SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES UNITED STATES INTENTION TO SEEK HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL SEAT;

SAYS CONCRETE EMBODIMENT OF COUNTRY’S COMMITMENT TO ‘NEW ERA OF ENGAGEMENT’

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General welcomes the United States announcement that it will seek a seat in the Human Rights Council.  The Human Rights Council has a critical role to play in the protection and promotion of all human rights for all people, and the United States has an important contribution to make to this end.  Full United States engagement on human rights issues is an important step towards realizing the goal of an inclusive and vibrant intergovernmental process to protect human rights around the globe.  The Secretary-General also welcomes the announcement as a concrete embodiment of the United States commitment to a “new era of engagement”.

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For information media • not an official record