U.S. Mission to International
Organizations in Geneva

Statement Read by Sean Garcia
As Delivered

The United States welcomes the Mozambique delegation.  We recommend Mozambique:

1. Investigate allegations of human rights abuses by non-state armed groups, government security forces, and private security forces; hold accountable those found responsible; and ensure government security forces are vetted for complicity in human rights abuses and trained in responsibilities under international humanitarian law and international human rights law;

1. Allow independent press and civil society access to report on conflict regions and uphold Mozambique’s domestic and international obligations and commitments to respect freedom of expression, including for members of the press; and

1. Investigate and hold accountable those responsible for violent attacks against members of the press.

We recognize the majority of human rights abuses against civilians are inflicted by ISIS-Mozambique.  We also recognize Mozambique’s efforts to address humanitarian crises and prevent and counter violent extremism.  However, human rights abuses by government security forces or government-affiliated private security forces undermine these efforts.