Madame Chairwoman, it is a pleasure for me to appear here today. My colleague
from the Bureau of International Organizations has already talked about how
the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) works, so I will focus my remarks on U.S.
human rights policy and the role we play at the Commission.
Before I begin, however, I would like to express my appreciation for the support
you have given to my bureau and the interest you have shown in the issues we
work on every day. The fact that you and Congressmen Smith and Diaz-Balart took
the time to come to Geneva this year and visit the Commission made a clear statement
about your commitment to the defense of universal human rights. Let me assure
you that this is a commitment we in the State Department fully share.
The United States pursues an activist policy in defense of human rights, with
a 24/7, round-the-clock, round-the-year, round-the- world mandate. This commitment
dates back to the Declaration of Independence and reflects our nation's core
values and our belief in the sanctity of the individual.
This activist defense of human rights, in particular of civil and political
rights, also serves our national interest, for the strongest, most stable, tolerant
and prosperous countries are those which respect human rights. Such countries
make the best partners and the only real allies for our nation.
The United States has been recognized by everybody as the leader in this effort,
setting the agenda and implementing a vision of international human rights since
the end of World War II. We played the key role in the creation of the United
Nations and in the drafting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. We
were the champions of freedom and democracy throughout the Cold War, and our
insistence on inclusion of human rights issues in the Helsinki Final Act was
an important statement of our principles in that era.
At the CHR, the U.S. has shone a spotlight on human rights abusers through country-specific
resolutions such as those on China and Cuba. We have supported some of the working
groups created by the CHR, such as the working group on enforced or involuntary
disappearances, and opposed others, such as the working group on the "right
to development." We have supported creation of some special mechanisms, such
as the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment
or punishment, and opposed others, such as the Special Rapporteur on the "right
to housing." We have also found it useful to encourage visits by thematic or
country-specific rapporteurs to countries with acute human rights problems.
The U.S. strongly supported the creation of the position of High Commissioner
for Human Rights in 1993 and supports activities like the Office of the High
Commissioner for Human Rights' (OHCHR) field offices. For example, the U.S.
helps finance the OHCHR field office in Bogota, which is assisting the Government
of Colombia in its efforts to reform its human rights practices.
Our annual Country Reports on Human Rights situations, which this year reached
their twenty-fifth anniversary, have become the most respected publication on
the subject of human rights, and thus the most hated by human rights abusers.
These reports set the standards in this category.
The U.S. vision and commitment, which we have been advancing on a national basis,
is now shared by many other states. It is shared domestically, bilaterally and
through multilateral organizations. National constitutions and basic legislation
drawn up around the world in the last 50 years now incorporate respect for human
rights and fundamental freedoms as essential elements, and other governments
have joined us as vocal advocates for human rights.
International, intergovernmental and multilateral organizations in all regions
of the world incorporate respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms as
essential elements of their mission. Among these are the Organization for Security
and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) -- which emerged from the Helsinki process
and includes promotion of the "human dimension" as one of its three principal
purposes --, the Organization of American States (OAS) -- which will shortly
adopt an "Inter-American Democratic Charter" dedicated to preservation of representative
democracy among the states of our region -- , and the Summit of the Americas
process.
Elsewhere in the world, other regional bodies are moving towards the same goals,
albeit at different speeds. The Organization of African Unity (OAU) has adopted
the African Charter of Human and Peoples' Rights, and last year adopted a resolution
saying governments which came to power by military coup could not attend their
annual summit meeting. The Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) now
includes human rights dialogues in their ASEAN Regional Forum.
President Bush has reiterated our commitment to human rights as a key part of
our foreign policy, but he recognizes these things take time:
"History tells us that forcing change upon oppressive regimes requires patience.
But history also proves, from Poland to South Africa, that patience and courage
and resolve can eventually cause oppressive regimes to fear, and then to fall."
Madame Chairwoman, our work continues -- it is, in fact, never-ending. My Bureau
in the Department of State is now preparing our third annual report on International
Religious Freedom, and our first annual report on Trafficking in Persons. We
are also getting ready for a new set of human rights dialogues with key states
around the world, including Vietnam, Russia, and the European Union. Renewed
dialogue with China remains a possibility, but it's up to Beijing.
We also help coordinate a vast range of bilateral programs which are developed
and run through our Embassies, AID missions and other mechanisms. The International
Military Education and Training program (IMET) includes teaching the militaries
of the world to respect civilian authority. USAID programs include democracy
promotion in scores of countries. Public Diplomacy programs set forth for foreign
audiences the U.S. vision of the key roles played by human rights and democracy.
Our own Human Rights and Democracy Fund uses ESF monies for small, targeted
programs to address emerging situations, such as this past week's peaceful,
successful elections in Peru.
My point is this: we have channels, avenues, levers -- with or without the CHR.
We will pursue our human rights policy regardless of whether we are on the Commission
or not. Those laggards who rejoice in our removal will learn that we will be
no less vigorous in our pursuit of this nation's human rights principles than
we were in the past. On the contrary, the UN Commission has been an important
platform to enunciate our commitment to those principles, make clear to the
despots of the world that their behavior does not go unnoticed. That effort
will continue, in every forum and channel available to us.
The Department looks forward to working closely with this SubCommittee, the
Full Committee, and both Houses of Congress, to carry forward our noble mission.
Thank you.
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See http://www.state.gov for Senior State Department
Official's statements and testimonies
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