Statement on Syrian Chemical Weapons Use

White House Office of the Press Secretary

Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications Ben Rhodes

2013-06-13

At the President’s direction, the United States Government has been closely monitoring the potential use of chemical weapons within Syria. Following the assessment made by our intelligence community in April,... Read More

Upholding Religious Freedom

Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, Suzan Johnson Cook

2013-05-20

During my travels on behalf of the Department of State, people sometimes ask, "Why does the Department of State expend so much effort to chronicle the status of religious freedom... Read More

Secretary Kerry on the Release of the International Religious Freedom Report

U.S. Department of State - Washington, D.C.

Secretary of State John Kerry

2013-05-20

MS. PSAKI: Good morning, everyone. So, thank you for joining us for the release of the 2012 International Religious Freedom Report. The Secretary will make some brief remarks, and then... Read More

On-the-Record Briefing on the Release of the 2012 International Religious Freedom Report

U.S. Department of State - Washington, D.C.

Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom Suzan Johnson Cook

2013-05-20

AMBASSADOR COOK: Thank you, Mr. Secretary. It’s an honor to serve you. Good morning. The 2012 International Religious Freedom Report provides a factual rendering of the status of religious freedom... Read More

Secretary Kerry on the Release of the Human Rights Report

U.S. Department of State - Washington, D.C.

Secretary of State John Kerry

2013-04-19

Read the 2012 Human Rights Reports | Learn more: the Human Rights Reports SECRETARY KERRY: Good afternoon, everybody. Some people asked whether or not we might postpone this today because... Read More

Ambassador Kelly on Religious Freedom in Kazakhstan

U.S. Mission to the OSCE - Vienna, Austria

U.S. Representative to the Permanent Council of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Ambassador Ian Kelly

2013-04-11

AS DELIVERED The United States welcomes Kazakhstani State Secretary Marat Tazhin’s recent affirmation of the Government of Kazakhstan’s commitment to the protection of the rights of members of all ethnic... Read More

Peace Building Across Religious Divides

Pacem in Terris Conference - The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C.

Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, Suzan Johnson Cook

2013-04-09

Good afternoon. It is an honor to be here with you to be part of this dialogue on peace building, particularly across religious divides. This discussion couldn’t come at a... Read More

The Role of Public Diplomacy in Countering Violent Extremism

U.S. Department of State, Washington D.C.

Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, Tara Sonenshine

2013-03-27

Thank you, Bill – and thank you to all the students, scholars, and CVE and CT practitioners here today. It’s a pleasure to address you at START, which is doing... Read More

Fact Sheet: Key U.S. Outcomes at the UN Human Rights Council 22nd Session

U.S. Department of State, Washington, D.C.

Office of the Spokesperson, U.S. Department of State

2013-03-25

The 22nd Session of the Human Rights Council (HRC) underscored the importance of robust engagement at the Council, where the United States continues to work with a diverse range of... Read More

Remarks by the President at the Hall of Children, Yad Vashem

The White House

President Barack Obama

2013-03-22

THE PRESIDENT: “Unto them I will give my house and within my walls a memorial and a name…an everlasting name that shall not be cut off.” President Peres, Prime Minister... Read More

U.S. Looks Forward to Enhanced Cooperation on Vital Issue of Combatting Religious Intolerance

Human Rights Council 22nd Session, Geneva, Switzerland

U.S. Ambassador to the Human Rights Council, Eileen Chamberlain Donahoe

2013-03-21

Combating Intolerance (Resolution 16/18) AS DELIVERED by Ambassador Eileen Chamberlain Donahoe The United States joins consensus on this important resolution on combating intolerance, discrimination, and violence on the basis of... Read More

The U.S. Remains Deeply Concerned about Deplorable Global Human Rights Situations

Human Rights Council 22nd Session - Geneva, Switzerland

United States Representative to the United Nations Human Rights Council, Ambassador Eileen C. Donahoe

2013-03-12

Mr. President, The United States remains deeply concerned about deplorable human rights situations around the world. Iran continues to fail to protect the rights to religious freedom and expression. We... Read More

U.S. Support for Human Rights Defenders

Washington, D.C.

U.S. Department of State

2013-03-08

Download the Guidelines as a PDF. Overview Protecting and supporting human rights defenders is a key priority of U.S. foreign policy. Because human rights defenders seek to hold their governments... Read More

Secretary Kerry at the International Women of Courage Awards

U.S. Department of State - Washington, D.C.

Secretary of State John Kerry; Under Secretary for Political Affairs, Wendy Sherman

2013-03-08

UNDER SECRETARY SHERMAN: Good afternoon, Mrs. Obama, Secretary Kerry, Mrs. Heinz Kerry, Secretary Sebelius, Congresswoman Edwards, Minister Collins of Australia, all of Your Excellencies with us today, distinguished guests, welcome... Read More

U.S. Statement on Freedom of Religion or Belief

Human Rights Council 22nd Session, Geneva, Switzerland

Statement by the Delegation of the United States of America

2013-03-05

Item 3: Clustered Dialogue: Working Group on Disappearances and Special Rapporteur on the Freedom of Religion or Belief Thank you, Mr. President. The United States thanks the Working Group on... Read More

Assistant Secretary Posner's Testimony on Human Rights in Burma

U.S. Congress - Washington, D.C.

Assistant Secretary State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, Michael H. Posner

2013-02-28

AS PREPARED Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for holding this hearing and for the Commission’s sustained concern about Burma over the years. I am particularly grateful to the late Tom Lantos... Read More

Secretary Kerry at Youth Connect: Berlin

Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Berlin, Germany

Secretary of State John Kerry

2013-02-26

  MODERATOR: (In progress) – Berlin for a town hall meeting, the first show of Facebook TV here in Germany. This is John Kerry. He is here on stage. That’s... Read More

U.S. Priorities at UN Human Rights Council 22 Opening

Geneva, Switzerland

Assistant Secretary of State for International Organizations, Esther Brimmer

2013-02-26

Mr. President, fellow delegates, distinguished guests, It is an honor for me to once again represent the United States before the UN Human Rights Council, to present our first intervention... Read More

Remarks at the International Holocaust Remembrance Day Program

U.S. Department of State - Washington, D.C.

Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights, Maria Otero

2013-02-05

Thank you, Mike, for that kind introduction. Good morning and welcome. It is an honor to be with you here today. I would like to acknowledge some of our special... Read More

UPR 15th Session – Intervention for Liechtenstein

U.S. Department of State

2013-01-30

Learn more about the Universal Periodic Review, and see other interventions on the UPR 15th Session page. AS PREPARED The Unites States warmly welcomes H.E. Aurelia Frick and the Liechtenstein... Read More