Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms While Countering Terrorism, Dr. Fionnuala D. Ní Aoláin
Statement as Delivered by Ambassador Michèle Taylor
United Nations Human Rights Council – 52nd Session
Thank you, Mr. Vice President.
Thank you, Special Rapporteur, for being with us today. The United States places human rights, democracy, and rule of law at the center of our values as a nation. They are at the core of our foreign policy and everything we work to achieve with our partners around the world.
No country is above scrutiny, including the United States. We have taken unprecedented steps to welcome UN mandate holders to review our domestic human rights situations and provide feedback and recommendations on ways we can improve. In this spirit, we were proud to have extended an invitation to the Special Rapporteur for a visit to the United States and the Guantánamo Bay detention facility. This reflects the strong U.S. commitment to transparency, even on our most difficult challenges. We look forward to your recommendations.
As we refine our collective response to evolving threats, we must consider the potential for some governments to misuse counter terrorism measures to repress critics, including human rights defenders, journalists, and political activists. Together, we must build in safeguards to protect human rights.
Question: How can we strengthen practices to prevent and counter terrorism while also strengthening human rights protections?
I thank you.
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