List of ambassadors of the United States to the United Nations Human Rights Council

Last updated
Ambassador of the United States to the United Nations Human Rights Council
US Department of State official seal.svg
Seal of the United States Department of State
Michele Taylor, U.S. Permanent Representative.jpg
Incumbent
Michèle Taylor
since February 22, 2022
United States Department of State
Nominator President of the United States
Inaugural holder Eleanor Roosevelt
as Representative
Formation1947
Website U.S. Delegation - Human Rights Council

The United States ambassador to the United Nations Human Rights Council is the diplomatic representative of the United States to the United Nations Human Rights Council. The position is located within the United States Mission to the United Nations and Other International Organizations located at Geneva, Switzerland. [1] A formal title for the position is United States representative to the United Nations Human Rights Council, with rank of Ambassador. [2]

Contents

Up until 2006, the position was commonly known as the United States ambassador to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, as it was associated to a predecessor organization, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights. [3] [4] It was more formally called United States representative to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, and did not at first have ambassadorial rank but subsequently attained it.

History

The United States Mission to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva U.S. Mission to the United Nations in Geneva.jpg
The United States Mission to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva

The U.S. delegation to the Human Rights Council is a part of the U.S. Mission Geneva, and other U.S. ambassadors stationed in Geneva are the United States ambassador to United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva (head of the overall mission, and not to be confused with the more well-known United States ambassador to the United Nations stationed in New York), the United States ambassador to the World Trade Organization, and the United States ambassador to the Conference on Disarmament. [5]

The United Nations Commission on Human Rights was formed in April 1946 on a preliminary basis and then in January 1947 on a permanent basis. [6] Former First Lady of the United States Eleanor Roosevelt was chosen as its first chair on both occasions. [6] She played a major role in the formation and 1948 adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. [7] She also served as the U.S. representative to the commission. [8] In 1951 she relinquished the chair but stayed on as the U.S. representative to it. [7]

As with regular ambassadorial posts, nominations are made by the President of the United States and confirmation by the United States Senate is required. [9] Commentary on people holding the post has often been linked with perceptions that the Commission on Human Rights was anti-U.S. and especially anti-Israel. [9] The United States was voted off the commission for a period beginning in 2001. [10] Later, the United States withdrew from the council in 2018, [11] but rejoined it in 2021. [12]

Besides Eleanor Roosevelt, the position has attracted some well-known Americans, including four past members of the United States Congress, one of whom, Geraldine Ferraro, had been her party's nominee for vice president.

Ambassadors

The following is a chronological list of those who have held the position, under its various names. (It is unclear exactly when ambassadorial rank happened, but scattered references to the representatives as ambassadors can be found throughout the 1970s. [13] [14] [15] [16] ) The position has gone vacant at times when the commission was not in session, or when no presidential appointment had been made or confirmed, or when the United States was not a member of the body.

United States representatives to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights
ImageAmbassadorStart of TermEnd of Term
Eleanor Roosevelt at United Nations in Paris - NARA - 195965 (cropped).jpg Eleanor Roosevelt [6] [7] 19471953
Mary Pillsbury Lord (cropped).jpg Mary Lord [17] 19531961
Marietta Tree 19611964
Morris Abram, civic leader and lawyer.jpg Morris B. Abram [18] 19651968
United States representatives to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, with rank of Ambassador
ImageAmbassadorStart of TermEnd of Term
Rita Hauser [19] 19691972
Philip E. Hoffman [20] 19721975
Allard K. Lowenstein.jpg Allard K. Lowenstein [21] 19771977
Edward Mezvinsky.jpg Edward Mezvinsky [22] 19771979
Jerome J. Shestack [23] 19791980
MichaelNovak (cropped).jpg Michael Novak [24] 19811982
Richard Schifter (cropped).jpg Richard Schifter 19831985
E. Robert Wallach 19861986
Armando Valladares [25] [26] 19881990
Geraldine Ferraro, head-and-shoulders portrait, 38879v (1).jpg Geraldine Ferraro [27] [28] 19931996
Nancy Rubin [29] [30] [31] 19972000
Amb. Richard Williamson (1).jpg Richard S. Williamson [32] 20042005
RudyBoschwitz.jpg Rudy Boschwitz [9] 20052006
United States representatives to the United Nations Human Rights Council, with rank of Ambassador
ImageAmbassadorStart of TermEnd of Term
Ambassador Eileen Chamberlain Donahoe.jpg Eileen Chamberlain Donahoe [33] 20102013
Peter F. Mulrean.jpg Peter F. Mulrean20132014
Ambassador Keith Harper in Geneva 2014.jpg Keith Harper [34] [35] 20142017
Michele Taylor, U.S. Permanent Representative.jpg Michèle Taylor 2022Present

