Secretary Clinton's Remarks: Special Session of the Human Rights Council on the Situation in Cote d'Ivoire

Well, everyone has high-tailed it out of DC, and I hope this lovely lady has as well, but that has not stopped her from working today. Earlier today she issued a joint statement with Catherine Ashton about the post-electoral situation in Belarus, and a little while ago this appeared in my inbox. If this was important enough for her to issue tonight, then it is important enough to post here. Her statement on yet another election gone wrong.

Special Session of the Human Rights Council on the Situation in Cote d'Ivoire

Remarks

Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State

Washington, DC

December 23, 2010

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Today’s special session of the Human Rights Council concerning the ongoing crisis in Cote d’Ivoire underscored the international community’s commitment to ensure respect for human rights and to address serious abuses. We applaud the African Group for leading this session.

The United States joins the international community in condemning the growing violence, the grave human rights violations, and the deterioration of security in Cote d’Ivoire. We stand with the Council in calling for the immediate end to the violence and other abuses, and we will work to hold those responsible for these human rights violations accountable.

When the United States joined the Human Rights Council, we promised to work from within to improve its effectiveness as we strive to achieve our common goals. Today’s special session exemplifies this new approach and reaffirms that the Council has an important role to play on all issues where human rights are in question.

President Alassane Dramane Ouattara is the legitimately elected and internationally recognized leader of Cote d’Ivoire. We reiterate our call for former President Laurent Gbagbo to step down immediately. The rights of the Ivoirian people can only be fully realized when democracy is respected and the rule of law restored in Cote d’Ivoire.