Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Racism
As delivered by Shubha Sastry
UN Human Rights Council 32nd Session
Geneva,
June 27, 2016
Thank you Mr. President.
The United States is fully committed to furthering the rights of minority women and eliminating societal barriers that impede full enjoyment of their human rights. The U.S. government places great importance on women’s issues in general and has worked to elevate women’s status in the United States.
Women who are members of racial or ethnic minorities in the United States often face barriers to gaining access to capital and entrepreneurial opportunities. This and other relevant topics were discussed at the White House’s United State of Women Summit held earlier this month, which highlighted the Obama Administration’s current initiatives on gender equality and discussed the gaps that still exist. The United States continues to be committed to increasing women’s access to capital through legislation and interagency cooperation that will even the playing field for female entrepreneurs.
The U. S. government has already taken steps to address the discrepancies minority women often face in standards of care and access to healthcare. Myriad factors, such as work, marital, or socioeconomic status, can affect minority women’s ability to access even basic healthcare. With the introduction of the Affordable Care Act, more women are gaining access to preventative and maternal care and are no longer being denied access to health insurance for pre-existing conditions, such as pregnancy, heart disease, or domestic violence.
The United States is committed to the principle that the needs of minority women, who face challenges both as a result of their gender and their status as members of minority groups, should be better identified and addressed both within the United States and abroad.
(end statement)