular focus, sexual violence, must be prevented and addressed through a holistic approach. The World Health Organization defines intimate partner violence to include “acts of physical aggression, psychological abuse, forced intercourse and other forms of sexual coercion, and various controlling behaviours such as isolating a person from family and friends or restricting access to information and assistance.” Violence perpetuates a cycle of violence; evidence shows that children who witness or experience violence are more likely to perpetrate violence and/or experience violence as adults. Emerging evidence shows that in post-conflict situations, intimate partner or domestic violence can increase due to a general breakdown in rule of law or societal norms.

Violence seriously jeopardizes the physical and mental health of women and girls, including, in many instances, their sexual and reproductive health. Respecting and promoting the human rights of women – including the right to have control over and decide freely and responsibly on matters related to their sexuality free from coercion, discrimination, and violence – must be at the heart of our efforts to end violence against women and girls or we will never succeed.

To that end, we are pleased that this resolution recognizes the strong connection between sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights and efforts to address and end violence against women, including rape. Reproductive rights, originally defined in the International Conference on Population and Development’s Program of Action adopted in 1994 and elaborated and reaffirmed in numerous intergovernmental documents since then, provide the foundation for our global effort. Reproductive rights rest on the recognition of the basic right of all couples and individuals to decide freely and responsibly the number, spacing, and timing of their children and to have the information and means to do so. The implementation of these instruments is contributing significantly to progress on preventing, mitigating, and ultimately eliminating violence against women and girls.

For women, the risk of pregnancy is also an important possible outcome of rape. We are pleased to note that the Commission on the Status of Women and CPD recognized the significance for survivors of access to emergency contraception, safe abortion, and post-exposure prophylaxis for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. This Council should do the same.

The United States remains deeply concerned by incidents of rape and other forms of sexual violence in armed conflict, as well as in other situations of violence or instability. We must ensure that those who perpetrate these crimes are held accountable. In that regard, we strongly support the resolution’s call for States that contribute to UN operations to take all appropriate measures to address and prevent rape and other forms of sexual violence, including by investigating and, as appropriate, prosecuting allegations of misconduct. We also underscore the important role that trained experts play in investigating allegations of mass rapes or systematic sexual violence. In this regard, we welcome the efforts of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, UN Women, and others in expanding the availability of gender, linguistic, and regional experts for deployment for these important investigations.

In conclusion, the United States is pleased to renew our commitment to supporting the Council as it redoubles its efforts to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls.

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Geneva,
June 14, 2013

The United States looks forward to further discussion about human rights in Somalia at the Human Rights Council.  We are committed to helping the Somalis establish transparent institutions that protect human rights, including their independent national human rights commission.

The Federal Government of Somalia should ensure that its national human rights commission is established in full consultation with civil society, national, regional, and international stakeholders and in line with the Paris Principles.  Per the provisional constitution, the commission’s role is to raise awareness regarding, set implementation standards for, monitor, and investigate human rights.  These functions are critical to improving the human rights environment in the country.

The United States also underscores the key role that security sector reform plays in the protection of civilians and their rights. We encourage the government and international community to focus security sector reform efforts on this area.

Protecting human rights is fundamental to ensuring the development of a peaceful, prosperous, and democratic Somalia. The United States is committed to helping the new government improve protection for human rights.

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as delivered by Ambassador Eileen Donahoe
Human Rights Council – 23^rd Session
Geneva,
June 14, 2013

The United States recognizes the hard work of the cosponsors of this resolution and thanks them for their efforts. The challenges before the Government of Guinea in the promotion and protection of human rights remain serious, given the continuation of human rights violations and abuses over the last year. In particular, we are concerned about ongoing violence at political protests and allegations of harassment, arbitrary arrests, and killings of protest participants. We recognize, however, that the Government of Guinea has taken positive steps and we welcome the agreement recently reached by the Government of Guinea and members of the opposition political parties to pave the way for all parties to participate in legislative elections.

While we affirm the paramount importance and significance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a common standard of achievement, we would note it is not a legal instrument as the resolution suggests.

