US Mission Geneva » Human Rights

Release of the Commission of Inquiry Report on the Human Rights Situation in Syria

WCL — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 15:31:33 +0000

Statement by Ambassador Eileen Chamberlain Donahoe
Release of the Commission of Inquiry Report on Syria

November 28, 2011

The United States welcomes the release this morning of the report by the independent international Commission of Inquiry on Syria. We commend the hard work and resourcefulness of the Commission in compiling the report despite the Syrian government’s refusal to grant access to investigate within Syrian borders.

The Commission’s findings confirm what we have been hearing for several months — that on a nearly daily basis the Assad regime is killing peaceful demonstrators and committing arbitrary detentions, torture, and other serious human rights violations. This report amplifies an already growing chorus of international condemnation and call for action. It is clear to anyone who reads it that Assad’s unwillingness to end his regime’s violence is taking Syria down a very dangerous path despite efforts led by the Syrian people to start a peaceful transition to democracy.

Today, members of the Human Rights Council are collecting signatures for an urgent interactive session of the Council on Friday, December 2, where we will review the Commission’s report and make recommendations about how to contribute to a resolution of the crisis.

We commend the Arab League’s leadership in addressing the urgent situation in Syria and we profoundly admire the brave Syrians, including those inside Syria, who contributed to this report at great personal risk. The continued attention to the crisis in Syria by the Human Rights Council reflects the priority the international community places on supporting the Syrian people and bringing an end to the Assad regime’s violence against them.

US Deeply Concerned by Ongoing Attacks Against Peaceful Protestors in Syria

admin — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 08:44:45 +0000

Statement by Victoria Nuland
U.S. Department of State
Office of the Spokesperson
July 5, 2011

The United States remains deeply concerned by the ongoing attacks against peaceful protestors at the hands of the Syrian government. The government of Syria claims it is interested in a dialogue with the opposition. Yet, its actions in cities like Hama and along the Turkish border directly undermine the credibility of its words and its initiative. Syrian security forces have once again stepped up their repression and harassment of peaceful demonstrators and opposition members. There is no justification, no excuse for the Syrian security forces to begin yet another crackdown, killing protesters and arresting people suspected of political opposition. We urge the government of Syria to immediately halt its intimidation and arrest campaign, pull its security forces back from Hama and other cities, and allow the Syrian people to express their opinions freely so that a genuine transition to democracy can take place. The international community will continue to stand with the people of Syria as they seek their universal human rights.

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U.S. Says Commitment to Rights Unwavering in Middle East

admin — Mon, 09 May 2011 07:40:53 +0000

Assistant Secretary Michael Posner said people in the Mideast want economic and political opportunities. "We can help reinforce their own aspirations and desires," he said. (AP photo)

06 May 2011

By Jeff Baron
Staff Writer

Washington — U.S. diplomats overseeing human rights and Middle East policy say their work in supporting the pro-democracy movement in the Arab world is pragmatic as well as principled.

“When people talk about a conflict between our democratic values and our desire for stability, that’s a false dichotomy,” Assistant Secretary of State Michael Posner told a House Foreign Affairs subcommittee May 5. “The United States has a profound interest in regional stability. … And we believe the respect for human rights and principles of accountability are actually key components in long-term stability.”

Posner, who oversees the State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, and Tamara Wittes, the deputy assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs, offered testimony on U.S. responses to what they called the Arab Spring. Although the situation in each country is different, in all cases “our strategy is one of empowerment,” Posner said.

“We support and empower those in the region who are committed, as we are, to peaceful and democratic transition,” he added.

Wittes said U.S. interests in the region benefit from stability, but she said that means governments that are more democratic and responsive, not less so. “The changes under way in the region were driven by a rising generation unwilling to accept a status quo that denied them the opportunities they deserved, and a status quo that they knew was unsustainable. That’s a situation characterized by corruption, inequality, unemployment, resource depletion and political marginalization,” she said.

Posner said the United States is helping the transition to new forms of government in Tunisia and Egypt with aid for building democratic institutions, including political parties, where political participation had been limited. In Egypt, he said, “building the foundation for sustainable democracy” will take years, not months. U.S. aid also is going to economic development to help drive down high unemployment rates.

“Other states, including Jordan, Morocco, and Oman, have taken some initial positive steps toward political and economic reform, but all have more to do,” he said in written testimony. “In others, including Yemen and Bahrain, for example, much more work remains to reverse disturbing trends, hold security forces accountable for abuses, and initiate democratic reforms that improve equality and participation.”

The officials offered some specifics, country by country:

• In Egypt, they said, the United States will watch whether the transitional military government lifts emergency law before elections, as promised, and frees people arrested and, in some cases, sentenced for political protest. The United States also is concerned about sectarian violence, legal discrimination against religious minorities and the limited role of women in the transition.

• They offered strong praise for Tunisia’s interim government, which is supporting human rights and moving toward the election this summer of a constituent assembly to draft a new constitution. U.S. aid is supporting the transition.

• In Yemen, they said, the United States supports “a peaceful and orderly transfer of power in accordance with the Yemeni people’s demand for better governance that is more responsive to their needs and aspirations.”

• In Bahrain, the diplomats said, they are “deeply concerned” about what they called the government’s “campaign of retribution against elements of the political opposition, civil society, professional groups including medical practitioners, and Shia community leaders.”

