Fact Sheet: Obama Administration Leadership on International Human Rights
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
2013-12-04
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The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
December 4, 2013
“People everywhere long for the freedom to determine their destiny; the dignity that comes with work; the comfort that comes with faith; and the justice that exists when governments serve their people — and not the other way around. The United States of America will always stand up for these aspirations, for our own people and for people all across the world. That was our founding purpose.”
President Barack Obama, September 25, 2012
“Advancing democracy and respect for human rights is central to our foreign policy. It is what our history and our values demand, but it’s also profoundly in our interests. That is why the United States remains firmly committed to promoting freedom, opportunity and prosperity everywhere. We stand proudly for the rights of women, the LGBT community and ethnic minorities. We defend the freedom for all people to worship as they choose not freedom of religion, and we champion open government and civil society, freedom of assembly and a free press.
We support these rights and freedoms with a wide range of tools, because history shows that nations that respect the rights of all their citizens are more just, more prosperous and more secure.”
Ambassador Susan E. Rice, December 4, 2013
On December 4, 2013, Ambassador Susan E. Rice delivered an address outlining the Obama Administration’s global leadership on human rights. This fact sheet provides further detail on a number of the Administration’s key human rights initiatives highlighted in her remarks.
Advancing LGBT Rights at Home and Abroad
Office of the Press Secretary
December 4, 2013
“People everywhere long for the freedom to determine their destiny; the dignity that comes with work; the comfort that comes with faith; and the justice that exists when governments serve their people — and not the other way around. The United States of America will always stand up for these aspirations, for our own people and for people all across the world. That was our founding purpose.”
President Barack Obama, September 25, 2012
“Advancing democracy and respect for human rights is central to our foreign policy. It is what our history and our values demand, but it’s also profoundly in our interests. That is why the United States remains firmly committed to promoting freedom, opportunity and prosperity everywhere. We stand proudly for the rights of women, the LGBT community and ethnic minorities. We defend the freedom for all people to worship as they choose not freedom of religion, and we champion open government and civil society, freedom of assembly and a free press.
We support these rights and freedoms with a wide range of tools, because history shows that nations that respect the rights of all their citizens are more just, more prosperous and more secure.”
Ambassador Susan E. Rice, December 4, 2013
On December 4, 2013, Ambassador Susan E. Rice delivered an address outlining the Obama Administration’s global leadership on human rights. This fact sheet provides further detail on a number of the Administration’s key human rights initiatives highlighted in her remarks.
Advancing LGBT Rights at Home and Abroad
- Domestically Advancing LGBT Equality: In his first term, President Obama and his Administration took significant steps toward equality for the LGBT community. The President signed into law the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, the legislation to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” and a reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act that included important new protections for the LGBT community. The Obama Administration also issued important guidance to ensure visitation rights for LGBT patients and their loved ones at hospitals receiving Medicare or Medicaid payments, implemented the National HIV/AIDS Strategy, and prohibited discrimination against LGBT people in federally funded housing programs. Finally, the President also ended the legal defense of the Defense of Marriage Act and has directed his Department of Justice to work with other departments and agencies to ensure the Supreme Court’s decision in United States v. Windsor is swiftly implemented, including its implications for Federal benefits and obligations.
- International Initiatives to Advance LGBT Rights and Nondiscrimination: In December 2011, President Obama signed the first-ever Presidential Memorandum on International Initiatives to Advance the Human Rights of LGBT Persons read this link, requiring that federal agencies work together to meet common goals in support of the human rights of LGBT persons globally. Consistent with these goals, the United States assists activists and individuals under threat around the world through public statements, quiet diplomatic engagement, and targeted programs. Through the Global Equality Fund and the LGBT Global Development Partnership, the United States works with government and private sector partners to support programs that combat discriminatory legislation; protect human rights defenders; train LGBT leaders on how to participate more effectively in democratic processes; and increase civil society capacity to document human rights violations. Additional programs and research focus on protecting vulnerable LGBT refugees and asylum seekers.
- Combating Criminalization of LGBT Status or Conduct Abroad: Working with our embassies overseas and civil society on the ground, the United States has developed strategies to combat criminalization of LGBT status or conduct in countries around the world.
- Engaging International Organizations in the Fight against LGBT Discrimination: The United States works with our partners to defend the human rights of LGBT persons through the United Nations, the Organization of American States, and in other multilateral fora. In addition to supporting resolutions specific to LGBT issues, such as cosponsoring the historic June 2011 UN Human Rights Council resolution on the human rights of LGBT persons, the United States works to ensure that LGBT persons are included in broader human rights resolutions and statements.
- Promoting Action and Coordination: The United States will host in 2014 a global gathering of donors and activists to pursue ways we can work together to strengthen protections for LGBT persons around the world, including by ensuring assistance in this area is strategic and coordinated with our like-minded partners.
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Strengthening Multilateral Human Rights Mechanisms
Strengthening Multilateral Human Rights Mechanisms
- Leading at the UN Human Rights Council: Since
joining the UN Human Rights Council in 2009 and following our
re-election in 2012, U.S. leadership has helped muster international
action to address human rights violations worldwide and make the HRC
more credible and effective. The United States supported the
establishment of international commissions of inquiry to investigate
human rights violations and help lay the groundwork for accountability,
including in Syria, North Korea, and Qadhafi’s Libya. We led the
creation of a UN special rapporteur on Iran to highlight the
deteriorating human rights situation. U.S. co-sponsorship helped adopt
the first-ever resolution in the UN system on the human rights of LGBT
persons. We built a global coalition to advance freedom of assembly and
association worldwide, including by facilitating the establishment of
the first-ever Special Rapporteur for these issues and by underscoring
the important role civil society plays in promoting and protecting human
rights. And we worked across historical divides to win adoption of a
landmark resolution calling on all states to take positive measures to
combat intolerance, violence, and discrimination on the basis of
religion or belief, while protecting the freedom of expression.
(White House's web site) highlights are this blogs additions
Obama is not a Muslim, his religion is liberalism, he follows the liberal fads.
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