United States Mission Geneva

The United States notes with interest Nicaragua’s inclusion in its reporting on civil and political rights that the Office for Coordination of Access to Information guarantees that the government observes and complies with the law on access to information. Media and civil society groups, however, have expressed serious concerns that government officials have denied them access to information that should be publicly available, and also that the Office for Coordination of Access to Information is severely understaffed and lacks adequate equipment to reasonably serve the public. The United States recommends that Nicaragua ensure full compliance with the letter and spirit of its law on access to information, and that the Office for Coordination of Access to Information be sufficiently staffed and equipped to undertake its responsibilities to the public.

The United States remains concerned about the treatment and rights of migrant workers in Qatar, and we thus recommend that Qatar pass a comprehensive law specifically outlawing trafficking in persons. We further recommend that Qatar implement its new Sponsorship Law in a way that ends migrant workers’ dependence on their sponsors for residency rights, enabling workers to change jobs, travel, and negotiate for a fair contract without their sponsor’s permission. We additionally recommend that Qatar effectively protect the rights of the domestic workers who are excluded from the purview of current labor laws and who must rely for protection solely on the provisions of unregulated, private contracts they sign with their employers, thus making them especially vulnerable to exploitation and abuse.

The United States and the European Union condemn the continuing human rights violations in Iran since the June 12 election. The large scale detentions and mass trials, the threatened execution of protestors, the intimidation of family members of those detained and the continuing denial to its citizens of the right to peaceful expression are contrary to human rights norms.

The United States is a leader in the global effort to conquer cancer. The U.S. Department of State has several international projects underway that are focused on the prevention of specific cancers, notably breast and other women’s cancers.

The United States announced today that it is making an initial contribution of $40 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) to support UNRWA’s regular budget and emergency programs in the West Bank and Gaza.

Thank you. It’s an honor to be here in Paris at the Global Zero Summit and see so many old friends. Many of you have known and worked with me when I served as a member of Congress from California and it’s an honor to be here today representing the Obama administration.

Each February, Black History Month honors the struggles and triumphs of millions of American citizens over the most devastating obstacles — slavery, prejudice, poverty — as well as their contributions to the nation’s cultural and political life.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau there are more than 41 million black residents in the United States, including those of more than one race. They make up 13.5 percent of the U.S. population.

African American history is an essential thread of the American narrative that traces our Nation’s enduring struggle to perfect itself. Each February, we recognize African American History Month as a moment to reflect upon how far we have come as a Nation, and what challenges remain.

I think we have just wrapped up a very productive conference and we have seen the results of cooperation in the international community on a number of very important issues. I want to thank Prime Minister Brown and Foreign Secretary Miliband, the Government of Afghanistan, and the United Nations for bringing us all together and sponsoring this important meeting.