Wednesday
Apr012009
G-20 UN update, U.S. to join UN Human Rights Council
Wednesday, April 1, 2009 at 12:30PM
The Secretary-General is in London today, where tomorrow he will speak with world leaders at the G-20 on looming the global financial and humanitarian crisis. He will ask leaders to provide a safety net for the world's most vulnerable. Some countries spend as much as 80 percent of income on food. He also met with the United Kingdom's Foreign Secretary, David Miliband. The Secretary-General will be pushing his climate change agenda and green growth.
Two people were killed in Afghanistan including a few injuries suffered by UN local staff. The Secretary-General sends his condolences and his wishes for a speedy recovery.
The Secretary-General also welcomed the formation of a new government in Israel. His aim was to achieve a viable Palestinian state. He also wishes to underscore his desire to advance the work of the United Nations. The humanitarian coordinator in Gaza said 121 truckloads of food were allowed into Gaza. But restrictions on electrical, livestock, fuel or other non-food items are not allowed into Gaza to date. Currently, 30,000 people remain without water.
In recent news, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and U.S. Permanent Representative to the U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice announced yesterday that the United States will seek a seat this year on the United Nations Human Rights Council with the goal of working to make it a more effective body to promote and protect human rights. The decision, their statement read, "is in keeping with the Obama Administration's "new era of engagement" with other nations to advance American security interests and meet the global challenges of the 21st century."
“Human rights are an essential element of American global foreign policy” said Secretary Clinton. “With others, we will engage in the work of improving the UN human rights system to advance the vision of the UN Declaration on Human Rights. The United States helped to found the United Nations and retains a vital stake in advancing that organization's genuine commitment to the human rights values that we share with other member nations. We believe every nation must live by and help shape global rules that ensure people enjoy the right to live freely and participate fully in their societies.”
"Those who suffer from abuse and oppression around the world, as well as those who dedicate their lives to advancing human rights, need the Council to be balanced and credible," said Ambassador Rice. "The U.S. is seeking election to the Council because we believe that working from within, we can make the council a more effective forum to promote and protect human rights. We hope to work in partnership with many countries to achieve a more effective Council."
The Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body within the UN system made up of 47 elected members whose mission is to strengthen the promotion and protection of human rights globally. The next round of elections to the Council will be held on May 15th in the UN General Assembly in New York. Members will be elected to a three-year term. The Council was created in March 2006, and is scheduled to undergo a formal review of its structure and procedures in 2011, which will offer a significant opportunity for Council reform.
Two people were killed in Afghanistan including a few injuries suffered by UN local staff. The Secretary-General sends his condolences and his wishes for a speedy recovery.
The Secretary-General also welcomed the formation of a new government in Israel. His aim was to achieve a viable Palestinian state. He also wishes to underscore his desire to advance the work of the United Nations. The humanitarian coordinator in Gaza said 121 truckloads of food were allowed into Gaza. But restrictions on electrical, livestock, fuel or other non-food items are not allowed into Gaza to date. Currently, 30,000 people remain without water.
In recent news, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and U.S. Permanent Representative to the U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice announced yesterday that the United States will seek a seat this year on the United Nations Human Rights Council with the goal of working to make it a more effective body to promote and protect human rights. The decision, their statement read, "is in keeping with the Obama Administration's "new era of engagement" with other nations to advance American security interests and meet the global challenges of the 21st century."
“Human rights are an essential element of American global foreign policy” said Secretary Clinton. “With others, we will engage in the work of improving the UN human rights system to advance the vision of the UN Declaration on Human Rights. The United States helped to found the United Nations and retains a vital stake in advancing that organization's genuine commitment to the human rights values that we share with other member nations. We believe every nation must live by and help shape global rules that ensure people enjoy the right to live freely and participate fully in their societies.”
"Those who suffer from abuse and oppression around the world, as well as those who dedicate their lives to advancing human rights, need the Council to be balanced and credible," said Ambassador Rice. "The U.S. is seeking election to the Council because we believe that working from within, we can make the council a more effective forum to promote and protect human rights. We hope to work in partnership with many countries to achieve a more effective Council."
The Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body within the UN system made up of 47 elected members whose mission is to strengthen the promotion and protection of human rights globally. The next round of elections to the Council will be held on May 15th in the UN General Assembly in New York. Members will be elected to a three-year term. The Council was created in March 2006, and is scheduled to undergo a formal review of its structure and procedures in 2011, which will offer a significant opportunity for Council reform.
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