At U.N. Trump Turns Back on Global Leadership, Human Rights

New York City—In response to President Donald Trump’s speech at the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Human Rights First’s Senior Vice President for Policy Rob Berschinski issued the following statement:

The U.N. was founded after the horrors of World War II to provide the basis for peace through multilateral cooperation and respect for human rights. President Trump’s words today were the antithesis of this mission. His speech had nothing to do with American leadership on the global stage, and everything to do with appeals to a hard-line domestic constituency. From curbing the rights of refugees fleeing persecution and violence to referencing human rights only in the most selective of contexts, today’s speech broke no new ground and offered no new solutions to any issue of global pressing concern. His nationalist platitudes are a recipe for weakened human rights protections, increased conflict, and a diminished United States.

For more information or to speak with Berschinski, contact Human Rights First at [email protected].