Human Rights During the Arab Spring

Promotion of Human Rights During the Arab Spring in 2011

United States views on international law (based on the document “Digest of U.S. Practice in International Law”): See discussion in sections A.3.d. and A.3.e. supra regarding actions taken to respond to the human rights crises in Libya and Syria. On June 3, 2011, at the 17th Session of the Human Rights Council, U.S. delegate John Mariz delivered a statement for the United States that echoed a May 19, 2011 speech delivered at the State Department by President Obama responding to developments in the Middle East and North Africa, the so-called “Arab Spring.” Daily Comp. Pres. Docs., 2011 DCPD No. 00368. Both the statement and the speech emphasized the support of the United States for promoting universal human rights, including free speech and freedom of assembly and association. Excerpts of the President's speech appear below.***

Developments

The State Department is a fitting venue to mark a new chapter in American diplomacy. For 6 months, we have witnessed an extraordinary change taking place in the Middle East and North Africa. Square by square, town by town, country by country, the people have risen up to demand their basic human rights. Two leaders have stepped aside. More may follow. And though these countries may be a great distance from the U.S. shores, we know that the U.S. own future is bound to this region by the forces of economics and security, by history and by faith.

The question before us is what role America will play as this story unfolds. For decades, the United States has pursued a set of core interests in the region: countering terrorism and stopping the spread of nuclear weapons, securing the free flow of commerce and safe-guarding the security of the region, standing up for Israel's security and pursuing Arab-Israeli peace.

We will continue to do these things, with the firm belief that America's interests are not hostile to people's hopes, they're essential to them.…

Yet we must acknowledge that a strategy based solely upon the narrow pursuit of these interests will not fill an empty stomach or allow someone to speak their mind. Moreover, failure to speak to the broader aspirations of ordinary people will only feed the suspicion that has festered for years that the United States pursues the U.S. interests at their expense. Given that this mistrust runs both ways, as Americans have been seared by hostage-taking and violent rhetoric and terrorist attacks that have killed thousands of the U.S. citizens. A failure to change the U.S. approach threatens a deepening spiral of division between the United States and the Arab world.

Details

And that's why, 2 years ago in Cairo, I began to broaden the U.S. engagement based upon mutual interests and mutual respect. I believed then, and I believe now, that we have a stake not just in the stability of nations, but in the self-determination of individuals. The status quo is not sustainable. Societies held together by fear and repression may offer the illusion of stability for a time, but they are built upon fault lines that will eventually tear asunder.

So we face a historic opportunity. We have the chance to show that America values the dignity of the street vendor in Tunisia more than the raw power of the dictator. There must be no doubt that the United States of America welcomes change that advances self-determination and opportunity. Yes, there will be perils that accompany this moment of promise. But after decades of accepting the world as it is in the region, we have a chance to pursue the world as it should be.

Of course, as we do, we must proceed with a sense of humility. It's not America that put people into the streets of Tunis or Cairo, it was the people themselves who launched these movements, and it's the people themselves that must ultimately determine their outcome.

Not every country will follow the U.S. particular form of representative democracy, and there will be times when the U.S. short-term interests don't align perfectly with the U.S. long-term vision for the region. But we can, and we will, speak out for a set of core principles, principles that have guided the U.S. response to the events over the past 6 months.

The United States opposes the use of violence and repression against the people of the region.

The United States supports a set of universal rights. And these rights include free speech, the freedom of peaceful assembly, the freedom of religion, equality for men and women under the rule of law, and the right to choose your own leaders, whether you live in Baghdad or Damascus, Sanaa or Tehran.

More about the Issue

Mr. Mariz's statement at the 17th Session of the Human Rights Council making reference to President Obama's May 19 speech follows and is available at (internet link) geneva.usmission.gov/2011/06/03/item-3-promotion-of-human-rights/.

Two weeks ago, in a speech about the recent changes throughout the Middle East and Northern Africa, President Obama reiterated the support of the United States for human rights and fundamental freedoms, including free speech, the freedom of peaceful assembly, freedom of religion, equality for men and women under the rule of law, and the right to choose leaders. President Obama also reaffirmed that these principles are universal rights—to be enjoyed by all persons, regardless of where they live.

Indeed, the events of the last six months reinforce how important respect for human rights is to the stability of any society. Societies held together by fear and repression may offer the illusion of stability for a time, but they are built upon fault lines that will eventually tear asunder. There can be no stability where peaceful protestors are met with violence and repression from their governments. Nor can there be stability when opposition leaders and human rights defenders are arbitrarily imprisoned. In order to resolve legitimate grievances and address legitimate aspirations, there must be an opportunity to engage in dialogue with the government, and there cannot be a real dialogue when parts of the peaceful opposition are in jail.

The protection and promotion of human rights, while intrinsically important, also encourage long-term stability by ensuring free and fair elections, a vibrant civil society, accountable and effective democratic institutions, and responsible regional leadership. Respect for human rights also provides space for the kinds of political and economic reforms that help meet the legitimate aspirations of ordinary people—by increasing transparency and accountability in government, and by enabling the economic growth and broad-based prosperity that are necessary to democratic transition.

Promotion of Human Rights During the Arab Spring in 2011

United States views on international law (based on the document “Digest of U.S. Practice in International Law”): The United States does not fund political candidates or political parties. We do offer training to parties and candidates committed to democracy. We do not try to shift outcomes or impose an American model. We do support election commissions, as well as nongovernmental election monitors, to ensure free and fair balloting. We help watchdog groups learn their trade. We help groups find the tools to exercise their rights to free expression and assembly, online and off. And of course we support civil society, the lifeblood of democratic politics.

In Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya, we are working to help citizens safeguard the principles of democracy. That means supporting the forces of reconciliation rather than retribution. It means defending freedom of expression when bloggers are arrested for criticizing public officials. It means standing up for tolerance when state-run television fans sectarian tensions. And it means that when unelected authorities say they want to be out of the business of governing, we will look to them to lay out a clear roadmap and urge them to abide by it.

Where countries are making gradual reforms, we have frank conversations and urge them to move faster. It's good to hold multi-party elections and allow women to take part. It's better when those elections are meaningful and parliaments have real powers to improve people's lives. Change needs to be tangible and real. When autocrats tell us the transition to democracy will take time, we answer, “Well, then let's get started.”

And those leaders trying to hold back the future at the point of a gun should know their days are numbered. …

More about Promotion of Human Rights During the Arab Spring

This brings me to my last and perhaps most important point of all. For all the hard questions I've asked and tried to answer on behalf of the United States, the most consequential questions of all are those the people and leaders of the region will have to answer for themselves. Because ultimately, it is up to them. It is up to them to resist the calls of demagogues, to build coalitions, to keep faith in the system even when they lose at the polls, and to protect the principles and institutions that ultimately will protect them. Every democracy has to guard against those who would hijack its freedoms for ignoble ends. the U.S. founders and every generation since have fought to prevent that from happening here. The founding fathers and mothers of Arab revolutions must do the same. No one bears a greater responsibility for what happens next.

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See Also

• International Human Rights

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Notes and References

1. *** Editor's note: Other portions of the President's May 19 speech appear in this world Encylopedia of Law 17.A.

See Also

Resources

Notes and References

1. *** Editor's note: Other portions of the President's May 19 speech appear in this world Encylopedia of Law 17.A.