On Friday, July 17, our country lost a civil rights icon, Representative John Lewis, following a six-month battle with pancreatic cancer. When he was diagnosed with the disease, John Lewis took it in stride, stating that he had been in some kind of fight – for freedom, equality, and basic human rights – for nearly …
Read More»
United States Mission to the OSCE As prepared for delivery by Political Counselor Gregory Macris to the Permanent Council, Vienna For Immediate Release July 5, 2018 I would like to draw everyone’s attention to the release of the 2018 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report on June 28. The theme of the 2018 TIP Report is, …
Read More»
United States Mission to the United Nations Office of Press and Public Diplomacy As delivered by Political Counselor Gregory Macris to the Permanent Council, Vienna For Immediate Release July 5, 2018 Thank you, Mr. Chair. Less than two months ago, the United States joined other participating States at the Permanent Council in expressing concern about …
Read More» Statement by Spokesperson Heather Nauert: We are troubled by the news that the head of the local Chechen branch office of the Russian human rights NGO Memorial, Oyub Titiev, has been arrested. This is the latest in a string of reports of alarming recent human rights violations in Chechnya. We call on Chechen authorities to …
Read More» Heather Nauert, State Department Spokesperson: “The Russian Supreme Court’s decision this week against the Jehovah’s Witnesses is the latest in a disturbing trend of persecution of religious minorities in Russia. We urge the Russian authorities to lift the ban on Jehovah’s Witnesses’ activities in Russia, to reverse the closing of the Jehovah’s Witnesses Administrative Center, …
Read More» Heather Nauert , Department Spokesperson: “Today, we mark with sadness the eighth anniversary of the murder of human rights defender and journalist Natalya Estemirova and the thirteenth anniversary of the murder of American journalist and editor Paul Klebnikov, both killed in Russia. Ms. Estemirova, renowned for her writing and activism on human rights abuses in …
Read More»
White House Spokesperson Sean Spicer: “[T]he United States strongly condemns the detention of hundreds of peaceful protestors throughout Russia that happened on June 12th. Detaining peaceful protestors, human rights observers, and journalists is an affront to core democratic values. The United States will monitor the situation, and we will call on the government of Russia …
Read More» Press statement by spokesperson Nauert: “We are gravely concerned about the safety and well-being of Murad Amriev, a Russian athlete from Chechnya, who was reportedly detained by Belarusian authorities and returned to Russia, where he may be in custody. Mr. Amriev has reportedly expressed fears of torture and abuse in Chechnya. We urge the Russian …
Read More»
U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations Nikki Haley speaks at the United Nations Human Rights Council on June 6, 2017.
Read More»
Deputy State Department Spokesperson Toner: We are deeply troubled by the Russian Government’s decision to designate Open Russia, the Open Russia Civic Movement, and the Institute of Modern Russia as so-called “undesirable” foreign organizations. We reject the notion that these and other international civil society organizations are a threat to Russia. If Russia hopes to …
Read More»
As president of the United Nations Security Council, Ambassador Nikki Haley, U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, chaired a thematic debate on human rights. The debate marked the first time the Security Council held a meeting dedicated exclusively to human rights and its link to international peace and security, giving Security Council members the …
Read More» “We continue to be disturbed by reports of kidnapping, torture, and murder of people in Chechnya based on their sexual orientation and those persecuted by association. If true, this violation of human rights cannot be ignored – Chechen authorities must immediately investigate these allegations, hold anyone involved accountable, and take steps to prevent future abuses…”
Read More» “The United States strongly condemns the detention of hundreds of peaceful protesters throughout #Russia on Sunday. Detaining peaceful protesters, human rights observers, and journalists is an affront to core democratic values. We were troubled to hear of the arrest of opposition figure Alexei Navalny upon arrival at the demonstration, as well as the police raids …
Read More»
The annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices are the State Department’s most-read publication by far. Over 1 million readers access them online every year. And, says Michael Kozak, a senior adviser in the State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, those readers can sort the accompanying online database by country or by issue, like the human rights of women or …
Read More»
As delivered by Deputy Chief of Mission Kate M. Byrnes to the Permanent Council, Vienna January 19, 2017 The United States is concerned about the December 28 decision by Chechnya’s Supreme Court to uphold the conviction of Zhalaudi Geriev, a local independent journalist. Mr. Geriev was detained by authorities April 16, 2016 near Grozny. Members …
Read More»