EOV on “Regional arrangements for the promotion and protection of human rights.”
Statement of the U.S. Delegation of the United States of America
UN Human Rights Council – 24th Session
Geneva,
September 27, 2013
As delivered
While we support the goal of establishing regional and sub-regional arrangements for the promotion and protection of human rights, we are concerned about the financial implications of this resolution. In particular, we are concerned that the costs associated with the workshop and report on regional arrangements are, in our view, inordinately expensive, with a program budget implication of over $400,000. We regret that we were not able to make more progress in seeking to reduce these costs, and that we must therefore disassociate from consensus. (Non-member the United Kingdom has asked that we express that they share this fiscal concern.)
Additionally, the United States notes that it is not a party to the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, nor to the associated Optional Protocol. The United States notes that it does not recognize any change in the current state of conventional or customary international law.
Thank you, Mister President.