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights</span> UN department that promotes human rights under international law

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, commonly known as the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) or the United Nations Human Rights Office, is a department of the Secretariat of the United Nations that works to promote and protect human rights that are guaranteed under international law and stipulated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948. The office was established by the United Nations General Assembly on 20 December 1993 in the wake of the 1993 World Conference on Human Rights.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Nations</span> Intergovernmental organization

The United Nations, referred to informally as the UN, is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and serve as a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations. It is the world's largest international organization. The UN is headquartered on international territory in New York City, and the organization has other offices in Geneva, Nairobi, Vienna, and The Hague, where the International Court of Justice is headquartered.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Universal Declaration of Human Rights</span> Declaration adopted in 1948 by the United Nations General Assembly

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is an international document adopted by the United Nations General Assembly that enshrines the rights and freedoms of all human beings. Drafted by a UN committee chaired by Eleanor Roosevelt, it was accepted by the General Assembly as Resolution 217 during its third session on 10 December 1948 at the Palais de Chaillot in Paris, France. Of the 58 members of the United Nations at the time, 48 voted in favour, none against, eight abstained, and two did not vote.

The United States order of precedence is an advisory document maintained by the Ceremonials Division of the Office of the Chief of Protocol of the United States which lists the ceremonial order, or relative preeminence, for domestic and foreign government officials at diplomatic, ceremonial, and social events within the United States and abroad. The list is used to mitigate miscommunication and embarrassment in diplomacy, and offer a distinct and concrete spectrum of preeminence for ceremonies. Often the document is used to advise diplomatic and ceremonial event planners on seating charts and order of introduction. Former presidents, vice presidents, first ladies, second ladies, and secretaries of state and retired Supreme Court justices are also included in the list.

The United Nations Association of the United States of America (UNA-USA) is a nonprofit grassroots organization dedicated to promoting political and public support for the United Nations among Americans. A program of the United Nations Foundation, its mission includes advocating for greater U.S. leadership at the UN, improving and enhancing the UN system, and implementing the Sustainable Development Goals and the UN Charter in both the U.S. and globally.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Nations Human Rights Council</span> United Nations body tasked with the promotion of human rights

The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) is a United Nations body whose mission is to promote and protect human rights around the world. The Council has 47 members elected for staggered three-year terms on a regional group basis. The headquarters of the Council are at the United Nations Office at Geneva in Switzerland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bureau of International Organization Affairs</span> U.S. State Department division

The Bureau of International Organization Affairs (IO) is a bureau in the United States Department of State that creates and executes U.S. policy in the United Nations and other international organizations. It is headed by the Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs. The IO is charged with developing and implementing the policies of the U.S. government with respect to the United Nations and its affiliated agencies, as well as within certain other international organizations. The Bureau of International Organization Affairs was created in order to strengthen the United States involvement in important international relations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations</span> Canadian representative at the United Nations

The Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations, known unofficially as the Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations, is the Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations. The position was established in 1946 and is based at the Permanent Mission of Canada to the United Nations, which is located at 466 Lexington Avenue in New York City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UN Watch</span>

UN Watch is a Geneva-based non-governmental organization whose stated mission is "to monitor the performance of the United Nations by the yardstick of its own Charter". It is an accredited NGO in Special Consultative Status to the UN Economic and Social Council and an Associate NGO to the UN Department of Public Information.

