Speech #920009055

August 1968 says: Although the American Government has insisted that observance of human rights is indispensable to international peace and security. although our own observance of human rights is. in most respects. as high or higher than any in the world. although the United States has obligated itself to cooperate with other nations and international organizations to promote human rights. although American representatives have played principal roles in drafting declarations and covenants advancing freedom and Justicethe United States has generally refused to adhere to international efforts to establish minimum standards for individual human rights. For instance. the Genocide Convention has awaited ratification by the Senate since 1949. The United States did not sign the convention on the status of refugees. which it helped draft and promote. until August of 1968. The United Nations Human Rights Conventions are an attempt to build a lasting body of international law. Through them. we can achieve the international cooperation necessary to help rid this planet of famine. war. persecution. and discrimination.