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Advancing human rights is -- and must always be a central pillar of America's foreign policy. I'm proud of what we've achieved over the last five years, but acutely aware that more remains to be done. In launching the 50th anniversary year of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights at the Museum of Jewish Heritage, President Clinton honored the United States' commitment to human rights and issued a call to action. Tomorrow, First Lady Hillary Clinton will provide the keynote address at the United Nations' celebration commemorating the signing of the Human Rights Declaration. These appearances build on President Clinton's work to promote human rights and democracy both at home and abroad. 50 Years Ago, United Nations Signed Human Rights Declaration President Clinton Promotes Human Rights Abroad President Clinton Makes Human Rights A Priority With U.S. Government
Increased reporting and advocacy: We have expanded our annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, and have substantially increased our reporting and advocacy on religious freedom issues. Last year, the Administration established an Advisory Committee on Religious Freedom Abroad, which has helped already to raise the prominence and the profile of this critical issue. Support for Democratic Transitions: Through a wide range of programs, AID has promoted peaceful democratic transitions for example, through support of training and exchange programs for the new Palestinian National Council; independent judiciary and professional law enforcement authorities in Central Africa; and a free media in Bosnia. Many of these projects are funded through the AID Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI), established by the Clinton Administration in 1993. We intend to expand OTI efforts over the next two years. Support for Local Non-Government Organizations: From the Commission on Protection of Women and Children in Mali, to the Kiev Press Club in Ukraine, to the Legal Assistance Centers of Namibia, we are keeping faith with those who share a commitment to human rights and are working to promote those values within their own societies. Supporting Accountability: Through our support for truth commissions in Guatemala, El Salvador and South Africa, we promote the accountability and justice that is proving so necessary for political reconciliation in post-conflict societies. Supporting the rights of the disenfranchised: Through our "No Sweat" initiative, the Administration, corporations and NGOs are developing voluntary ethical codes of conduct to prevent the importation of products made by child labor, to end sweatshop conditions both in the U.S. and abroad, and to ensure that women and children share equally the basic rights they have been denied in so many parts of the world. U.S. Practices Domestically What It Preaches Abroad: In order to provide real leadership on the issue of Human Rights, President Clinton recognized that the United States must be willing to take on the same responsibilities that we ask of other nations. Therefore, as the U.S. has urged other governments to provide assistance and protection to refugees, so to the United States has maintained its commitment as the world's leader in refugee resettlement. It is expected that the U.S. will increase our resettlement of Bosnians from 22,000 this year to as many as 26,000 next year. The U.S. has also taken measures to provide long-term relief for Central Americans who fled here as refugees; and we took quick action to rescue some 6500 Kurdish refugees from northern Iraq last year.
International Tribunals: We are the leading supporter of the International Criminal Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, providing both financial and personnel support. In 1998, we will increase our support for the tribunals. Permanent Court: In 1995, President Clinton announced U.S. support for a Permanent International Criminal Court, and we are committed to the establishment of a Court with broad-based support before the end of the Century. Treaties: We have moved forward on several international human rights treaties, including the Convention Against Torture (implementing legislation enacted in 1994), the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racism (ratified in 1994), the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (Administration's consent package submitted to the Senate in 1994 and still pending there), and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (signed in 1995). President Clinton Committed to Permanent International Criminal Court: In 1995, President Clinton announced U.S. support for a Permanent International Criminal Court. The President is committed to the establishment of this Court with broad-based support before the end of the century.
President and First Lady | Vice President and Mrs. Gore |
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