PRESS RELEASE: Citizens for Global Solutions celebrates U.S. election to U.N. Human Rights Council

For Immediate Release:  May 12, 2009

Contact:  Diane Hodges 678-793-7060

“Human rights are an essential element of American global foreign policy. With others, we will engage in the work of improving the UN human rights system to advance the vision of the UN Declaration on Human Rights.” – U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton

Citizens for Global Solutions celebrates the U.S. election to the U.N. Human Rights Council

Washington, DC -- Citizens for Global Solutions celebrates the election of the United States to a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council.  The United States won by a wide margin, another sign that the country is reclaiming its role as a global champion of human rights.

“The United States was founded on the principles of human rights and freedom, and we helped create the United Nations in order to spread those ideas around the world,” said Don Kraus, CEO of Global Solutions. “Taking a seat on the Human Rights Council is the next step in reclaiming our rightful place as a beacon of fairness and justice in the world.”

Critics say the Council has accepted as members some of the world’s world human rights abusers, who use their membership to block any sanctions against them.  Kraus acknowledged that there are problems with the institution, but said the U.S. can more effectively work to correct those problems as a member of the Council. 

"The U.S. has enormous resources and leadership capacities that we can use to make the Council a more effective institution," said Kraus. "As a member of the organization, our priority must be to ensure that it lives up to the high standards upon which it was founded."

The Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations designed to strengthen and promote human rights around the world. The Bush Administration declined to join the council when it was created in 2006. 

“The decision by the Obama Administration to reverse that action is another step towards making a clean break with discredited policies and charting a new course for the U.S., one that is based on freedom and justice for all people around the world, whether they live in the U.S., Myanmar or Darfur,” said Kraus.  For more comments from Don Kraus, view the podcast at www.globalsolutions.org

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Citizens for Global Solutions is a grassroots membership organization that believes we can more effectively make our country safe and prosperous by working with other nations of the world.  CGS works to abolish war, protect our rights and freedoms, and promote effective democratic global institutions that respect the diversity and autonomy of national and local communities.