Extending the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Durban Declaration
A/HRC/34/L.29
Explanation of Vote by the United States of America,
As Delivered by William J. Mozdzierz
Head of the U.S. Delegation
Human Rights Council 34th session
Geneva, March 24, 2017
The United States will call a vote and vote “no” on this resolution extending the mandate of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Effective Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action.
The United States is firmly committed to combating racism and racial discrimination. We will continue to work with civil society, international mechanisms, and all nations of goodwill to combat racism and racial discrimination, xenophobia, intolerance, anti-Semitism, and bigotry, at home and abroad.
We regret that we cannot support this resolution on such an important topic due to our concerns about the Durban Declaration and Program of Action (DDPA) and the outcome of the Durban review conference, which are well-known.
We believe this resolution serves as a vehicle to prolong the divisions caused by the Durban conference and its follow-up rather than providing a comprehensive and inclusive way forward for the international community to combat the scourge of racism and racial discrimination.
For these reasons we cannot support this resolution and will vote “no.”