UNITED STATES VOWS SUPPORT FOR UN EFFORTS AGAINST SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN DR CONGO

The United States stands alongside the United Nations ready to face down the use of rape as a weapon of war in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told a local UN-backed radio station during her visit to the strife-torn nation.

"Unfortunately, we have seen in the late 20th century and now in this century a terrible trend of using sexual and gender-based violence as a tool of war to intimidate and demoralize populations and to force them to flee their homes," Mrs. Clinton said in an interview with Radio Okapi.

She stressed that any bid to halt the scourge in the region has to "start with making sure that the military of the DRC does not engage in sexual and gender-based violence."

Mrs. Clinton also underscored in her interview with the radio station supported by the UN peacekeeping mission in DRC (MONUC) the importance of ending impunity for military offenders, as well as cutting off funds to militias operating in the area and resolving the region's underlying political tensions.

In his most recent report to the Security Council on sexual violence in armed conflict, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon noted that at least 200,000 cases of such abuse had been recorded in eastern DRC since 1996.

"But sexual violence is a problem across the country as it is in many countries and there have to be stronger laws against domestic violence [and] against criminal rape that happens on the streets of Kinshasa or any other city," said Mrs. Clinton.

The Secretary of State called for robust prosecution, law enforcement and judiciary measures to "make it clear that this is unacceptable, that there is no excuse for it."

The human rights record of the Congolese Government is "in desperate need of improvement," she added.

"The United States, other countries as well as the United Nations stand ready to assist the Government in taking actions to both promote human rights and to punish violators of human rights and women's rights, but there needs to be much more action and greater commitment from the Government."

Mrs. Clinton is slated to meet victims of sexual violence when she visits a camp for displaced persons in the eastern province of North Kivu, where 400 cases of rape are currently registered every month, according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
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UN WELCOMES US COMMITMENT TO BOOST AGRICULTURE IN POORER COUNTRIES

A senior United Nations official today welcomed United States Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton's recent statements in Kenya as a clear signal that Washington is committed to boost sustainable agricultural development in the world's poorer countries as a way to root out global hunger and poverty.

Mrs. Clinton's comments, in which she called for more agricultural aid money to be spent in poorer countries, show a clear US resolve to act upon the $20-billion pledge for sustainable agricultural development made at last month's G8 summit of industrialized nations in L'Aquila, Italy, UN Fund for Agricultural Development (<"http://www.ifad.org/media/press/2009/37.htm">IFAD) President Kanayo F. Nwanze said in a news release.

"After the historic pledge of $20 billion for sustainable agriculture development, the world is eager to see concrete actions that will translate into improvements in the lives of poor people in developing countries. There is no time to lose," he declared.

"The initiative, as well as Secretary Clinton's remarks, reflects a shift in emphasis – from dependence on food aid to greater investment in agriculture as a key to eradicating poverty."

In a speech at the 8th Forum of the African Growth and Opportunity Act in Nairobi, Mrs. Clinton noted that while past US assistance has yielded gains, "we have spent too many dollars and too many decades on efforts that have not delivered the desired long-term results," according to a State Department transcript.

"Too much money, for example, has stayed in America, paid salaries to Americans, furnished overhead to the contractors that were used. Too little has reached the intended target or contributed to lasting progress," she added.
Mr. Nwanze thanked Mrs. Clinton for keeping the global spotlight on agriculture and rural poverty. "Investing in agriculture – and in particular smallholder agriculture – is indeed the most cost-effective way of reducing poverty, saving and improving lives," he said.

The L'Aquila Food Security Initiative has been hailed as a major commitment to root out hunger and poverty, prompted mainly by the recognition that the global economic slowdown has pushed 90 million more people into extreme poverty.

"With a significant increase in the flow of external resources to agriculture, much will still depend on how these resources are spent; most importantly, whether higher commitments for agricultural development will trigger a matching response from developing countries by putting in place the right policy framework to support farmers," Mr. Nwanze said.

Rome-based IFAD works with poor rural people to enable them to grow and sell more food, increase their incomes, and determine the direction of their own lives. Since 1978, it has invested over $11 billion in grants and low-interest loans to developing countries, empowering some 340 million people to break out of poverty.

SOMALIA NEEDS GREATER INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT TO REBUILD, UN ENVOY SAYS

Somalia needs stronger support from the international community if its people are to rebuild their war-shattered society, the top United Nations envoy to the Horn of Africa nation said today as he welcomed a meeting between the Somali President and the United States Secretary of State.

Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, the UN Special Representative for Somalia, said the meeting between Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and Hillary Clinton in Nairobi was an important show of support for peace and stability in Somalia.

"It is in line with, and strengthens the positions of, the InterGovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the African Union, the League of Arab States, the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and the European Union (EU) on Somalia," he said, according to a press release issued by the UN Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS).

"The Government needs strong backing to continue its dialogue with various parties and to increase security for the people," Mr. Ould-Abdallah added.

"The time has come for countries, groups, individuals and especially spoilers to show more understanding and respect for Somalia and help its people to rebuild their society and their country. Respecting Somalia does not mean recycling proposals to hold 'inclusive national conferences' again and again."

The Special Representatives stressed that Somalis themselves are sick and tired of the violence in their country, which has not had a fully functioning national government since 1991, and are ready for dialogue between warring parties.

Despite the signing of peace agreements, the formation of a new Government and election of a new president, Somalia has endured a resurgence of violence in recent months. Fighting between Government forces and the Al-Shabaab and Hisb-ul-Islam militant groups in Mogadishu since early May have forced over 200,000 people from their homes, many of them for the second time over the course of the past year.
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Clinton in Congo: ActionAid calls for end to violence against women and girls in Congo

"We call on Secretary Clinton to lead the US response to end violence against women and girls particularly in the light of her involvement as a co-sponsor of the International Violence Against Women Act (IVAWA) in the last session of Congress," said Bibiane Mbaye, ActionAid’s Policy Coordinator in West and Central Africa.

