US Mission Geneva

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 Human Rights Council Approved a Joint Statement Expressing Concern about the Human Rights Situation in Yemen

Ambassador Donahoe welcomed the Human Rights Council’s passage of a historic resolution to protect the human rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender people, underscoring that all people are endowed with universal human rights.

The Human Rights Council adopted by consensus June 16, 2011 a ground-breaking resolution on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises.  Expressing U.S. government support for the resolution, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Dan Baer said it is “it is important for States to govern justly and effectively, such that [...]

Yesterday at the Human Rights Council, the United States joined more than 50 other UN member states in issuing a forceful statement addressing the deteriorating human rights situation in Syria, calling for an end to the on-going human rights violations committed by the Syrian authorities, and urging the Government of Syria to allow the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Office access to Syria to conduct their mission.

The Syrian government has unleashed its military and security forces against peaceful protestors and civilians, killing over 1000 citizens. The region and the wider international community have been shocked by horrific reports of torture of civilians, including children, and widespread and intentional use of lethal violence against peaceful protestors and political dissidents. Today, the Human Rights Council has spoken again and used its voice to pressure the Syrian authorities to stop these human rights violations. The international community demands the immediate halt of violent repression by Syrian security forces, and calls on the Syrian authorities to allow unfettered access to the OHCHR mission to investigate allegations of human rights violations.

The United States is deeply concerned about violent repression of peaceful protests in some countries around the world. Governments must be held accountable for violation of the fundamental freedoms of association, expression, religion, and speech of their citizens. Too many governments repress dissent with impunity.

U.S. Ambassador for religious freedom Suzan Johnson Cook spoke at the U.N. Human Rights Council on the actions that the international community and political leaders need to take to combat intolerance and discrimination based on religion or belief.

U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom Suzan Johnson Cook will participate in panel on “Combating Intolerance and Discrimination based on Religion or Belief” hosted by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on June 14, 2011 at UNOG.