His Excellency Mahinda Buddhadasa Samarasinghe, is a former MP and the current Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the United States of America, Mexico and High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago. He was formerly a member of Parliament under Gotabaya Rajapaksa's Government, and the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna chief organiser for the Panadura Electorate in the Kalutara District.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tehmina Janjua</span> Pakistani politician

Tehmina Janjua(Urdu: تہمینہ جنجوعہ) is a retired Pakistani career diplomat who served in BPS-22 grade as the 29th Foreign Secretary of Pakistan. Among her other notable appointments, was her position as Pakistan's Representative to the United Nations in Geneva and as ambassador to Italy, with concurrent accreditation to Albania, San Marino and Slovenia.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was drafted between early 1947 and late 1948 by a committee formed by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights. Further discussion and amendments were made by the Commission on Human Rights, the Economic and Social Council and the General Assembly of the United Nations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexander Vladimirovich Yakovenko</span> Russian diplomat

Alexander Vladimirovich Yakovenko is a Russian diplomat. He served as the Ambassador of Russia to the United Kingdom between January 2011 and August 2019. Since August 2019, he has been rector of the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He is a former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia. While working at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Moscow, he was in charge of multilateral diplomacy. A graduate of the Moscow State Institute of International Relations in 1976, he later gained a Doctor of Law degree. Yakovenko holds the diplomatic rank of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, and speaks Russian, English and French.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Felice D. Gaer</span>

Felice D. Gaer is an American human rights defender and advocate. She has worked on human rights matters and was a longstanding member and the former chair of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom. She is a member of the US National Commission to UNESCO.

The Representative of the United States to the European Office of the United Nations is the chief of mission of the United States Mission to the European Office of the United Nations and Other International Organizations at the United Nations Office at Geneva. The full official title of the position is The Representative of the United States of America to the European Office of the United Nations, with the rank of Ambassador. The office was established in 1958 by 22 U.S.C. § 287 : US Code - Section 287(e): Representation in Organization. The Representative has the rank of Ambassador and reports directly to the United States Ambassador to the United Nations. The office is sometimes referred to as ambassador but the correct title is representative for organizations.

Indonesia officially became the 60th member of the United Nations on 29 September 1950, in accordance with the United Nations Security Council Resolution 86 two days before, and the United Nations General Assembly resolution number A/RES/491 (V) on the "admission of the Republic of Indonesia to membership in the United Nations", less than one year after the independence of Indonesia's by the Netherlands at the Dutch–Indonesian Round Table Conference in the Hague.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prasad Kariyawasam</span>

Prasad Kariyawasam is a Sri Lankan diplomat and the former Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the top diplomat in Sri Lanka. He was the International Affairs Adviser to Hon.Karu Jayasooriya, Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka.He was the former Sri Lankan Ambassador to the United States. with concurrent accreditation as High Commissioner for Sri Lanka to Trinidad & Tobago and Ambassador (designate) to Mexico. He was also the Permanent Observer of Sri Lanka to the Washington-based Organization of American States (OAS).He has also served as Sri Lankan Ambassador to India, Afghanistan and Bhutan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keith Harper (lawyer)</span> Lawyer, ambassador

Keith Michael Harper is an American attorney and diplomat who was the first Native American to ever receive the rank of a U.S. ambassador. He is a member of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma and as a lawyer he is known for working on behalf of Native Americans. He was, from June 2014 to January 2017, the U.S. representative to the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Permanent Representative of Spain to the United Nations</span> Senior diplomat

The Ambassador Permanent Representative of Spain to the United Nations is an official of the Government of Spain belonging to the diplomatic corps representing Spain before the United Nations (UN) based in New York City, United States. This permanent representation, unlike the Permanent Representation of Spain to the European Union, does not have its own legislation and is regulated by the general regulations governing diplomatic missions, by international law and by the internal law of the UN.

