Massimino Welcomes Obama Administration Spotlight on Global Crackdown on Activists

New York City – Following today’s High Level Event on Supporting Civil Society hosted by President Barack Obama, Human Rights First President and CEO Elisa Massimino, who attended the event, issued the following statement:

“At a U.N. General Assembly meeting that will be dominated by the Syria crisis and other tough geopolitical issues, President Obama’s decision to host today’s civil society meeting sends a strong and welcome signal that the United States sees the global assault on human rights activists as a serious international challenge that requires both American leadership and international cooperation.  We look forward to working with the president and with Secretary Kerry, National Security Advisor Susan Rice, Ambassador Samantha Power – who all attended today’s meeting – and their teams to produce a real strategy designed to fight back against the coordinated efforts of authoritarian governments to close the space for civil society. It will be important to convert the momentum created by this high-level meeting into action. ”

For more information, read Human Rights First’s Blueprint How to Support and Engage Human Rights Defenders.