The U.S. Embassy Bern was happy to host the American violinist Gaelynn Lea from June 12 until June 21, 2018. She visited Switzerland as part of the State Department’s Arts Envoy Program. During her stay, Gaelynn met with several high school classes from Bern and Aargau and more than 100 students from the International School ...
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By U.S. Mission Switzerland | 27 June, 2018 | Topics:
Art & Culture, Culture, embassy, Events, Human Rights, News
| Tags: Arts Envoy, Gaelynn Lea
Press Statement by Secretary of State Pompeo Washington, DC June 1, 2018 The United States joins people around the world in celebrating Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Intersex (LGBTI) Pride Month, and reaffirms its commitment to protecting and defending the human rights of all, including LGBTI persons. In many parts of the world, LGBTI individuals and their ...
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By U.S. Mission Switzerland | 4 June, 2018 | Topics:
Gender Issues, Human Rights, News, U.S. Secretary of State
| Tags: LGBTI, Michael R. Pompeo
On May 29, 2018 the U.S. Department of State released the
International Religious Freedom Annual Report 2017 , which provides details on the status of religious freedom in various countries and territories. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called religious freedom “a right belonging to every individual on the globe” and said the U.S. “stands with those who yearn for religious liberty.” At the ...
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By U.S. Mission Switzerland | 30 May, 2018 | Topics:
Human Rights, Liechtenstein, News, Reports
| Tags: Religious Freedom Report
The United States stands for the protection of fundamental freedoms and universal human rights. Our nation was founded on the bedrock principle that we are all created equal – and that every person is entitled to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Around the world, far too many governments continue to arrest and abuse ...
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By U.S. Mission Switzerland | 18 May, 2018 | Topics:
Fundamental Freedoms, Gender Issues, Human Rights, News, Press Releases, U.S. Secretary of State
| Tags: Human Rights, LGBT, Michael R. Pompeo
On invitation by the U.S. Embassy in Bern, U.S. Youth Observer to the UN, Munira Khalif gave talks at two high schools in Bern and participated in a round table discussion with 15 young people. The topic of her talks and discussion was the importance of making education and schooling accessible to everyone, and especially ...
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By U.S. Mission Switzerland | 22 March, 2018 | Topics:
embassy, Human Rights, News, Speakers Program
| Tags: Munira Khalif, U.S. Youth Observer to the UN
Our history is rich with amazing stories of strong, courageous, and brilliant women. Since America’s founding, women have played an integral part in American innovation and productivity, while simultaneously raising generations of lively children and providing leadership in their local communities. Time and time again, women have demonstrated resilience in the face of unprecedented challenges. America’s ...
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By U.S. Mission Switzerland | 7 March, 2018 | Topics:
Human Rights, News, President of the United States
| Tags: Donald J. Trump, Proclamations
Ambassador McMullen is proud to commemorate Martin Luther King Day, which marks Dr. King’s birthday, and highlights the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. King’s inspiring words and actions in his fight for civil rights still resonate today. Martin Luther King, Jr. is an important figure in American history and culture. I grew up appreciating ...
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By U.S. Mission Switzerland | 15 January, 2018 | Topics:
Ambassador, embassy, Human Rights, News
| Tags: Ambassador McMullen, Martin Luther King, MLK
International Day of Persons with Disabilities is annually held on December 3. The United Nations General Assembly resolution 47/3 proclaimed the annual observance of this Day in 1992. It aims to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in all spheres of society and development, and to increase awareness about the situation of persons with ...
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By U.S. Mission Switzerland | 29 November, 2017 | Topics:
embassy, Human Rights, News, Public Affairs, U.S. & Switzerland
| Tags: Equal Rights, IVLP, Persons with Disabilities
U.S. Embassy Bern hosted human trafficking and forced labor expert, Ima Matul, for a three-day program. As a member of the U.S. Advisory Council on Human Trafficking and Survivor Coordinator for the Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking (CAST) in Los Angeles, Ima Matul worked to raise awareness on the growing incidence of human trafficking ...
