Statement of the United States Regarding the Presidential Statement on Working Methods
Human Rights Council 29th Session
July 3, 2015
Geneva
Thank you, Mr. President.
The United States supports efforts to make the Human Rights Council more efficient and more effective. We appreciate the efforts of the President in proposing a means through the Presidential Statement under consideration presently to further the goal of efficiency and effectiveness. We believe that there are many ideas the President has put forward that are worthy of due consideration of Member States.
However, we are disappointed that certain suggestions the United States put forward were not incorporated in the final text. Among the improvements which this Council could address are those related to the process of tabling resolutions and amendments. Also, the United States remains concerned about the cost associated with this PRST, issued a short time ago in the PBI. Further, while we support exploring ways to improve the effective workings of the consultative group, we have concerns about paragraph 2 of this Presidential Statement.
In discussing this with other States, it is clear that these concerns are shared by others.
We believe that the concerns that have been raised are sufficiently serious to be made a matter of record. Nonetheless, we join consensus and look forward to continuing engagement to implement the aspects of the PRST agreed to today.