America.gov-

U.S. Urges Côte d’Ivoire to Avoid More Civilian Casualties

iipcms@state.gov (iipcms) — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 17:08:49 -0400

A U.S. official says Côte d’Ivoire’s Laurent Gbagbo is in “a weakened position” and urges him to step down in favor of the country’s fairly elected president, Alassane Ouattara, in order to avoid more civilian casualties, saying the Ivorians have “already paid a very high price for democracy.”

U.S. Looks for Nigeria to Reverse “Trajectory of Bad Elections”

iipcms@state.gov (iipcms) — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 18:15:50 -0400

The Obama administration wants to see Nigeria’s April presidential, legislative and local elections significantly improved from the country’s flawed 2007 balloting, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson says.

International Community Urged to Step Up Pressure on Qadhafi

iipcms@state.gov (iipcms) — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 17:16:33 -0400

Beyond current military efforts in Libya to save lives, the international coalition must work to provide humanitarian assistance, pressure and isolate the Qadhafi regime and help Libyans achieve political change, Secretary of State Clinton says.

Egyptian Cyberactivist Focuses on Women and Minorities

iipcms@state.gov (iipcms) — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 15:16:16 -0400

Wasting no time after the fall of Mubarak, cyberactivist Dalia Ziada is continuing her quest to bring democracy to Egypt. A winner of prestigious journalism awards and recognized worldwide for her efforts, Ziada is organizing on the street and online to help Egyptians achieve their full potential.

Hispanics Are Largest Minority Group in United States

iipcms@state.gov (iipcms) — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 11:31:12 -0400

Hispanic Americans make up the nation’s largest minority group, according to newly released findings of the U.S. Census, a massive data-gathering project that helps define the future of the country’s democratic process. Of a total population of nearly 309 million people, 16 percent are Hispanic.

U.S. Condemns Syrian Violence Against Protesters

iipcms@state.gov (iipcms) — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 16:54:22 -0400

White House and State Department officials condemn the “brutal repression” by the Syrian government against peaceful protesters that reportedly killed 24 people on March 25 and also call for an end to the government’s detention of human rights activists and journalists.

Obama Administration Takes “Holistic” Approach to Human Rights

iipcms@state.gov (iipcms) — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 13:14:52 -0400

The Obama administration is taking a “holistic” approach to human rights — viewing human rights, democracy and development as supportive of one another, says Michael Posner, assistant secretary of state for democracy, human rights and labor.

U.S., Russia Unite to Fight Crimes Against Children

iipcms@state.gov (iipcms) — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 08:50:04 -0400

Crimes against children dominated recent talks in Moscow between U.S. and Russian delegations under the auspices of the U.S.-Russia Bilateral Presidential Commission.

Clinton Statement on U.N. Council Action on Religious Intolerance

iipcms@state.gov (iipcms) — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 20:22:36 -0400

Secretary of State Clinton issues a statement welcoming action by the U.N. Human Rights Council on a resolution to further the international community’s efforts to combat religious intolerance without broad prohibitions on free speech.

White House Statement on Violence in Syria

iipcms@state.gov (iipcms) — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 20:05:08 -0400

The White House issues a statement condemning the Syrian government’s repression of demonstrations and killing of civilians.

Ambassador Rice’s Statement on U.N. Special Investigator for Iran

iipcms@state.gov (iipcms) — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 20:01:47 -0400

U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations Susan Rice issues a statement welcoming the U.N. Human Rights Council decision to create a special rapporteur to investigate human rights abuses in Iran.

U.N. Rights Council Approves Investigator on Iran

iipcms@state.gov (iipcms) — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 16:05:53 -0400

The U.N. Human Rights Council approves plans for a special investigator to examine reports from Iran of excessive use of the death penalty, executions by stoning and inhumane treatment of political opponents.

U.S., El Salvador to Strengthen Ties

iipcms@state.gov (iipcms) — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 10:36:43 -0400

President Obama and El Salvador’s president, Mauricio Funes, say they plan to expand collaboration on development, energy and regional security. The two leaders hold a press conference at the National Palace in San Salvador following talks on a series of bilateral, regional and global issues.

U.S. Says Haiti’s Election Improves on November 2010 Vote

iipcms@state.gov (iipcms) — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 12:24:18 -0400

The Obama administration says the March 20 second round of voting for Haiti’s presidential and legislative elections appears to have been peaceful and took into consideration some of the lessons learned from the irregularities that accompanied the first round in November 2010.

Obama Says U.S., Chile to Expand Collaboration

iipcms@state.gov (iipcms) — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 09:47:49 -0400

President Obama and Chilean President Sebastián Piñera have pledged to expand collaboration in trade and investments, clean energy partnerships and regional security.

