Delivered by Ambassador Eileen C. Donahoe
U.S. Representative to the UN Human Rights Council
Geneva,
June 13, 2013
The United States is pleased to join consensus on this resolution as we strongly support international cooperation in efforts to promote and protect human rights. The United States regards this resolution as affirming the obligations undertaken by states with respect to implementation of human rights treaties they have ratified, and for states parties to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) to progressively realize the relevant rights in a non-discriminatory manner.
Additionally, we would note that states’ obligations to immediately respect and ensure to all individuals the civil and political rights guaranteed by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) are not dependent on the capacity of a state or the availability of technical assistance.