Press Statement Hillary Rodham Clinton: United Nations Human Rights Council Resolution on Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity

United Nations Human Rights Council Resolution on Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity

Press Statement

Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State

Washington, DC

June 17, 2011

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Today, the UN Human Rights Council adopted the first ever UN resolution on the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons. This represents a historic moment to highlight the human rights abuses and violations that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people face around the world based solely on who they are and whom they love.

The United States worked with the main sponsor, South Africa, and a number of other countries from many regions of the world to help pass this resolution, including Brazil, Colombia, members of the European Union, and others. This resolution will commission the first ever UN report on the challenges that LGBT persons face around the globe and will open a broader international discussion on how to best promote and protect the human rights of LGBT persons.

All over the world, people face human rights abuses and violations because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, including torture, rape, criminal sanctions, and killing. Today’s landmark resolution affirms that human rights are universal. People cannot be excluded from protection simply because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. The United States will continue to stand up for human rights wherever there is inequality and we will seek more commitments from countries to join this important resolution.

Hillary Clinton to Human Rights Council: Reject Syria's Candidacy

The Human Rights Council's Special Session on Syria

Press Statement

Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State

Washington, DC

April 29, 2011

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Today the UN Human Rights Council took urgent action to shine a light on the deteriorating human rights situation in Syria and condemn the continued human rights abuses by the Syrian government. Today’s resolution - passed with an overwhelming majority by members from all regions of the globe - unequivocally indicates that the use of force by the Syrian government to quell peaceful political demonstrators is unacceptable. The international community has spoken and expressed its outrage at the violence used by the Syrian government to deny its population their universal human rights, including the freedoms of expression and assembly.

The Council’s forceful statement, coupled with its decision to establish an urgent investigation led by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, ensures that the international community will remain actively engaged in the human rights crisis in Syria.

The Council also called upon the Syrian government to immediately release all prisoners of conscience and arbitrarily detained persons, including those who were detained before the recent events, and to immediately cease any intimidation, persecution and arbitrary arrests of individuals, including lawyers, human rights defenders and journalists.

The findings of this Special Session further reinforce the crucial need for Council members to reject Syria’s hypocritical candidacy for membership on the Human Rights Council. No country engaged in such horrific and ongoing human rights abuses should be considered for membership on this important body.

U.S. Accomplishments at the UN Human Rights Council

When the U.S. joined the U.N. Human Rights Council, some people were angry that we would sit on a panel where Libya was a member. My, how things change. The State Department released the following statement and a fact sheet marking the second anniversary of U.S. membership. Here is a picture of the SOS just because....

The United Nations Human Rights Council

Press Statement

Mark C. Toner
Acting Deputy SpokesmanOffice of the Spokesman

Washington, DC

March 30, 2011

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The United States is pleased to note the landmark achievements of the most recent session of the UN Human Rights Council.

This session included bold, assertive action by the Council to highlight the deteriorating human rights situation in Iran by establishing a new Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights Situation in that country, the first country-specific mandate created by the Council since it came into being. The Council also charted a new course for global efforts to condemn intolerance, discrimination, and violence based on religion or belief while protecting and promoting freedom of expression. The Council established a Commission of Inquiry to examine serious abuses and violations of human rights in Cote d’Ivoire, and extended the Council’s scrutiny of the ongoing serious human rights abuses in Burma. And in conjunction with the session, the United States led a ground-breaking effort to get 85 UN member-states to join a statement supporting the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. Taken collectively, the actions taken by the 16th Human Rights Council represent a significant positive change in the Council’s trajectory.

However, much work remains to be done to ensure that the Council realizes fully its intended purpose. In particular, the United States remains determined to take all possible steps to end the Council’s biased and disproportionate focus on Israel. The United States maintains a vocal, principled stand against this focus, and will continue its robust efforts to end it. We also will continue to work to thwart the efforts to elect as Council members governments that clearly do not merit membership given their own human rights records. And the United States remains determined to continue to push the Council to address a broad range of urgent and serious human rights concerns worldwide. To this end, the United States Government intends to pursue a second term on the Council at the Human Rights Council elections in New York in May 2012.

We believe that U.S. engagement in the Human Rights Council has directly resulted in real progress. In our two years on the Council, we’ve not been happy with every outcome, and have firmly denounced Council actions we disagree with, but the Council has made important strides. Much work remains to be done for the Human Rights Council to sustain the gains of the last two years and to fully realize its potential, and the United States looks forward to continuing our efforts to do so.

