Ambassador Elisabeth Millard
Senior Area Advisor for Europe and Eurasia
New York, New York
October 26, 2021
Remarks at a Third Committee Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the Promotion of Truth, Justice, Reparation and Guarantees of Non-Recurrence
AS DELIVERED
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
The United States welcomes Mr. Salvioli’s report. Combatting the legacies of colonialism starts with acknowledging and addressing past transgressions.
We remain committed to countering racism and racial discrimination, including that which stems from the legacies of colonialism. Responsible nations must not shrink from scrutiny of their human rights record.
In Syria, we stand with the Syrian people as they demand justice and accountability for the atrocities committed over the last decade. The Commission of Inquiry’s September report again exposed the regime’s ongoing campaign of abuses against the people of Syria.
In Myanmar, we remain alarmed by atrocities and human rights violations and abuses committed by the military, including the ethnic cleansing of Rohingya. We are committed to pursuing accountability and justice for past and ongoing abuses, including by supporting the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar.
We also call upon the Government of Sri Lanka to honor and fully implement its commitments to pursue justice and reconciliation for victims of human rights violations and abuses.
Let me close with a question: How can we ensure affected communities are involved in the design, implementation, and evaluation of transitional justice mechanisms related to colonialism?
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