| | Bureau of International Organization Affairs (IO)
![Assistant Secretary Holmes at UN Organization Mission, Democratic Repubublic of the Congo [State Department photo]](https://web.archive.org/all/20041201092218im_/http://www.state.gov/cms_images/holmes_peacekeeping_150.jpg) Assistant Secretary Holmes Reviews Peacekeeping Operations: Assistant Secretary Kim R. Holmes visited the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo October 24-28, 2004. [more]
![Copy of UN declaration [AP photo]](https://web.archive.org/all/20041201092218im_/http://www.state.gov/cms_images/declaration_150.jpg)
UN Reform: Assistant Secretary Holmes writes that the UN is a unique multilateral forum and advocates thoughtful reform of the organization as a means to strengthen the UN's ability to serve its crucial goals. [more]
 U.S. Protests Failure of Motion on Darfur. The UN General Assembly's Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural) blocked action November 24 on a resolution condemning the human rights atrocities in Sudan. The U.S. issued the following statement.
![President Bush addresses the 58th UN General Assembly at UN headquarters [AP photo]](https://web.archive.org/all/20041201092218im_/http://www.state.gov/cms_images/bush_un_us_140-1.jpg) U.S. Priorities at the 2004 UN General Assembly: The U.S. will address five priority themes when the 59th UNGA opens in New York on September 14: Promoting Democracy in the UN, Advancing Economic Freedom, Furthering the Roadmap to Middle East Peace, Ending Trafficking in Persons, Banning Human Cloning.
![Afghan women vote to elect female delegates to Loya Jirgah ,Grand Assembly, in Kabul, Afghanistan. [AP photo]](https://web.archive.org/all/20041201092218im_/http://www.state.gov/cms_images/afghanistan_women_vote_140.jpg) Advancing the Rights of Women: At home and abroad, the U.S. has made significant progress in the decade since the Beijing Conference on Women. [more]
UN General Assembly Adopts U.S.-Sponsored Resolution on Women and Political Participation [more] | | | Highlights | Who We Are
IO develops and implements U.S. policy in the UN and other international organizations and works to advance U.S. interests through multilateral diplomacy.
Our Goals
Through the UN and other international organizations, IO promotes:
- Peace: Effective UN peacekeeping operations and preventive diplomacy efforts in areas of potential conflict;
- Security: Nonproliferation, nuclear safeguards, arms control and disarmament, and efforts to combat terrorism, organized crime, and narcotics trafficking;
- Democracy: Support for democratic principles and the rule of law in government and politics;
- Human Rights: Support for human rights, including advancement of women's rights.
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary James W. Swigert testified on the Challenges of Peacekeeping in Africa before the House International Relations Committee (10/8)
Assistant Secretary Holmes spoke before the World Affairs Council of Northern California on Partnerships for Peace, Human Rights, and Development [9/30]
Assistant Secretary Holmes gave welcoming remarks at a Reception for the Promotion and Democracy at the 59th Session of the UN General Assembly [9/27]
Deputy Assistant Secretary Mark P. Lagon spoke at the Hudson Institute on the U.S. Agenda at the UN General Assembly [9/13]
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary James W. Swigert testified on the 9/11 Commission Report Recommendations before the House International Relations Committee [8/19] |
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![June 1987 photo of the United Nations Secretariat building in New York City [AP photo]](https://web.archive.org/all/20041201092218im_/http://www.state.gov/cms_images/un_headquarters_140.jpg)
![UN Security Council meeting at the UN [AP photo]](https://web.archive.org/all/20041201092218im_/http://www.state.gov/cms_images/un_horn_of_africa_war_150.jpg)