Over 600 civilians have been killed in the country, thousands of women and girls raped, dozens of villages burned to the ground and over 800,000 people displaced from their homes since the start of military operations in January.

"Women and girls have been bearing the brunt of this war for close to fifteen years. The culture of impunity in the face of gross violations against the rights of women and girls must end," said Mbaye.

It is estimated that close to 80,000 people were displaced from their homes in June alone and the exodus continues. In such situations, women and girls are at increased risk of violence and HIV/AIDS.

"We call on the US to fulfil their commitments to resource and implement a comprehensive approach to ending the violence," said Alpha Sankoh, ActionAid’s country programme manager in DRC.

"Ongoing fighting in the east of the country has put women and girls in a precarious position as increasingly many of them are raped when trying to escape and this must end," he added.

Clinton in South Africa

Hillary Clinton must support African efforts to address governance and post-conflict rebuilding, says ActionAid

ActionAid is calling on Hilary Clinton to work with African leaders to help restore the fragile democratic systems in neighbouring countries.

"We are calling on Secretary of State Clinton to take a strong stand in support of human rights and the rule of law in the region," said Njeri Mwangi Kinyoho, ActionAid’s policy manager in East and Southern Africa.

The US needs to help people rebuild their lives after years of sanctions and political infighting that have brought countries like Zimbabwe to the brink of economic collapse.

"In Zimbabwe we are witnessing a return to normal life. People are beginning to have hope and the coalition government is really trying its best to see this through. The US needs to look at the situation again and help to rebuild a country that has been shattered by bad politics," she added.

"Zimbabwe’s path of national reconciliation needs all the support it can get to guard against another bout of violence derailing reforms that are currently underway. The US should increase its assistance to support reconciliation and development."

Hilary Clinton’s visit to South Africa comes at a time when the government is facing huge strikes, threatening to derail the new administration, along with an influx of economic migrants.

"In South Africa we need the Obama government to support the African Union Governance Project, holding African governments accountable to their citizens and ensuring basic services to the poor. This would

put a stop to the problems crippling service delivery prompting the massive strikes," said Zanele Twala ActionAid South Africa Country Director.

Democracy, Human Rights, Refugees: Election of the United States to the Human Rights Council

Today the United Nations General Assembly elected the United States to a three-year term on the UN Human Rights Council. The promotion and protection of human rights is a fundamental value for our own society and, as such, an integral element of the Obama Administration’s foreign policy. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and U.S. Permanent Representative to the U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice are pleased with the outcome of the election and eager to take up the important work of the Council.

When the United Nations was formed, it sent a powerful and historic message by placing human rights at the very core of its charter. To fulfill that mission, we strongly believe that all member states must work to ensure that the United Nations offers a credible, balanced and effective forum for advancing human rights.

The United States sought a seat on the UN Human Rights Council at this time to underscore our commitment to human rights and to join the efforts of all those nations seeking to make the Council a body that fulfills its promise. We deeply appreciate the support of all UN member states that endorsed our bid. We pledge to work closely with the international community to ensure that together we address the pressing human rights concerns of our time.

TOP UN OFFICIAL MEETS WITH US LEADERS ON AFGHANISTAN

The United Nations envoy for Afghanistan is in Washington D.C. this week ahead of a key international meeting later this month which will assess the current political, security and development issues in the South Asian nation.

Kai Eide met yesterday with United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and National Security Adviser James Jones, both of whom expressed their "full support" for Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Special Representative and for the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).

They discussed the US strategy review and preparations for the International Conference on Afghanistan, to be held on 31 March in The Hague, according to a news release issued by UNAMA.

Mr. Eide also met on Monday with Richard Lugar of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Senator Carl Levin of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

He is expected to meet today with, among others, Vice-President Joseph Biden and Secretary of Defence Robert Gates.

Yesterday the UN Security Council extended UNAMA's mandate until March 2010, while emphasizing the role of the Mission and Special Representative Eide in leading international civilian efforts in the country.

In a statement issued by his spokesperson following the Council's decision, Mr. Ban warmly welcomed the 15-member body's recognition of Mr. Eide's leadership, "who working closely with Afghan political leaders, has led the efforts of the international community to set priorities and rationalize their assistance to Afghanistan."
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Democracy, Human Rights, Refugees: Humanitarian Situation in Sri Lanka

On March 13, Secretary Clinton called Sri Lankan President Rajapaksa to express the United States’ deep concern over the deteriorating conditions and increasing loss of life occurring in the Government of Sri Lanka-designated “safe zone” in northern Sri Lanka. The Secretary stated that the Sri Lankan Army should not fire into the civilian areas of the conflict zone. The Secretary offered immediate and post-conflict reconstruction assistance and she extended condolences to the victims of the March 10 bombing outside a mosque in southern Sri Lanka. She condemned the actions of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) who are reported to be holding civilians as human shields, and to have shot at civilians leaving LTTE areas of control.

Secretary Clinton called on President Rajapaksa to devise a political solution to the ongoing conflict. She urged the President to give international humanitarian relief organizations full access to the conflict area and displaced persons camps, including screening centers.

The United States believes that a durable and lasting peace will only be achieved through a political solution that addresses the legitimate aspirations of all of Sri Lanka’s communities. We call on the Sri Lankan Government to put forward a proposal now to engage Tamils who do not espouse violence or terrorism, and to develop power sharing arrangements so that lasting peace and reconciliation can be achieved.
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