United States Mission Geneva

Biography From Presidential Nomination:
Eileen Chamberlain Donahoe is an Affiliated Scholar at the Center for international Security and Cooperation at Stanford University. Her research has focused on norms on use of force, UN reform, and the international rule of law. Her 2006 Ph.D. dissertation entitled: “Humanitarian Military Intervention: The Moral Imperative Versus the Rule of Law,” [...]

The United States has a firm commitment to the protection and promotion of all human rights. Our Secretary of State recently expressed our firm belief that “people must be free from the oppression of tyranny, from torture, from discrimination, from the fear of leaders who will imprison or “disappear” them. But they also must be free from the oppression of want – want of food, want of health, want of education, and want of equality in law and in fact.”

Governments can and should take an active role in promoting tolerance and respect for diversity. We have repeatedly stated our resolve to combat intolerance, discrimination and hate crimes. We need to do a better job of putting those words into action. We remain concerned by the trend of governments putting restrictions on places of worship, religious attire, the use of minority languages, or peaceful cultural expression; and actions by political leadership that exploit ethnic tensions or reiterate unhelpful stereotypes. We remain concerned about police raids and arrests for peaceful religious activity and religious groups facing difficulties in registration.

The United States is committed to the protection and well-being of children both domestically and internationally. At home, an extensive array of federal, state, and local programs promote child welfare and seek to protect children from harm. Internationally, UNICEF is a key partner in our global efforts to protect children. We fully support its initiatives to improve children’s health care and education, to protect children from violence and exploitation, and to advocate on their behalf.

The United States is pleased to participate in this panel on the Right to Truth and to make this statement in support of the work on the right to truth by this panel, the Human Rights Council, Governments, the Office of the High Commissioner, and civil society. We thank in particular the Delegation of Argentina for first putting this important matter before the Commission on Human Rights in 2005.

While we may have disagreements on substantive issues, such substantive disagreements should not be misinterpreted as attacks on the independence of Special Procedures. We strongly support their work, and we recognize that these Special Mechanisms are often able to achieve results where others, including States, cannot.

Thank you, Madame High Commissioner, for your report to this 13th Session of the Human Rights Council. I am pleased to take the floor of the Council for the first time in the context of a dialogue with you. The United States deeply appreciates your and your staff’s dedication to better implementation of the rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Eileen Chamberlain Donahoe, of California, was confirmed March 3 by the United States senate for the rank of Ambassador during her tenure of service as the United States Representative to the UN Human Rights. Ambassador Donahoe’s most recent post was as an Affiliated Scholar at the Center for international Security and Cooperation at Stanford University. Her research has focused on norms on use of force, UN reform, and the international rule of law.

President Obama has affirmed America’s commitment to the United Nations as an indispensable, if imperfect, institution for advancing our security and well-being in the 21st century. We know that when we fully employ our unique ability to work multilaterally through the UN and other international organizations, it results in considerable benefits to the United States and the American people.