Item 3 General Debate

Statement by Ambassador Michèle Taylor

Human Rights Council – 52nd Session

Thank you, Mr. President.

We are all keenly aware that this year we will celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Vienna Declaration and Program of Action, which underpin our shared vision and commitment to strengthen human rights globally. What an extraordinary opportunity for this Council!

The collaborative spirit with which the UDHR was written inspires and informs our work at the HRC.

Today, I would like to focus on economic, social, and cultural (ESC) rights, which are increasingly at risk due to challenges posed by the pandemic, conflict, climate change, and inflation.

In particular, the ESC rights of members of marginalized populations are too often forgotten.

As stated in Article 1 of the UDHR, “all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.” We must ensure that members of marginalized populations such as women, children, youth, older persons, LGBTQI+ persons, persons with disabilities, racial and ethnic minority groups, and indigenous persons are considered in the efforts to further protect and realize their ESC rights and create a more equal and prosperous world for all.

The United States takes respect for all human rights seriously, including the ability of all persons to enjoy their ESC rights. In the United States, our approach may look different, in that we address issues through federal, state, and local governments, but we have the same goals to, for example, protect workers, address housing shortages, tackle hunger, and address environmental concerns.

We partner with countries around the world to help progressively realize ESC rights in their countries through various means, including humanitarian assistance, vaccine donations, joint research, technical assistance, capacity building, and direct support for programs. These initiatives are often targeted to help those the most in need, to access healthcare and education, and to lead a dignified life.

Our efforts underscore the important responsibility each country has to respect and promote human rights, including the ESC rights of their people, as this facilitates the protection of all human rights.

I thank you.

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