Key U.S. Accomplishments at the UN Human Rights Council

Fact Sheet

Washington, DC

March 30, 2011

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This September will mark the two-year anniversary of U.S. membership on the United Nations Human Rights Council. U.S. engagement at the Council has led to a number of new mechanisms to spotlight and address serious human rights concerns and focused international attention to some of the world’s most egregious human rights abusers. Much work remains before the Council can fully realize its mandate as the international community’s focal point for the protection and promotion of human rights. The United States will continue to work hard to diminish the Council’s biased disproportionate focus on Israel. The United States maintains a vocal, principled stand against this focus, and will continue its robust efforts to end it.

Key accomplishments over the past two years include:

DEEPENING ENGAGEMENT IN COUNTRY SITUATIONS

Iran: The Council took bold, assertive action to highlight Iran’s deteriorating human rights situation by establishing a Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights Situation in Iran. The rapporteur will investigate and report on abuses in Iran and call out the failure of the Iranian government to meet its human rights obligations.

Cote d’Ivoire: U.S. leadership led to a Special Session on the situation in Cote d’Ivoire, sending Laurent Gbagbo a clear message that the world is watching what he does and that atrocities and human rights violations would not go unnoticed. At its most recent session, the Council established a Commission of Inquiry to investigate these abuses and amplified the international community’s unequivocal message that President Ouattara must be allowed to serve as the elected head of state.

Libya: The United States played a pivotal role in convening the Council’s Special Session in February 2011 during which the Council condemned the recent human rights violations and other acts of violence committed by the Government of Libya, created an independent Commission of Inquiry to investigate those violations, and recommended to the UN General Assembly that it suspend Libya’s membership rights on the Council. The UN General Assembly acted on that recommendation several days later.

Kyrgyzstan: The United States worked with Kyrgyzstan to draft and galvanize support for the first-ever resolution to address human rights violations there in the wake of the killings and abuses that took place in June 2010. It called for a credible investigation by the Government and international assistance for victims and requested the High Commissioner for Human Rights to provide follow-up reporting. The resolution paved the way for a Commission of Inquiry to investigate these events.

Guinea: The United States led the Council to adopt several resolutions on Guinea. The Council condemned the September 2009 violence, welcomed the High Commissioner for Human Rights’ decision to open a country office, and requested technical assistance from the international community for the transition to democracy, which produced concrete results on the ground.

Tunisia: The United States worked with the EU and the interim government of Tunisia to adopt a resolution that welcomed the process of political transition that has started in Tunisia, invited the UN to provide technical assistance to the transitional process in Tunisia, and encouraged the government of Tunisia to implement recommendations of the High Commissioner from its report on its mission earlier this year.

Burma: The United States has worked to ensure the continuation of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Burma. The Special Rapporteur plays a critical role in reporting on the ongoing human rights abuses in Burma, including calling for a commission of inquiry into the situation.

North Korea: The United States has worked to ensure the continuation of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in North Korea. While the government of North Korea strongly opposes this mandate, the number of votes in favor of the resolution increased this year, demonstrating the level of international concern with the situation there.

Sudan: The United States led efforts to renew the mandate of the Independent Expert tasked with monitoring human rights throughout Sudan, including Darfur, over the Sudanese government’s strong opposition.

INITIATING CONCRETE ACTION TO DRIVE HUMAN RIGHTS PRIORITIES

Protecting Freedom of Assembly and Association: The U.S. Government co-sponsored a resolution to create the first-ever Special Rapporteur to protect Freedom of Assembly and Association, to monitor crackdowns on civil society groups and advance protection of the right to free assembly and association through its vigilant exposure of state conduct.

Combating Discrimination Against Women: The United States championed the establishment of a Working Group of Independent Experts to prevent Discrimination Against Women; the five independent experts will address discrimination against women in law and practice. One of the experts is the first Israeli citizen to be appointed by the Human Rights Council President to a special mechanism.

A Strong Statement on LGBT Rights: The United States led a group of 85 countries to sign a statement entitled “Ending Acts of Violence and Related Human Rights Violations Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity.” It represents a landmark moment in UN efforts to highlight human rights abuses faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people around the world.