References

  1. ↑ "U.S. Delegation to the HRC". United States Mission to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva . Retrieved October 30, 2010.
  2. ↑ "Nominations for U.S. Ambassador to the Human Rights Council and Conference on Disarmament" (Press release). The White House. November 9, 2009.
  3. ↑ "About Us". International Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists . Retrieved November 20, 2010.
  4. ↑ Hannay, David (December 2005). "Recommendations of the Secretary-General's High-level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change: A Member's Perspective". Journal of International Human Rights.
  5. ↑ "United States Mission Geneva". United States Mission to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva . Retrieved November 20, 2010.
  6. 1 2 3 "Eleanor Roosevelt", Current Biography Yearbook 1949 . Published 1950.
  7. 1 2 3 "Human Rights Commission". Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site. 2003. Retrieved November 17, 2010.
  8. ↑ "Mrs. Roosevelt Sees U.S. Uncertain on U.N." (PDF). The New York Times . February 18, 1947.
  9. 1 2 3 Johnson, Scott W. (April 25, 2005). "The Ambassador Nobody Knows". The Weekly Standard .
  10. ↑ "US Loses UN Human Rights Seat". Philippine Daily Inquirer . Agence France Press. May 5, 2001. p. A9.
  11. ↑ Koran, Laura (June 20, 2018). "US leaving UN Human Rights Council – 'a cesspool of political bias'". CNN.
  12. ↑ Roth, Richard; Vazquez, Maegan (October 14, 2021). "US officially rejoins controversial UN Human Rights Council". CNN.
  13. ↑ "Powered by Google Docs" . Retrieved 2010-11-20.
  14. ↑ [ Displaying Abstract ] (October 9, 1977). "Marriage Announcement 1 - No Title - Marriage Announcement - NYTimes.com" (PDF). New York Times. Retrieved 2010-11-20.
  15. ↑ The Ukrainian quarterly - Google Books. 2007-08-09. Retrieved 2010-11-20.
  16. ↑ "U.S. Hits Soviets on Human Rights". The Gazette . Montreal. United Press International. November 25, 1980. p. 36.
  17. ↑ Goodman, George (July 23, 1978). "Mary Lord, 73, Dies; Held Post at U.N." (PDF). The New York Times . p. 36.
  18. ↑ "Oral Histories – Morris Abram". Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum. October 1, 2008.
  19. ↑ Gursky, Ruth. "Rita Eleanor Hauser". Jewish Women's Archive . Retrieved November 17, 2010.
  20. ↑ York, New (1993-06-08). "Philip Hoffman, Envoy To Un Rights Agency - Chicago Tribune". Articles.chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2010-11-20.
  21. ↑ "Lowenstein, Allard Kenneth - Biographical Information". Bioguide.congress.gov. Retrieved 2010-11-20.
  22. ↑ "Mezvinsky, Edward Maurice - Biographical Information". Bioguide.congress.gov. Retrieved 2010-11-20.
  23. ↑ "Jerome Shestack Is Featured UI Human Rights Speaker Sept. 24 - University News Service - The University of Iowa". News-releases.uiowa.edu. Retrieved 2010-11-20.
  24. ↑ "Michael Novak, theologian who made a spiritual case for capitalism, dies at 83". Washington Post. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  25. ↑ "U.S. Tones Down Strategy to Fight Cuba on Human Rights". Miami Herald . February 28, 1988. p. 1A.
  26. ↑ "Sims Flap Shows Miami at Divisive Worst". Miami Herald . January 8, 1991. p. 1B.
  27. ↑ Brozan, Nadine (October 23, 1993). "Chronicle". The New York Times .
  28. ↑ "Ferraro, Geraldine Anne, (1935 - )". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress . Retrieved 2008-08-30.
  29. ↑ "U.N. Blast Indonesia, Iraq, Cuba on Abuses". Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel . April 17, 1997. p. 17A.
  30. ↑ "U.S. Will Press for Human Rights Abroad, Envoy Says". St. Louis Post-Dispatch . Reuters. April 25, 1998. p. 25.
  31. ↑ "U.N. Blasts Israel". Philadelphia Daily News . October 20, 2000. p. 40.
  32. ↑ Worden, Minky (April 27, 2004). "Sudan's Silent Scream". The New York Sun .
  33. ↑ "Eileen Chamberlain Donahoe Confirmed as US Representative to the Human Rights Council". United States Mission to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva. March 4, 2010.
  34. ↑ McCabe, David (June 4, 2014). "Senate Confirms First Native American Ambassador". Huffington Post.
  35. ↑ "Archives: Ambassador Keith Harper, U.S. Permanent Representative to the UN Human Rights Council (June 2014 – January 2017)". United States Mission to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva. Retrieved April 8, 2017.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.