NEW YORK, NY — American Jewish World Service President Ruth Messinger released the following statement today in support of the nomination of Samantha Power to be the next U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.
“Samantha Power is an indefatigable champion for human rights and marginalized people around the world, and it has been extraordinarily gratifying to have worked with her as she has served on the National Security Council at the White House,” said Messinger. “Knowing Power is to understand that she would be an outstanding representative of the United States at the United Nations. Power has long been a strong and courageous voice on human rights issues, particularly around the tragic and ongoing violence in Darfur.
“I welcome the appointment of one of the most committed supporters of human rights in the United States to be our next Ambassador to the United Nations. Power’s belief that nations have a moral obligation to prevent genocide and mass atrocities are values we share. We applaud her nomination and urge the Senate to confirm her as United Nations Ambassador.
“As the Millennium Development Goals 2015 deadline approaches, she will play a critical role in shaping the next set of shared global priorities and a plan to aggressively and urgently confront the challenges of poverty, hunger, discrimination and disease worldwide,” Messinger said.
AJWS is the leading Jewish organization working to promote human rights and end poverty in the developing world. AJWS advances the rights of women, girls and LGBTI people; promotes recovery from conflict, disasters and oppression; and defends access to food, land and livelihoods. AJWS pursues lasting change by supporting grassroots and global human rights organizations in Africa, Asia and the Americas and by mobilizing supporters in the U.S. to advocate for global justice. Working together, the AJWS community strives to build a more just and equitable world.
AJWS works with the United Nations to address global human rights issues. Current AJWS priorities at the United Nations include
- Promoting equality and working to end discrimination and violence against women, girls, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities so that they can access the full spectrum of opportunities in society and live in health, safety and dignity;
- Ensuring the UN fully funds the cholera elimination plan to create sustainable water and sanitation systems in Haiti;
- Working for peace in both Sudans, particularly addressing the ongoing violence in Blue Nile, South Kordofan and ensuring access for humanitarian aid;
- Addressing the root causes of the conflict in Democratic Republic of Congo, protecting civilians, supporting a peace building process that includes women and youth, ensuring legal and equitable use of minerals and other natural resources, and securing national borders;
- Addressing the plight of the Rohingya in Rakhine State and the internally displaced people in Kachin state in Burma through humanitarian aid and government accountability for marginalized populations; and
- Supporting the establishment of genuine peace and reconciliation in Burma by institutionalizing the role of civil society organizations in peace processes and ensuring that economic investments, concessions or development projects are not initiated unless communities are consulted.
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