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By U.S. Mission Switzerland | 7 November, 2017 | Topics:
Human Rights, News, Speakers Program
| Tags: Forced Labor, Human Trafficking, Ima Mutal
Ima Matul will be in Switzerland in October 2017 on the invitation by the U.S. Embassy in Bern for several speaking engagements. Ima Matul is member of the U.S. Advisory Council on Human Trafficking and is the Survivor Coordinator for the Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking (CAST) in Los Angeles. Her visit takes place ...
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By U.S. Mission Switzerland | 10 October, 2017 | Topics:
Human Rights, News
| Tags: Ima Matul
On a sunny Saturday afternoon, staff from U.S. Embassy Bern joined the Bern Ouest Pride march. Six sections representing the colors of the rainbow kicked off the march from different parts of the city, coming together at the Bundesplatz. Embassy staff and family members walked along the orange route whose theme was “The Power of ...
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By U.S. Mission Switzerland | 29 August, 2017 | Topics:
Culture, embassy, Human Rights, News
| Tags: Pride Ouest Bern
On August 15, 2017 the U.S. Department of State released the
International Religious Freedom Annual Report 2016 , which provides details on the status of religious freedom in 199 countries and territories. In his remarks on the release of the report, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said: “No one should have to live in fear, worship in secret, or face discrimination ...
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By U.S. Mission Switzerland | 16 August, 2017 | Topics:
Human Rights, News, Reports
| Tags: Liechtenstein, Religious Freedom, Report, Switzerland
U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will unveil the 2017 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report at 10:30 a.m. (Switzerland 16:30 h) on June 27, 2017, at the U.S. Department of State and will be joined by Advisor to the President Ivanka Trump. As required by the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, the TIP Report assesses government ...
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By U.S. Mission Switzerland | 27 June, 2017 | Topics:
Former U.S. Government Leaders, Human Rights, News, Reports
| Tags: Rex Tillerson, Trafficking in Persons Report
President Donald J. Trump Proclaims March 2017 as Women’s History Month We are proud of our Nation’s achievements in promoting women’s full participation in all aspects of American life and are resolute in our commitment to supporting women’s continued advancement in America and around the world. America honors the celebrated women pioneers and leaders in ...
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By U.S. Mission Switzerland | 7 March, 2017 | Topics:
Human Rights, President of the United States
| Tags: Donald J. Trump, Women's History Month
Promoting human rights and democratic governance is a core element of U.S. foreign policy. These values form an essential foundation of stable, secure, and functioning societies. Standing up for human rights and democracy is not just a moral imperative but is in the best interests of the United States in making the world more stable ...
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By U.S. Mission Switzerland | 6 March, 2017 | Topics:
Human Rights, Reports
On August 10 the U.S. State Department released the International
Religious Freedom Report 2015 (PDF 63 KB). At the event unveiling the report, Deputy Secretary Anthony Blinken said, “When a government denies religious liberty, it turns citizens who have done nothing wrong into criminals, igniting tension that breeds contempt, hopelessness, alienation.”
Switzerland Report (PDF 77 KB) and
Liechtenstein Report (PDF 57 KB). Read More»
By U.S. Mission Switzerland | 17 August, 2016 | Topics:
Human Rights, News, Reports
| Tags: Liechtenstein, Religious Freedom, Report, State Department, Switzerland
Thank you Zurich Pride for the invitation to be here today to address this amazing group! In the fall of 1995, I moved in with Eric LeVine. We were 26 years old, unmarried and happy as could be – especially since he was (and is) a great cook and I am a great eater! By ...
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By U.S. Mission Switzerland | 11 June, 2016 | Topics:
Former U.S. Ambassadors, Gender Issues, Human Rights
| Tags: LeVine, LeVine speeches, Zurich Pride
On June 11, Ambassador LeVine, along with her husband Eric, led a delegation of diplomatic representatives in the Zurich Pride march. Before the march kicked off, Ambassador LeVine delivered opening
remarks , addressed this year’s Pride theme – TeamForLove — focusing on the love that binds all families together regardless of the parents’ sexual orientation. She ...
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By U.S. Mission Switzerland | 11 June, 2016 | Topics:
Events, Former U.S. Ambassadors, Human Rights
| Tags: Human Rights, LeVine, LGBT, Zurich, Zurich Pride
