| |  Bureau of International Organization Affairs The Bureau of International Organization Affairs, headed by Assistant Secretary Kristen Silverberg, develops and implements U.S. policy in the United Nations, the UN's specialized agencies, and other international organizations. The Bureau utilizes multilateral diplomacy in these fora to advance U.S. policies and interests and strives to ensure that the UN and other international organizations remain viable and effective.
Read Assistant Secretary Silverberg's Vision Statement for IO Bureau, and what the Assistant Secretary is saying.
THE BUREAU AND TRANSFORMATIONAL DIPLOMACY
The Bureau of International Organization Affairs has one overriding priority: to pursue transformational diplomacy goals through results-driven, transparent, accountable and efficient international organizations. The five Transformational Diplomacy Strategic Goals are: Achieving Peace & Security, Governing Justly & Democratically, Investing in People, Promoting Economic Growth & Prosperity, and Providing Humanitarian Assistance.
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ACHIEVING PEACE & SECURITY
 U.S. Support for UN
-- Peacekeeping missions
-- Sanction Committees
-- Counter-terrorism Efforts
Sudan
The UN Security Council unanimously passed Resolution 1769 , mandating a United Nations-African Union Hybrid Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) to protect civilians and humanitarian workers. The United States is strongly committed to supporting UNAMID, and has urged all parties to the conflict to agree to an immediate cease-fire and pursuit of a political settlement toward sustainable peace in Sudan. [Explanation of Vote on the Adoption of the Hybrid Force.] On January 11, 2008, the Security Council issued a Presidential Statement condemning the attacks on UNAMID and reaffirming the necessity and importance of cooperation and actions taken to restore peace to Sudan.
Burma
The Burmese regime's crackdown on dissenting citizens follows decades of human rights abuses and oppression, and constitutes a threat to international peace and security. In response, the UN Security Council has released a Presidential Statement deploring the regime's use of violence and calling for the release of political prisoners.
Iran
The United States and its allies have been working very hard to end the threat to international peace and security posed by the Iranian regime's pursuit of nuclear weapons capability, through both the International Atomic Energy Agency and the UN Security Council. The latest step is the unanimous passage of UNSC Resolution 1747 on March 24, 2007. On that day, the P5 + 1 Foreign Ministers issued a joint statement about the resolution.
In September, the P5+2 held a Ministerial Meeting on Iran, and issued a Statement , Under Secretary R. Nicholas Burns conducted an on-the-record press briefing following the Meeting.
Iraq
In July 2007, the U.S. contributed an additional $19 Million to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to fund Iraq refugee programs. UNHCR and UNICEF have issued a Joint Appeal to provide educational opportunities to Iraqi children.
GOVERNING JUSTLY & DEMOCRATICALLY: Diplomacy that Serves Human Rights, Freedom and Democracy
 United Nations Democracy Fund
President Bush first called for the creation of the UN Democracy Fund (UNDEF) during his address to the UN General Assembly in September 2004. The Fund's mission is to promote democracy throughout the world by providing assistance for projects that consolidate and strengthen democratic institutions and facilitate democratic governance.
United Nations General Assembly Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian & Cultural Affairs)
The 63nd session of the Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly is meeting in the fall of 2008.
United Nations Human Rights Council
The 8th Session of the Human Rights Council began June 2. The session will conclude on June 13, 2008.
Burma: Special Session of the Human Rights Council
The continuing absence of democracy and the abuse of human rights in Burma and the current actions of the regime against peaceful demonstrators are a subject of consideration. U.S. Ambassador Tichenor delivered a statement calling for action by the Human Rights Council on October 2, 2007. The Human Rights Council adopted a resolution deploring violent repression in Burma and called for the release of peaceful protesters and all political detainees, also on October 2, 2007.
INVESTING IN PEOPLE
 Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria
Eliminating the Use of Rape and Other Forms of Sexual Violence as Instruments to Achieve Political or Military Objectives
US National Commission for UNESCO
PROMOTING ECONOMIC GROWTH AND PROSPERITY
 UN Economic Development Efforts [fact sheets]
PROVIDING HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE
 U.S. Humanitarian Assistance through the UN
International organizations offer an excellent platform for providing humanitarian assistance. The IO Bureau works with UN organizations, with other U.S. Government agencies, and with civil society to ensure that UN humanitarian assistance programs are well coordinated, fully accountable, politically neutral, and responsive to the needs of target populations. [full text]
| | | Highlights | Global Classrooms DC Model UN Conference
 On April 28, 2008, nearly 600 middle and high school students participated in the Fourth Annual Global Classrooms D.C. Model United Nations Conference at State Department headquarters in Washington, DC. more
Youth@the Crossroads - a Future Without Violent Radicalization
 From June 15 through 17, UNESCO hosted an international gathering in Manama, Bahrain, focused on identifying and showcasing innovative programs from around the globe which provide young people with positive options for their own future and dissuade them from engaging in violent, radical behaviour. The conference, entitled Youth@the Crossroads, was supported in part by the U.S. Department of State. To learn more please visit the conference website.
Policy Podcast: Working With the UN on Global Issues
 Assistant Secretary Silverberg (Mar. 25): ... "the UN is this amazing diversity of organization. It includes all of the five main organs of the UN system, including the Security Council, all of the agencies and funds and programs. So everything from the World Food Program, which helps to feed about 100 million people a year, especially in Africa; the Security Council, which helps to address international peace and security crises; and the many, many other organizations." full text
62nd UN General Assembly
-- address by President Bush
-- Special briefing by Assistant Secretary Silverberg: [video]
-- Assistant Secretary Kristen Silverberg's blog from the 62nd UN General Assembly
The U.S. at the United Nations
 Statement by Amb. Zalmay Khalilzad on the role of regional and subregional organizations in the maintenance of international peace and security at the Security Council
Photos
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![President George W. Bush is greeted Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2007, by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon after arriving at UN Headquarters in New York City. [White House photo by Eric Draper ]](http://www.state.gov/cms_images/collage_2.jpg)
