Bureau of International Organization Affairs
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Photos clockwise from the top: Bureau of International Organization Affairs; US Mission Geneva, UN Photo, US Mission Geneva, UN Photo, New America Foundation, UN Photo.
The Bureau of International Organization Affairs (IO) is the U.S. Government’s primary interlocutor with the United Nations and a host of international agencies and organizations. As such, the Bureau is charged with advancing the President’s vision of robust multilateral engagement as a crucial tool in advancing U.S. national interests. U.S. multilateral engagement spans the full range of important global issues, including peace and security, nuclear nonproliferation, human rights, economic development, climate change, global health, and much more.
Five Ways to Make the United Nations Even More Effective
Jan. 18: From day one, the Obama Administration has recognized the importance of multilateralism to achieving U.S. foreign policy objectives and solving global problems. At a time when increasingly complex international challenges demand truly international solutions, relying on bilateral relations alone to achieve U.S. objectives is not enough. As Secretary Kerry has pointed out, the United States is more respected in the world than we were eight years ago, in part because of our unprecedented leadership in strengthening and modernizing the United Nations and other institutions. Dipnote (photo A placard for the United States’ delegation sits atop a table, as Secretary of State John Kerry speaks at the UN General Assembly at the United Nations headquarters in New York. DipNote»
Four Worthy Multilateral Investments for 2017 and Beyond
Jan 11: U.S. leadership at the United Nations has been instrumental in advancing major U.S. national interests and priorities. The negotiation and passage of major international agreements such as the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, the Paris Agreement and the Iran Nuclear Deal would not have been possible without our leadership and dedicated commitment to the multilateral system, and the means to bring together necessary stakeholders. Here we’re revisiting four important multilateral investments made by the Obama Administration -- investments that continue to yield real-world benefits. DipNote»
United States Mission to the United Nations Exit Memo
Jan 5: When President Obama took office in 2009, he believed that the United States would be stronger and more secure if we embraced international law, worked constructively with the United Nations (including in the pursuit of UN reform), built global coalitions in order to share burdens and more effectively counter transnational threats, and invested political capital in the pursuit of diplomatic solutions. He recognized the flaws of the UN system – there are more undemocratic countries in the world than democracies; Russia and China have used their veto to block meaningful UN Security Council action on key issues; the machinery is bloated and not as efficient as would most benefit the world’s vulnerable; and many countries are not prepared to do their fair share in promoting peace and security. Exit Memo»
Exit Memo From Secretary Kerry to President Obama
Jan 5: At the United Nations, the United States has brought together coalitions to isolate and condemn those who violate international norms, and to respond to global challenges like the refugee crisis, Ebola, terrorism, and nuclear proliferation. We have built effective and unprecedented sanctions regimes on the Iranian and North Korean nuclear programs. We have also strengthened the UN’s own capacity to respond to global challenges by modernizing UN institutions and their management, expanding UN engagement on issues like LGBTI rights, and strengthening important UN tools such as peacekeeping and humanitarian relief. Exit Memo»
2016 Highlights from the U.S. Youth Observer to the United Nations
Jan 3: Since becoming the U.S. Youth Observer, I have had the opportunity to learn, observe, and participate in many amazing events in and out of the United Nations. I’m grateful for every experience, but here are the few that stand out… DipNote»
Explanation of Vote at the Adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2334 on the Situation in the Middle East
Ambassador Power (Dec. 23): "Our vote today does not in any way diminish the United States’ steadfast and unparalleled commitment to the security of Israel, the only democracy in the Middle East. We have to recognize that Israel faces very serious threats in a very tough neighborhood. Israelis are rightfully concerned about making sure there is not a new terrorist haven next door. President Obama and this administration have shown an unprecedented commitment to Israel’s security because that is what we believe in. Our commitment to that security has never wavered, and it never will." Full Text»
Urgent Action Is Needed To End South Sudan Conflict
Spokesperson Kirby (Dec. 19): "We are deeply troubled both by the recent mobilization of 4,000 government-affiliated militia in Central Equatoria and by repeated calls from opposition leaders to overthrow the government and attack the capital. Both the government and opposition continue to obstruct humanitarian access and impede the operations of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), and despite pledges to do so, the government has not taken sufficient steps to allow deployment of an UNMISS regional protection force to provide stability and security in Juba." Full Text»
Remarks Opposing a UN General Assembly Amendment to Delay the Mandate of the UN Independent Expert on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
Ambassador Power (Dec. 19): "The United States believes that discriminating against people on the basis of their sexual orientation and gender identity is no different from discriminating against people for the color of their skin, for discriminating against them because of their sex, or because of their nationality. It is wrong. Such discrimination cuts against the very essence of the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights." Full Text»
International Migrants Day
