Day: March 30, 2023

We, the governments of Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, Denmark, France, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States, recognize the threat posed by the misuse of commercial spyware and the need for strict domestic and international controls on the proliferation and use of such technology.  Commercial spyware has been misused across the world by authoritarian regimes and in democracies.  Too often, such powerful and invasive tools have been used to target and intimidate perceived opponents and facilitate efforts to curb dissent; limit freedoms of expression, peaceful assembly, or association; enable human rights violations and abuses or…

     Transgender Day of Visibility celebrates the joy, strength, and absolute courage of some of the bravest people I know — people who have too often had to put their jobs, relationships, and lives on the line just to be their true selves.  Today, we show millions of transgender and nonbinary Americans that we see them, they belong, and they should be treated with dignity and respect.  Their courage has given countless others strength, but no one should have to be brave just to be themselves.  Every American deserves that freedom.      Transgender Americans shape our Nation’s soul — proudly serving…

     Today, we honor César E. Chávez by carrying on the cause — “La Causa” — to which he dedicated his life:  championing the dignity and rights of every worker, using nonviolence to fight for justice, and standing with organized labor to build an economy that rewards work and not just wealth.      César E. Chávez came of age picking produce and cotton in the fields of California.  He labored in intense heat, all too familiar with the harms of poisonous pesticides.  And he learned early on about the power of organizing for basic dignity and respect through his work…

The partnership between the United States and Tanzania is rooted in more than six decades of economic, development, health, and security cooperation.  The United States and Tanzania stand together as friends and partners, based on the principle of mutual respect and aspirations for a more peaceful and prosperous future.  The United States firmly supports Tanzania’s democratic reform agenda and shares Tanzania’s democratic values.   The Vice President’s travel to Tanzania affirms the partnership between our two countries and will advance cooperation on commercial engagement, digital connectivity, investing in women and youth, fostering democratic values, food security, marine conservation, and health.  In…

Vice President Harris met with President Samia Suluhu Hassan today in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.  The Vice President thanked President Samia for her participation in the second Summit for Democracy and applauded her leadership in opening political space and undertaking critical democratic reforms.  Vice President Harris applauded President Samia’s announcement that Tanzania intends to rejoin the Open Government Partnership and encouraged her to continue efforts to strengthen civil and political liberties.  The two leaders discussed opportunities to boost U.S. private sector investment and make it easier for American investors to do business in Tanzania.  In addition, the Vice President reaffirmed…

We are deeply concerned by the troubling reports that Evan Gershkovich, an American citizen, has been detained in Russia. Last night, White House and State Department Officials spoke with Mr. Gershkovich’s employer, the Wall Street Journal. The Administration has also been in contact with his family. Furthermore, the State Department has been in direct touch with the Russian government on this matter, including actively working to secure consular access to Mr. Gershkovich. The targeting of American citizens by the Russian government is unacceptable. We condemn the detention of Mr. Gershkovich in the strongest terms. We also condemn the Russian government’s…