U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will speak at the release of the 2013 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report during a ceremony at the U.S. Department of State. The report includes narratives of 188 countries and territories. Watch a live broadcast at 3:30 p.m. EDT. More»
Fact Sheet: Key U.S. Outcomes at the UN Human Rights Council 23rd Session
The 23rd Session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) underscored the importance of U.S. leadership to keep the HRC at the forefront of international efforts to promote and protect human rights. In this session, the United States ran an important consensus resolution on Freedom of Expression and the Empowerment of Women. As a member of the Council, the United States’ mission remains to highlight key human rights issues while vigorously opposing efforts to shield human rights violators. View Fact Sheet
At a ceremony at the U.S. Department of State on June 19, where three distinguished scientists were named winners of the 2013 World Food Prize: Marc Van Montagu, Professor Emeritus at the Institute of Plant Biotechnology for Developing Countries, Department of Molecular Genetics at Ghent University, Belgium; Mary-Dell Chilton, Distinguished Science Fellow at Syngenta Biotechnology, Inc. in Triangle Park, North Carolina; and Robert T. Fraley, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at Monsanto Company in St. Louis, Missouri.
President Barack Obama just announced at the G8 Summit more than $300 million in additional USG humanitarian assistance for the Syria response, bringing total USG funding for the Syria crisis to more than $814 million. The new funding will support U.N. agencies and NGOs to provide urgently needed assistance to reach 3.2 million people in Syria, as well as Syrian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Turkey, and Egypt. Take a look at the amazing USAID complex emergency map http://1.usa.gov/14gsciD
he United Nations is looking for highly qualified candidates who are ready to launch a professional career as an international civil servant. The young professionals programme (YPP) is a recruitment initiative that brings new talent to the United Nations through an annual entrance examination. For young, high-calibre professionals across the globe, the examination is a platform for launching a career at the United Nations. This programme builds upon the national competitive recruitment examination (NCRE) which was held for the last time in 2010.
Acting Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs Dean Pittman and Director of Public Affairs and Outreach Mark Schlachter spoke to a group of graduate and advanced undergraduate students about US Multilateral Engagement this morning. The students visited the Department as a part of the Humpty Dumpty Institute’s Summer Intensive Session at the United Nations.
On June 2, 2013 State Department Foreign Affairs Officer Wesley J. Reisser participated in a discussion with UNA-USA Human Rights Fellow Ryan Kaminski on ‘Human Rights at the UN, with a Focus on the UN Human Rights Council’:
“U.S. membership in the UN Human Rights Council has been fundamental in changing that institution for the better, whether it be in the HRC’s addressing the situations in Syria, Iran, Belarus, and elsewhere, ending the defamation of religions discussion, or promoting LGBT rights, the active participation of the U.S., and the strong support we have had from American civil society in our reengagement, has made it a more relevant and important institution.”
- Wesley Reisser, US Dept of State
![“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]
U.S. Highlights Countries of Particular Concern on Human Rights
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:
- China
- Cuba
- Venezuela
- Vietnam
- The Middle East
- Uzbekistan
- Turkmenistan
- Sri Lanka
"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."
International Day for UN Peacekeepers
29 May is the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers. Today, we honor the memory of the UN peacekeepers who have lost their lives in the cause of peace and pay tribute to all the men and women who have served and continue to serve in UN peacekeeping operations for their high level of professionalism, dedication and courage.
For more information:
· United Nations Peacekeeping | Peacekeeping Operations | Peacekeepers Day 2013
“YO! The U.S. Youth Observer At The UN” is a introduction to the first-ever U.S. Youth Observer at the United Nations. This engaging short subject documentary is presented by The Untied Nations Association of the United States of America (UNA-USA).
Engage with the work of the UN through UNA-USA and its youth movement, GenUN, here: http://www.unausa.org/genun
Daniel Sepulveda, Deputy Assistant Secretary and U.S. Coordinator, Communications and Information Policy led a delegation to the World Telecommunication/Information and Communication Technology Policy Forum (WTPF) to advance discussions on international Internet-related public policy issues. The discussions produced a significant achievement in the form of six substantive, consensus-based opinions that reflected the will of the Informal Experts Group. The United States and others advanced the principle of full participation by all stakeholders, a positive trend with long-term benefits for openness, transparency, and decision-making.Published on May 17, 2013