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Human traffickers ensnare some 20 million people worldwide for the sex industry and for labor. Making the general public as well as the victims aware of this crime is essential for ending what has been called modern-day slavery, U.S. officials say.

By Jane Morse
IIP Staff Writer
Washington,
June 13, 2013

CdeBaca made his plea for more help for human trafficking victims at a June 10–11 high-level conference in Kyiv, Ukraine, conducted by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), which says it is the world’s largest regional security organization, with 57 participating states in North America, Europe and Central Asia.

“If victims feel they cannot trust authorities, “ CdeBaca said, “or their decisions and actions are being judged, they are more likely to avoid these services and the criminal justice process altogether. This leads to insufficient or incomplete justice outcomes and increases the risk that the individual will return to the traffickers.“

Having victims step forward to accuse their traffickers is essential to ending the crime, said U.S. Representative Chris Smith, special representative of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. “The current-day risk to a trafficker of getting caught transporting a victim or victims is pathetically small. And they know that,” Smith said.

According to information provided by the U.S. delegation to the OSCE conference, there are roughly 6,000 trafficking prosecutions globally every year, but the number of trafficking victims worldwide is estimated to be 20 million. “This abysmal gap is intolerable and we must do everything we can to bridge it,” the U.S. delegation’s official statement said.

Prosecutions, however, cannot take place without first identifying the victims, according to the U.S. delegation statement. “Training for law-enforcement and first responders,” it said, “ is thus a necessary first step, as are effective referral mechanisms for protecting and assisting victims and protocols for cooperation between victim service providers and criminal justice agencies. “

Trafficking victims are prevented from revealing themselves due to fear, language barriers, physical trauma or a sense of powerlessness, the U.S. delegation statement said. Some trafficking victims may not even recognize that they are victims of a crime and have recourse, the statement said.

In September 2012, the Obama administration announced a comprehensive strategic action plan — the first of its kind in the United States — to help survivors of human trafficking in the United States get the support and services they need. As part of the effort, communities across the country are being enlisted to provide help to trafficking survivors. In addition, consumers and business are being made aware of supply chains tainted by exploitation and abuse of victims trafficked for labor.

Although the United States and many of the OSCE countries have national hotlines victims can call, a single, unified hotline available worldwide is necessary, according to Smith. “With a single trafficking hotline, travelers and transportation professionals can report suspected trafficking anytime, anywhere. A single hotline will assist victims anywhere, anytime,” he said.

“Combating modern-day slavery is everybody’s business,” Smith said. “Cooperation and coordination are key to mitigating — and someday ending — the cruelty of human trafficking.”

Learn more by reading the Federal Strategic Action Plan on Services for Victims of Human Trafficking (PDF, 509KB) on the Department of Health and Human Services website and the White House press release, Obama Administration’s Record on Human Trafficking Issues, on the White House website.

Human Rights Council – 23^rd Session
Geneva,
June 14, 2013

Thank you, Mr. President.

Myanmar is an ethnically and religiously diverse country, and fostering tolerance and mutual respect between peoples of different backgrounds remains one of Myanmar’s most significant challenges.  The United States remains concerned about violence against members of ethnic and religious minorities in Myanmar. We are pleased to support the PRST today as part of our efforts to foster dialogue, promote human rights, and support durable solutions grounded in international human rights norms and standards.

We recognize that individuals from diverse religious and ethnic minorities, including the Rohingya in Rakhine State, have been affected by violence and discrimination.  We implore all parties to cease attacks and to work with the government and each other to resolve the root causes of conflict. We continue to urge the government to promote a pluralistic and tolerant society, and to protect the human rights–including religious freedom and the right to a nationality–of every individual.

We note that the PRST calls upon the Government of Myanmar, in conjunction with the international community, and in accordance with international law, to ensure the return of all refugees and IDPs displaced from their homes.  The United States calls upon all relevant actors to ensure that refugees and IDPs are able to return voluntarily and in safety and dignity, consistent with recognized international humanitarian principles.  We urge relevant actors to work diligently to create conditions conducive to safe and voluntary returns, and to uphold the principle of nonrefoulement.