Obama Says U.S. Seeks New Era of Equal Partnership with Americas

iipcms@state.gov (iipcms) — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 18:29:45 -0400

President Obama calls for a “new era of partnership” between the countries of Latin America and the United States and calls for greater responsibility and closer cooperation to address the challenges of poverty, narcotics and corruption that are affecting all of the countries in the hemisphere.

Journalist Exchanges Promised from U.S.-Russia Conference

iipcms@state.gov (iipcms) — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 15:24:37 -0400

U.S. and Russian media leaders have agreed on a series of actions, including exchanges of young journalists, to confront stereotypes and increase mutual understanding.

Obama Calls for Expanded U.S.-Brazil Ties

iipcms@state.gov (iipcms) — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 11:17:31 -0400

President Obama praises U.S.-Brazilian cooperation in many areas and says the two countries should continue expanding their ties “to promote peace and prosperity throughout the world.”

Fact Sheet on U.S.-Brazil Action Plan on Racial, Ethnic Equality

iipcms@state.gov (iipcms) — Sat, 19 Mar 2011 13:05:32 -0400

The State Department releases a fact sheet on initiatives by the United States and Brazil to eliminate racial and ethnic discrimination and promote equality.

Proposal at U.N. Body Puts Focus on Iran’s Human Rights Record

iipcms@state.gov (iipcms) — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 18:15:54 -0400

A multinational effort is under way to start a high-profile investigation of Iran’s treatment of human rights, with a showdown expected at the United Nations Human Rights Council.

Clinton Underscores Importance of U.S.-Latin American Relations

iipcms@state.gov (iipcms) — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 17:56:05 -0400

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says strengthening U.S. relations with Latin America holds economic and security benefits, and also enhances the promotion of democracy and human rights around the world.

Secretary Clinton’s Remarks at CSIS on Latin America Policy

iipcms@state.gov (iipcms) — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 17:54:09 -0400

On the eve of President Obama’s visit to Latin America, Secretary of State Clinton discusses U.S. policy toward the region in a speech to the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Tunisians Ignited “Great Awakening” of Freedom, Clinton Says

iipcms@state.gov (iipcms) — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 15:44:31 -0400

Secretary Clinton gives the Tunisian people credit for sparking a “great awakening” of freedom in the Middle East through their peaceful political upheaval, and says the United States is prepared to assist them in building a new democracy and improving economic opportunities.

Clinton Offers U.S. Support for Tunisia’s Transition to Democracy

iipcms@state.gov (iipcms) — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 12:37:58 -0400

Secretary Clinton says she is confident that Tunisia will have a successful transition to democracy and greater prosperity following the end of President Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali’s rule, and pledges U.S. support and new American-funded programs to create jobs and encourage investment.

U.N. Security Council Approves No-Fly Zone over Libya

iipcms@state.gov (iipcms) — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 08:19:26 -0400

The United Nations approves a resolution that authorizes international action to impose a no-fly zone over Libya and take “all measures necessary” to protect civilians from attacks by the Libyan military forces.

Clinton Stirred by Visit to Egypt’s Tahrir Square

iipcms@state.gov (iipcms) — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 11:02:49 -0400

Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton visits Tahrir Square in Cairo and says it is “an extraordinarily uplifting experience” to see the focal point of Egypt’s revolution. She also says the Egyptian people are prepared for the challenge of transforming their revolution into political and economic reforms.

Close to 300,000 People Flee Violence in Libya

iipcms@state.gov (iipcms) — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 16:34:35 -0400

Almost 290,000 people have fled the violence between insurgents and the forces of Libyan dictator Muammar Qadhafi in recent weeks, most of them third-country nationals. An improvised airline service has taken shape, with many nations supplying aircraft to transport these migrants home.

Syrian and Jordanian Youth Discuss African Americans, Democracy

iipcms@state.gov (iipcms) — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 15:11:24 -0400

African-Americans’ contributions to U.S. democracy and civil society were a major theme for Syrian and Jordanian students during a State Department-sponsored program with American history professor Mark Huddle of Georgia College and State University.

Tunisian Americans Express Hopes Via New Media Climate

iipcms@state.gov (iipcms) — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 15:08:51 -0400

With changes under way in their homeland, Tunisian Americans are finding innovative ways to express their opinions about Tunisia’s present and future. Tunisian Americans aim to move their homeland forward by using traditional and electronic media while reaching out to elected officials in America.

Arab-American Groups Offer Civil Society Models to Middle East

iipcms@state.gov (iipcms) — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 10:33:31 -0400

Arab Americans, proud of steps toward democracy in their ancestral homelands, hope to share their experience in civil society. Organizations like the Arab American Institute offer resources on how to encourage voter participation and learn about candidate platforms.