Human Rights Council 29th Session: Item 10: General Debate
Statement by the Delegation of the United States of America
Delivered by Tabitha Snowbarger
July 1, 2015
Thank you, Mr. President.
The United States commends OHCHR and the countries that are cooperating with it on the protection of human rights.
In Thailand, the government continues to restrict fundamental freedoms, prosecute civilians in military courts, and allow for the detention of civilians by the military without judicial review. We urge the government to end the practice of trying civilians in military courts. It should fully restore civil liberties, ensure an inclusive reform process, and reestablish democratic governance including through free and fair elections.
We remain concerned by the ongoing violent attacks in northern Nigeria and the Niger Delta that have resulted in the deaths and displacement of thousands of Nigerians. We encourage all parties in Nigeria to refrain from violence and to engage with OHCHR in pursuing both a durable peace and the respect and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms. We urge the government to address both the atrocities committed by Boko Haram and alleged human rights violations committed by government security forces and state sponsored vigilante groups.
Finally, in the Maldives, we are concerned by the deterioration of the rule of law, including hasty prosecutions against critics of the courts and the government, which undermines the Maldives’ young democracy. We call on the government to lift restrictions on civil liberties and ensure due process equally for all citizens, regardless of political affiliation, and to address the cases of individuals who have been convicted and imprisoned without minimum fair trial guarantees.
We are pleased to see the constructive cooperation of states like Tunisia with the OHCHR. We look forward to continuing to work with OHCHR and other states on technical assistance and cooperation to protect and promote human rights.