UN Human Rights Council 12th Session
Statement by the Delegation of the United States
Delivered by Anna Chambers
Geneva, September 23, 2009
Thank you, Mr. President.
The United States welcomes the Republic of the Congo’s efforts to provide free treatment for those living with HIV/AIDS.
In light of the concerns documented in the Working Group report about conditions in prisons and detention centers, the United States welcomes the Republic of the Congo’s willingness to allow its prisons to be monitored. Additionally, we welcome the government’s efforts to better ensure separation between women, men, and children in detention centers. We call upon the Republic of the Congo to increase its efforts to prosecute human trafficking offenders and provide assistance to trafficking victims.
The United States strongly supports the Working Group recommendations that the Republic of the Congo encourage the participation of civil society during election cycles, increase the independence and capacity of the national human rights commission, and consider providing property rights for women.
We appreciate the Republic of the Congo’s decision to allow the UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people to visit in 2010.
We look forward to future discussions with the Republic of Congo.
Thank you, Mr. President.