Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09STATE126218
2009-12-09 23:44:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Secretary of State
Cable title:  

OSCE/PERMANENT COUNCIL: STATEMENT ON

Tags:  PHUM PREL KDEM OSCE 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0002
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHC #6218 3432344
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 092344Z DEC 09
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO USMISSION USOSCE IMMEDIATE 6287
UNCLAS STATE 126218 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL KDEM OSCE
SUBJECT: OSCE/PERMANENT COUNCIL: STATEMENT ON
COMMEMORATION OF INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS DAY

UNCLAS STATE 126218

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL KDEM OSCE
SUBJECT: OSCE/PERMANENT COUNCIL: STATEMENT ON
COMMEMORATION OF INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS DAY


1. (U) Post is authorized to present the following statement
at the Permanent Council meeting in Vienna on December 10.

Begin text:

Madam Chair,

Today, December 10, is International Human Rights Day, which
marks the 61st Anniversary of the adoption of the United
Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a document
that affirms the inherent rights of people everywhere and
enshrines basic freedoms of expression, peaceful assembly,
association and belief. The focus of this year,s Human
Rights Day is on non-discrimination.

Last week in Athens, we reaffirmed that respect for human
rights and fundamental freedoms, democracy and the rule of
law are at the core of the OSCE comprehensive concept of
security, and that combating intolerance and defending human
rights are important elements in the promotion of human
rights and democratic values. Violations of human rights,
including hate crimes and other violent manifestations of
intolerance, threaten the security of both individuals and
society, and give rise to conflict and violence on a wider
scale.

The United States wishes to underscore our concern over human
rights violations and acts of violence directed at
individuals on account of their sexual orientation or gender
identity. The United States has recently passed legislation
that broadens the definition of hate crimes to include
violent crimes that target individuals on the basis of their
sexual orientation and gender identity. We urge respect for
the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender
individuals in the OSCE region and around the world.

We wish to note the critical role that civil society plays --
and must be allowed to play without unnecessary hindrance --
to further the promotion of tolerance and combat acts of
violence and other human rights abuses.

As we join people around the globe in observing International
Human Rights Day and Week, we recall that the primary
responsibility for addressing acts of intolerance and human
rights violations rests with governments, and urge
participating States to implement existing OSCE commitments
in the fields of intolerance, non-discrimination and
fundamental freedoms.

Thank you Madam Chair.

END TEXT
CLINTON