DEFENDING CORE PRINCIPLES

Protecting Freedom of Expression in the Context of Religious Intolerance: The United States was instrumental in galvanizing support for a consensus resolution that marks a sea change in the global dialogue on countering offensive and hateful speech based upon religion or belief. The “Combating Discrimination and Violence” resolution underscores the vital importance of protecting freedom of expression and ends the divisive debate over the highly problematic concept of “defamation of religions.”

Hillary Clinton: UN General Assembly Suspends Libya's Human Rights Council Membership

UN General Assembly Suspends Libya's Human Rights Council Membership

Press Statement

Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State

Washington, DC

March 1, 2011

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The United States applauds the move by the UN General Assembly to suspend Libya’s membership rights in the Human Rights Council in Geneva. We continue to demand an immediate halt to the violence perpetrated by the Qadhafi government against its own citizens. The General Assembly today has made it clear that governments that turn their guns on their own people have no place on the Human Rights Council.

Today’s historic action is the first time that any country serving on the Human Rights Council, or the Commission before it, has ever had its membership suspended. The international community is speaking with one voice and our message is unmistakable: these violations of universal rights are unacceptable and will not be tolerated.

Two years ago, the United States announced that we would seek to join the Human Rights Council with a commitment to reform the Council from within. The actions the Council has taken over the last few days, setting the stage for today’s decision, is the latest example that our engagement is paying dividends, even as we keep pressing for further reforms.

The United States will continue to work with the international community on additional steps to hold the Qadhafi government accountable, provide humanitarian assistance to those in need, and support the Libyan people as they pursue a transition to democracy.

I have to add my two cents here: Take that all you people who were so against our re-joining this group because Libya belonged. Our Girl at State went over there to Geneva, and Libya's sitting government has been ousted. Let us all hope and pray for a kinder, gentler Libyan government to aggregate and prevail.

Slideshow: Hillary Clinton in Geneva

As you have seen, the Secretary of State spent a very busy day in Geneva making two speeches, giving two interviews (that I know of), a press conference, and likely some bilaterals. I managed to post the texts and a few pictures in the course of the day, but there were many pictures I could not take the time to put up, so here they are in a slideshow. Enjoy!

Secretary Clinton's Comments on the Special Session of the Human Rights Council on the Situation in Libya

Special Session of the Human Rights Council on the Situation in Libya

Press Statement

Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State

Washington, DC

February 25, 2011

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The United States welcomes today’s action by the UN Human Rights Council condemning human rights violations and violence committed by the Libyan government against its own people, and we strongly support the Council’s establishment of an independent commission of inquiry to investigate these violations with a view towards ensuring that those responsible are held accountable. The Council also recommended suspending Libya’s membership and our Mission at the United Nations in New York is working with partners in the General Assembly to build support for a resolution to do so.

These steps underscore the international community's profound concern about the abuses in Libya, and we urge all nations to speak with one voice in support of universal human rights. That includes an immediate end to Libyan government violence against the Libyan people and support for the universal rights of peaceful assembly, free speech, and self-determination. The Libyan people should be able to determine their own destiny.

Today’s vote must be followed by sustained commitment and consistent action, and I will discuss this challenge with my colleagues at the Human Rights Council in Geneva on Monday.

Hillary Clinton Makes History... Again!

Earlier this month, with the people of Egypt in full revolt, and having spent the previous Sunday appearing on five major Sunday morning talk shows prior to flying to Haiti for a full day of visits, meetings, and interviews, Hillary Clinton, 67th U.S. Secretary of State, made history when she hosted almost all the chiefs of mission of the U.S. at the State Department in a plenary conference to introduce her Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review (QDDR), itself an historical undertaking. Before the shortest month of the year ends, she will once again be making history, according to U.N. Dispatch, when she appears at an emergency meeting of the U.N. Human Rights Council. Never before has a sitting U.S. Secretary of State attended a meeting of the UNHRC.

Mark Leon Goldberg, in What to Expect at the Human Rights Council Special Meeting On Libya, notes:

Secretary Clinton will lead the US Delegation to the Human Rights Council session on Libya. As an indication of the importance to which the Obama administration is attaching this meeting, this will be the first time that a sitting Secretary of State has appeared at the Human Rights Council. As I noted yesterday, that isn’t the only thing out of the ordinary about this emergency session of the Council–it has attracted a very broad and diverse coalition of supporters (including Israel and Palestine).

Read more>>>>

This, certainly, will be a meeting to watch.