• In Syria, too, they reiterated U.S. condemnation of the government’s crackdown against peaceful demonstrators and others who have supported human rights and democratic reforms.

• And in Libya, they cited the U.S. role in hindering Muammar Qadhafi’s attacks on opponents. In each case, they said, the U.S. effort has come in cooperation with other nations in multinational groups: the U.N. Human Rights Council, the European Union and the Arab League, among others.

United States Intervention at the 11th Session of the UPR Working Group – Somalia

admin — Wed, 04 May 2011 07:44:04 +0000

May 3, 2011

The United States warmly welcomes Her Excellency Ms. Zahra Monahed Alis Samantar and the Somali delegation to the UPR Working Group. We greatly appreciate the efforts the government has made to complete its National Report and to participate in today’s session under what we recognize are extraordinarily difficult circumstances.

We share the concerns raised regarding continued reports of human rights abuses in Somalia. We note with extreme concern, the significant number of civilian casualties caused by the ongoing hostilities, as well the increased recruitment, training, and use of children in armed conflict by all parties to the conflict. Reports of summary executions, forcible marriages of young girls to al-Shabaab terrorists, abuse and discrimination based on religious belief and practice, and the use of human shields are also deeply troubling. We remain concerned by unlawful killings as part of the ongoing conflict in Somalia. We commend the (TFG) for its efforts to establish a commission focused on ending child soldier recruitment in Somalia and request a status update on those efforts. We remain very concerned about the prevalence of child labor in Somalia.

We condemn the actions of al-Shabaab against civilians, including their practices of extra-judicial killings and amputations, recruitment of child soldiers and forcible conscription, and restrictions on press and assembly.

The United States makes the following recommendations:

That the TFG expand its outreach and political reconciliation efforts as broadly as possible, as part of comprehensive efforts to stabilize Somalia.

That the TFG reverse its position favoring a three-year extension for the Transitional Federal Parliament and instead adopt a one-year extension coupled with governmental reforms and benchmarks, including the completion of a national constitution within one year, and elections for the President and Speaker of Parliament this summer.

That the TGF cease the use of children as combatants.

That the TFG address the prevalence of exploitative child labor by enforcing its labor laws.

Finally, we commend the TFG for efforts to broaden media expression in Somalia amid al-Shabaab’s efforts to repress the media, but recommend that the TFG uphold freedom of expression in all cases.

Again, we sincerely thank the Somali delegation for its participation today and look forward to its continued and committed engagement with this Council. We look forward to our continued cooperation with Ambassador Bari Bari in this regard.

Release of the 2010 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices

admin — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 07:08:33 +0000

On April 8, 2011, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Michael Posner released the Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2010.

The Secretary of State announced that the reports would be available through a new website HumanRights.gov which would serve as a one stop site for human rights information from across the U.S. Goverment.

The Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, commonly known as the Human Rights Report, covers the legal status of human rights in more than 190 countries and territories around the world.

The protection of fundamental human rights was a foundation stone in the establishment of the United States over 200 years ago. Since then, a central goal of U.S. foreign policy has been the promotion of respect for human rights, as embodied in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The United States understands that the existence of human rights helps secure the peace, deter aggression, promote the rule of law, combat crime and corruption, strengthen democracies, and prevent humanitarian crises.

Panel Discussion on Internet Freedom at the UN on Friday, March 4

admin — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 14:36:08 +0000

On Friday, March 4 the US Mission will sponsor “Internet Freedom: Promoting Human Rights in the Digital Age,” a panel discussion at the United Nations during the the 16th Session of the Human Rights Council on the impact of the Internet and digital connectivity on the struggle for human freedom and progress.

Participants will join in a discussion with panelists Michael Posner, Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy and Human Rights, Richard Allan, Director of Policy for Facebook, Peter Barron, Google’s Director of Communications and Public Affairs for Northern Europe, and Brett Solomon, Executive Director of Access.

The Internet and other digital technologies enable an unprecedented level of communication and connection among individuals. Yet just as people use these technologies to express themselves and advance freedom worldwide, numerous governments seek to deny the rights they enable. Repressive regimes are censoring search results, jailing journalists and activists, and imposing laws that restrict online discourse and access to information. The United States has made the defense of a free, open, and interconnected Internet a foreign policy priority. But advancing Internet freedom is a challenge that governments cannot tackle alone – we look forward to a productive discussion March 4 with human rights defenders, technology experts and the general public.

Click here for invitation and more details

UN Mapping Report on Violations of Human Rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

admin — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 13:10:29 +0000

Philip J. Crowley
Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Public Affairs

Washington, DC
October 1, 2010

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has released a report documenting atrocities, including serious violations of human rights, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the decade between March 1993 and June 2003. The report raises serious allegations of brutal and horrific mass killings, rape and other abuses during the period in question.

The United States strongly supports accountability for violations of human rights and international humanitarian law around the world, including in the DRC. We welcome the improvement in regional relations since the reporting period and call on countries in the region to continue to collaborate closely to stop the ongoing atrocities in the DRC.

As we contemplate the contents of the report, it is crucially important that we remain focused on the tens of thousands of victims in the DRC. Accountability is an important step toward ensuring that further such incidents do not occur. The United States is firmly committed to helping the DRC and other nations in the region take positive steps to end the corrosive cycle of violence and impunity.