American Jewish World Service (AJWS) emphasizes the importance of fighting prejudice and intolerance
As the Senate Foreign Relations Committee advances the nomination of Andrew Bremberg to be U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Rori Kramer, Director of Government Affairs of American Jewish World Service (AJWS), the leading global Jewish human rights organization, issued the following statement:
“As Jewish Americans who are committed to upholding the dignity of people of every background and to advancing human rights worldwide, we call on the U.S. Senate to reject the nomination of Andrew Bremberg to represent the United States in Geneva.
“We believe Bremberg has disqualified himself from serving in this role because of his well-documented record of taking positions antithetical to human rights and the ideals of the United States, the United Nations and other international organizations where he would represent the U.S.
“In his current work as Policy Director for the Domestic Policy Council, Bremberg has designed and supported measures that have hurt the most vulnerable populations. Among these policies is his support for the draconian expansion of the global gag rule. The rule prohibits U.S. funding for any organization overseas that refers even one patient to another provider for abortion care—as well as any organization that provides or advocates for the full range of reproductive health care, including abortion. Bremberg’s recent statement in opposition to abortion for survivors of rape and gender-based violence in conflict zones is cruel and extreme, and such an approach would further strip away the dignity and human rights of women.
“Bremberg aligns himself with anti-human rights groups that have used narrow religious ideologies to curtail the rights of women, girls and LGBTQI+ people. This narrow and bigoted approach directly opposes the internationally-recognized human rights standards of the groups in Geneva, where Bremberg would represent the United States.
“The U.S. must have an ambassador in Geneva who will advance human rights for all people and communities worldwide. As Jews, we believe that everyone’s human rights must be upheld, and we understand all too well the results of state-sanctioned prejudice and coercion. We strongly oppose the nomination of Bremberg or of any individual who would pursue policies rooted in prejudice and intolerance, and who would use American policy to compromise the rights of some of the world’s most vulnerable people.”
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