The United States recently articulated its stance on two resolutions at a plenary meeting, focusing on the cultural symbol Wiphala and countering hate speech. The U.S. delegation expressed support for Indigenous Peoples' rights, acknowledging the significance of cultural heritage and traditional knowledge.
Regarding resolution A/79/L.95 on the Wiphala, the U.S. highlighted its commitment to Indigenous Peoples by working to reconnect Native American Tribes and the Native Hawaiian Community with their cultural items. Despite this commitment, the U.S. voted against the resolution due to concerns about endorsing a symbol whose meaning is still debated among communities it represents.
"We look forward to future resolutions that represent the wide range of Indigenous Peoples, their cultures, traditions, practices, and knowledge systems," stated the U.S. representative.
On resolution A/79/L.98 concerning hate speech, the United States reiterated its condemnation of hate acts while emphasizing religious freedom as a core American value since signing the International Religious Freedom Act 27 years ago. Although voting no on this resolution, the U.S. acknowledged Morocco's leadership in addressing hate speech but raised concerns over broad interpretations of "hate speech" potentially infringing on freedom of expression.
"The United States is concerned that this broad interpretation could be used by governments to silence dissent and crack down on political opponents or citizens who simply have opposing views or politics," noted the U.S., stressing that efforts against hate speech must respect human rights.