A silent crisis is happening right now. It affects 165 million children globally, robbing them of the future they deserve and leading to more child deaths every year than any other disease. In a world of plentiful, nutritious foods and advanced science, this is unacceptable.
We can do better. And we can do it together. MORE
unicef: Child Labour is a violation of children’s basic rights.
PHOTO OF THE WEEK: 10 June 2013
Children at a quarry, Bombali District, Sierra Leone.Globally, an estimated 215 million children are involved in labour. A violation of children’s basic rights, labour that is detrimental to health or that otherwise impedes development must cease. Children who work rather than go to school are also more prone to a lifetime of poverty. The World Day against Child Labour – held annually on 12 June – calls for a global commitment to end the harmful practice.
©UNICEF/Olivier Asselin
To see more: www.unicef.org/photography
The United States and 32 other countries sponsored the following statement at HRC 23 under Item 8. The Statement was read by Norway.
"The United States greatly values the work of human rights defenders around the world. In doing their work, these individuals, their families, and those who support their efforts, including many lawyers and legal professionals, often face serious risks and dangerous situations that include threats, attacks, violence, harassment, and acts of intimidation. It is the obligation of governments to protect the rights of human rights defenders and to prevent retribution against them for their work."
![“Our conviction that freedom of expression and access to information promotes development in all spheres of society stands firm. With the remarkable spread, use and potential of modern communication technologies, the importance of this link cannot be overestimated. Internet, social media, and mobile phone technology have played, and should continue to play, a crucial role as instruments for participation, transparency and engagement in socio-economic, cultural and political development.” -Cross Regional Statement on Freedom of Expression on the Internet (June 10th)
[Photo Credit View of the Human Rights Council on May 29, 2013. U.S. Mission Photo by Eric Bridiers]](http://24.media.tumblr.com/5e48eaa2c0063b3672d2e662c8cee232/tumblr_mo8b95Lq2G1r391tko1_250.jpg)
“Our conviction that freedom of expression and access to information promotes development in all spheres of society stands firm. With the remarkable spread, use and potential of modern communication technologies, the importance of this link cannot be overestimated. Internet, social media, and mobile phone technology have played, and should continue to play, a crucial role as instruments for participation, transparency and engagement in socio-economic, cultural and political development.” -Cross Regional Statement on Freedom of Expression on the Internet (June 10th)
[Photo Credit View of the Human Rights Council on May 29, 2013. U.S. Mission Photo by Eric Bridiers]
POSTED BY ROBERTA JACOBSON | JUNE 7, 2013
Secretary Kerry and I just returned from Antigua, Guatemala, which served for two centuries as the capital of Guatemala. It is a beautiful, historic place and truly illustrates why Guatemala is known as “the land of eternal spring.” We went to…
![Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs Esther Brimmer joins the Thank a UN Peacekeeper campaign. Learn how you can join too![State Dept Photo. June 2013]](http://24.media.tumblr.com/312edecafc9b32768cb33cd854f72dd4/tumblr_mo11oyw05r1r391tko1_250.jpg)
Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs Esther Brimmer joins the Thank a UN Peacekeeper campaign. Learn how you can join too![State Dept Photo. June 2013]
The United States remains deeply concerned about deplorable human rights situations, especially in Syria, Iran, the DPRK, and Sudan.We deplore these countries’ targeted attacks against civilians—including, in the case of Syria, the regime’s use of advanced weaponry against civilians. Also of concern are their restrictions on religious freedom, freedoms of expression and assembly, and persecution of human rights lawyers and activists and their families. We call on all countries to not forcibly return those seeking to escape human rights violations in DPRK. We also highlight these countries of concern:
"We underscore that women’s rights are human rights and human rights are women’s rights. To participate fully and contribute to their families and communities — economically, politically, and socially — women and girls must be able to live free from violence. The United States takes seriously its responsibility to take steps to eliminate violence against women and girls. We have taken a comprehensive approach to addressing violence against women and girls at home and abroad."
"The United States is gravely concerned about the human rights situation in Belarus, and the lack of progress made on many of the High Commissioner’s recommendations."
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry delivers remarks at the American Jewish Community Global Forum in Washington, DC on June 3, 2013. A text transcript can be found at http://www.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2013/210236.htm
Defending Expression & Other Universal Freedoms
Deputy Assistant Secretary Paula Schriefer joined a panel discussion with T. Kumar of Amnesty International, Syrian Activist Dlshad Othman, and Sri Lankan Journalist and Activist J.S. Tissainayagam to discuss U.S. leadership at the UN Human Rights Council and Beyond. The Panel was hosted by the Better World Campaign and moderated by its Executive Director Peter Yeo.
DAS Schriefer said “However, while I will not deny the real challenges in prevailing on human rights issues at a venue on which these countries put strong political capital into ensuring they sit whenever possible, it is essential that the United States roll up its sleeves and prevail whenever we can. It is not enough for those of us who have the good fortune to wake up every day in a country or a region where our rights are generally respected to simply stand back and complain about the difficulty and frustration of working at the multi-lateral level. For human rights to truly be universal, we have a critical role to play in ensuring that the world’s only global human rights body does the job of advancing the realization of human rights in every part of our globe”.
