29 April 2002

State Dept. Thanks Backers of U.S. Return to Human Rights Commission, April 29, 2002

(U.S. regains seat on U.N. human rights body after being dropped for 2002)

State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher, in an April 29 statement following election of the United States to a seat on the U.N. Commission on Human Rights, thanked those who supported the U.S. return to the body:
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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
April 29, 2002

Statement by Richard Boucher, Spokesman

U.S. Election to the UN Commission on Human Rights

The United States was again elected to the UN Commission on Human Rights today for the period 2003-2005.

We wish to express our thanks to the members of the Economic and Social Council who voted for the United States, and especially to the members of the Western European and Others Group (WEOG), who agreed on a consensus slate.

The Commission on Human Rights has a serious responsibility to support people who have been deprived of their fundamental freedoms. When the Commission fails to examine certain human rights situations, it sends the wrong signal to those struggling daily to fight for freedom. In this past session, the Commission failed to address gross violations of human rights in China, Chechnya, Iran and Zimbabwe. On the other hand, we were encouraged and pleased to see that the countries of Latin America stood up for human rights and democracy in their own region, especially with regard to Cuba. The Commission can and should support UN member states that work to uphold universal standards of human rights in their own region. Experience has shown that the Commission works best when the U.S. is a full, voting member.

The United States will work with our friends and allies to help live up to the principles and mission for which the Commission was founded.

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