The United States will continue to work with the Government of Myanmar and the international community to achieve our goal of a peaceful, prosperous, and democratic Myanmar that protects the human rights of all of its diverse people.

(end text)

delivered by Ambassador Eileen Donahoe

Human Rights Council – 23^rd Session
Geneva,
June 13, 2013

The United States remains deeply concerned by the human rights situation in the Central African Republic and appreciates the Africa Group’s efforts to address the situation in the Human Rights Council. We are pleased to join consensus on this resolution.

We appreciate the resolution’s reference to the decision of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to send a fact-finding mission and hope it is dispatched on an urgent basis. Additionally, we look forward to the interim report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights at the 24th Session in September and the final report at the 25th session in March. We also encourage the transitional authorities to develop a mechanism to document, monitor, and investigate human rights violations. We support the resolution’s call for the transitional authorities to protect freedom of expression, as well as to ensure that women are given the opportunity to participate in the election and reconciliation processes on par with their male counterparts.

Additionally, the United States would like to note its understanding regarding a few points. We take issue with the reference to looting as a human rights violation. Looting, instead, is a violation of the laws of armed conflict, a body of law that does not apply to the situation in the CAR. Similarly, it would have been preferable to clarify that the transitional authorities need to take steps to counter unlawful acts of violence, in order to avoid impugning the legitimacy of self-defense or other lawful violence.

(end text)

Human Rights Council – 23^rd Session
Geneva,
June 13, 2013

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The United States thanks Brazil for its continued dedication to an issue of tremendous importance to all countries.  Regarding this resolution, however, my country has decided to call a vote and abstain.  Some of our reasons follow.

For many years now the United States has joined other countries in supporting the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.  While we recognize the importance of access to medicine, we note that countries have a wide array of policies and actions that may be appropriate in promoting the progressive realization of the right to the enjoyment of the highest available standard of physical and mental health.  Therefore, we think that this resolution should not try to define the content of the right.

Furthermore, to the extent that it is implied in this resolution, the United States does not recognize creation of any new right which we have not previously recognized, the expansion of the content or coverage of existing rights, or any other change in the current state of treaty or customary international law.

The United States commitment in the arena of global health is unsurpassed.  Through programs such as the Global Health Initiative, PEPFAR, and the President’s Malaria Initiative, as well as through investments in medicines research led by our National Institutes of Health, and extensive technical engagement and financial contributions to multilateral health institutions, the United States plays an important, catalyzing role encouraging innovation and voluntary mechanisms that increase access to affordable health products and technologies to people around the world.

At the same time, the United States has strong concerns about a number of the provisions of the resolution.  The goal of greater access to medicines, and particularly to essential medicines, is, for each country, a multi-faceted and complex issue.  States have to prioritize the access goal and promote public health policies in a manner best suited for their circumstances and consistent with their human rights and other international obligations.

We regret that the resolution, in the context of human rights, has a select emphasis on issues of intellectual property and trade.  There often exist multiple reasons why essential medicines are less widely available than they should be in some countries.  Inappropriate tax and tariff policies, insufficient health systems, inadequate access to financing, or lack of essential medicines procurement systems in place to support health delivery, services, and access, can all serve as internal barriers.  Many of these are best addressed by taking domestic action.

In addition, the United States does not agree with the resolution’s assertion that local production actually increases access or affordability.  While it may have potential economic benefits unrelated to health, we would urge States only to undertake the promotion of local production when local circumstances and economic analysis make clear that doing so is likely to result in lower prices, comparable quality, and increased access.

The United States reiterates its support for the Doha Declaration on TRIPS and Public Health and wishes to emphasize that nothing in this resolution is intended to or should be interpreted as altering the scope or meaning of that Declaration or any other part of the TRIPS Agreement.

We would also like to encourage the Human Rights Council and the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health to consider and focus on other aspects of this issue, especially those that have been more neglected.

Every government can and in fact should work to provide access to affordable, safe, efficacious and quality essential medicines for all.  We look forward to continue working with our partners to address this and other critical issues facing our countries.

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