The Human Rights Council’s Special Session on Syria
Press Statement
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of StateWashington, DCApril 29, 2011
Today the UN Human Rights Council took urgent action to shine a light on the deteriorating human rights situation in Syria and condemn the continued human rights abuses by the Syrian government. Today’s resolution – passed with an overwhelming majority by members from all regions of the globe – unequivocally indicates that the use of force by the Syrian government to quell peaceful political demonstrators is unacceptable. The international community has spoken and expressed its outrage at the violence used by the Syrian government to deny its population their universal human rights, including the freedoms of expression and assembly.
The Council’s forceful statement, coupled with its decision to establish an urgent investigation led by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, ensures that the international community will remain actively engaged in the human rights crisis in Syria.
The Council also called upon the Syrian government to immediately release all prisoners of conscience and arbitrarily detained persons, including those who were detained before the recent events, and to immediately cease any intimidation, persecution and arbitrary arrests of individuals, including lawyers, human rights defenders and journalists.
The findings of this Special Session further reinforce the crucial need for Council members to reject Syria’s hypocritical candidacy for membership on the Human Rights Council. No country engaged in such horrific and ongoing human rights abuses should be considered for membership on this important body.
Still4Hill 
You tell ’em, Madame Secretary!
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This makes me glad we “went back into the arena,” as HRC put it. We have a voice.
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Syria is big disappointment and in no way should they be on the human rights council.
ot I just saw a blurb while watching the OWN network that Julia roperts is hosting a documentary on extordinary moms next Sunday, and they flashed a picture of Hillary, chelsea and Hillary’s mom from’s chelsea’s wedding so I am assuming they will have something on Hillary.
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I don’t know this network. OMG! I’m paying more than $200 a month for all these channels, and there’s one I don’t know? I need to get more organized!
edited to add: I just found it. THANK YOU! For the heads up!
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OWN= The Oprah Winfrey Network. It used to be Discovery Health before Oprah bought them out.
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Found it, and I do get it. DVR is set. Will post a reminder closer to the broadcast.
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OK. I just found the listing:
Julia Roberts. Extraordinary mothers; Hillary Clinton; Christiane Amanpour; Rosie O’Donnell, Family. Special.
Sunday May 8 2:30 -4:00 p.m. EDT
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Thanks I hadn’t caught the time! should be interesting.
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Yes, I expected it to be prime time! Set the DVR to record this. Will put up a proper post later in the week to remind people.
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Muslim World is on the the path to self destruction. I personally find it very refreshing that they are not blaming U.S. for all their problems and it is their own dictators that are killing them. I am with the Sec. of State on rejecting Syria’s candidacy. The idea itself is quiet disturbing. According to all reports the streets of Syria are littered with bodies.
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Well, so many of these Arab states are more diverse than we normally appreciate, and these revolutions are organic and generic, not rooted in religion, but in human rights. The people want their rights. The dictators must go.
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[…] Hillary Clinton to Human Rights Council: Reject Syria’s Candidacy […]
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[…] Hillary Clinton to Human Rights Council: Reject Syria’s Candidacy […]
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[…] Hillary Clinton to Human Rights Council: Reject Syria’s Candidacy […]
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