July 26, 2010
Office of the Spokesman
Washington, DC
The Human Rights Council adopted by consensus a joint Afghanistan and U.S. resolution addressing attacks on innocent school children, particularly girls, in Afghanistan. The resolution had 40 co-sponsors.
We urge the international community to join us in supporting the Government of Afghanistan as it works to combat violence against and repression of girls seeking an education, and works to bring to justice those responsible for these outrages.
We applaud the members of the Human Rights Council for supporting this important effort to protect the rights of children, particularly girls, to be educated in Afghanistan. The consensus adoption of this resolution is an example of how the Human Rights Council is capable of collectively responding to a situation that raises serious human rights concerns. We look forward to future cooperative efforts.
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Co-sponsors of the resolution were:
Afghanistan*, Australia*, Canada*, Costa Rica*, Czech Republic*, Estonia*, Finland*, Hungary, Latvia*, Lithuania*, Nepal*, Netherlands, New Zealand*, Poland*, Portugal*, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia*, Spain*, Turkey*, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America (listed on resolution); Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Chile, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, India, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Romania, Serbia, Singapore, Sweden and Switzerland (additional co-sponsors)
* Non-member State of the Human Rights Council.