Press Release
Published on March 29, 2017
New York City— In response to U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley’s address today on the U.S. presidency of the United Nations Security Council, Human Rights First’s Rob Berschinski issued the following statement:
“Ambassador Haley spoke today in the finest tradition of smart, principled, and effective American leadership. Contrary to much of what the Trump Administration has said to date, Ambassador Haley reasserted that American power is rooted not only in the size of our military and the strength of our economy, but also in our support for values shared by men and women the world over. When the United States makes the case that it is every government’s obligation to uphold these ideals and support human dignity, diplomats and activists around the world take notice.”
In a speech today at the Council on Foreign Relations, Ambassador Haley, the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, advanced a clear case for the indivisible link between human rights, security, and prosperity, noting that “The fact is peace and security cannot be achieved in isolation from human rights,” and “the time has come for the Security Council to explicitly consider the connection.” Haley added that “The fact is a wave is building throughout the world. It’s a wave of populism that is challenging institutions like the United Nations,” and that “This is a moment of great responsibility for those who believe in peace and security through international cooperation.”
“Ambassador Haley spoke eloquently today about U.N. Member States not only talking the talk, but walking the walk on human rights. Unfortunately, much of what we’ve seen to date from the Trump Administration—from a ban on refugees, to attacks on free media, to support for authoritarian leaders, to a budget proposal that would gut support for humanitarian aid and promotion of civil society—has undercut this message. Ambassador Haley’s message today was in keeping with America’s highest ideals, but deeds need to follow words. We stand ready to work with the administration as it translates speech into action,” added Berschinski.
For more information or to speak with Berschinski contact Christopher Plummer at plummerc@humanrightsfirst.org or 202-370-3310.