Secretary Kerry (Dec. 18): "The United States supports the UN General Assembly’s September 19 New York Declaration, which established a process to create a global compact for safe, orderly, and regular migration. The compact should improve the treatment of vulnerable migrants, open new paths for legal migration, and maximize migrants’ contribution to sustainable development. The United States is committed to advancing these goals diplomatically and through assistance we provide to countries around the world." Full Text
Youth Voices at the Food and Agriculture Organization: A Seat at the Table for #ZeroHunger
Dec. 16: While sitting on stage at the #zerohackathon I felt honored and almost shocked that I had a seat at the table. This event proved just how important youth voices are to the sustainable development goals. The U.S. Mission to the UN sponsored 16 students from around the world to participate in this event -- a vote of confidence from our government on just how important youth voices are. It reinforced my passion to continue to advocate for young people in decision making tables. Dipnote (Photo: USYOLee Caption: At the FAO, Lee shows U.S. Youth Observer Nicol Perez a map filled with blue, green and red dots. The colors correspond to her work to track infectious diseases and animals around the world. DipNote»
Remarks at a UN General Assembly Tribute to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
Ambassador Power (Dec. 12): "It is remarkable to think how many kids there are out there – whether it is the girl in a rural village who, as a result of the Sustainable Development Goals, will be the first in her family to finish secondary school; or the boy living on a Pacific Island, whose home may not be now submerged in water in the future, as a result of the Paris climate agreement; or the LGBTI teenager who … believes for the first time that she is entitled to be treated with the same basic dignity as everyone else, and to have the same rights – imagine all of those children out there who, as a result of … Ban Ki-moon’s leadership – over the last decade, will have hope that they otherwise would not have had." Full Text»
Human Rights Day
Secretary Kerry (Dec. 10): "The Universal Declaration of Human Rights holds the promise of hope for the civilians who are caught in the crossfire of conflict, the citizens who fight against repressive governments, the families that are driven out of their homes and displaced by conflict, and the workers who are exploited for the profit of others. We stand in solidarity with those working to secure better and brighter futures, and commit to safeguarding their inalienable human rights in the pursuit of freedom, justice, and peace." Full Text»
A Peacekeeping Success Story in Côte d’Ivoire
Dec. 8: Six years ago, Côte d’Ivoire was on the verge of war, as elections produced two candidates who declared their victory, threatening to divide the country along ethnic lines and plunge it into civil conflict. The UN Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI) and its peacekeeping force was already deployed there, and stepped in to offer security and stability as the international community lined up to bring peace through diplomacy, and without bloodshed… UNOCI is on course to wrap up its mission in Côte d’Ivoire, a country today at peace with few signs of its past conflict. DipNote»
My Quest To Learn How the United States and United Nations Are Working To #EndHunger
Dec. 6: I traveled to Rome, Italy -- home to the three principal international organizations dedicated to food and agriculture at the center of efforts to combat world hunger and promote sustainable development. The United States is the largest financial supporter of these agencies, and the U.S. Mission to the UN Agencies in Rome represents the U.S. government at these organizations to help advance efforts in the areas of emergency food aid, food safety standards, agriculture, fisheries, forests, and financing for rural development. DipNote»
Resolution 2321 (2016) Strengthening Sanctions on the D.P.R.K.
Nov. 30: Resolution 2321 (2016), adopted unanimously by the UN Security Council on November 30, 2016, strengthens the binding UN sanctions on North Korea (D.P.R.K.) in response to its fifth nuclear test conducted on September 9, 2016. This resolution sends a clear message to North Korea that the Security Council is united in imposing stronger sanctions on North Korea’s international trade, financial transactions, and weapons-related programs in response to the D.P.R.K. continuing its nuclear- and ballistic missile-related programs in violation of multiple Security Council resolutions. Fact Sheet»
Fulfilling International Commitments to Refugees Globally
Nov. 22: On September 20, 2016, on the margins of the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), the United States, together with Canada, Ethiopia, Germany, Mexico, Jordan, Sweden, and the UN Secretary-General, co-hosted the Leaders’ Summit on Refugees. The Summit set out to increase global responsibility sharing for refugees worldwide and thereby strengthen the international community’s capacity to address mass displacement. DipNote»
Unanimous Renewal by the UN Security Council of the Joint Investigative Mechanism
Spokesman Kirby (Nov. 18): "We welcome the unanimous adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2319 to renew for another year the vital work of the Organization for the Prohibition Chemical Weapons (OPCW) - United Nations Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM) whose mission it is to determine attribution of confirmed chemical weapons (CW) use in Syria." Full Text»
Remarks at a UN Security Council Meeting on the Situation in South Sudan
Ambassador Samantha Power (Nov. 17): "We agree with all of those who will stress that dialogue is critical, but we must compliment that engagement with steps that show a far greater seriousness of purpose; steps that show the Council means what it says and intends to actually perform the mission that was given to us, which is to enforce international peace and security, to have the backs of our peacekeepers, to take seriously the warning of multiple UN officials, and to protect civilians in desperate need." Full Text»
Remarks With United Nations Secretary-General-designate Antonio Guterres Before Their Meeting
Sec Kerry (Nov. 4): "I am extremely pleased to welcome here the new secretary-general of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, who brings very, very special and important skills to this job at this particular moment in time. He has dedicated a lifetime to public service – former prime minister of Portugal and a commissioner of the UN mission on human – on refugees." Full Text»