Bureau of International Organization Affairs
Sign up for International Organization Affairs email updates.
Dr. Esther Brimmer was nominated by President Obama to the position of Assistant Secretary of State for International Organizations on March 11, 2009, and was confirmed to that position by the United States Senate on April 2, 2009. In her role as Assistant Secretary, Dr. Brimmer leads the Bureau of International Organization Affairs, which strives to advance U.S. interests through international organizations in areas including human rights, peacekeeping, food security, humanitarian relief, and climate change. -Full Text
Remarks to the World Affairs Council of Northern California
Assistant Secretary Brimmer (Oct. 29): “We will work with the UN to make it more effective, more efficient, more agile, and fully intent upon its founding ideals. I am firm in my belief that this is an approach that will lead the United States to a more secure future.” -Full Text 
Assistant Secretary for International Organization Affairs Esther Brimmer discusses the benefits of United States membership in UN multilateral organizations from UN headquarters in New York. -DipNote Blog U.S. Engagement With Multilateral Organizations
Assistant Secretary Brimmer (Oct.22): "I would like to take a few minutes and talk about the important ways the President’s era of engagement is changing the multilateral landscape. I’ll spend a few minutes talking about that changed landscape. We note at the outset that it’s rooted in President Obama’s demonstrated commitment to engagement, dialogue, and shared responsibility a commitment that has been evident since even well before the election, but vividly highlighted in his speeches at Cairo and at the UN General Assembly." -Full Text Presidential Proclamation: UN Day, 2009
The United Nations was created 64 years ago by men and women from every corner of the world. These architects of international cooperation acted out of an idealism rooted in the hard-earned lessons of war. They had the wisdom to understand that nations could do far more to advance their interests by acting together than by letting themselves be split apart. The original 51 member nations were united around a commitment to peace, humanity, and justice. -More Remarks on the Sudan Strategy With Secretary Clinton and Sudan Special Envoy Gration
Ambassador Rice (Oct. 19): "President Obama has repeatedly made clear that protecting civilians and forging lasting peace in Sudan is a top priority for his Administration. The President, like Secretary Clinton, has for many years been dedicated to ending the suffering and the genocide in Sudan. There was never any question that this deep commitment to improving the lives of the people of Sudan would be backed by a thoughtful and results-oriented strategy." -Full Text -View Video Briefing by Assistant Secretary Brimmer
The Administration's UNGA Goals and Priorities
Assistant Secretary Brimmer (Sept. 21): "These priorities, in a sense, cover those areas that are the globe’s most challenging issues, things that the President and the Secretary will highlight here and at the UN working on multi-partner collaboration, and include nonproliferation and disarmament, climate change and environment, human rights and democracy, peacekeeping and conflict management, sustainable development, and combating gender violence." -Full Text -More on UNGA
Special Briefing on Upcoming UN General Assembly
Ambassador Rice (Sept. 18): "The United States has dramatically changed the tone, the substance, and the practice of our diplomacy at the United Nations and our approach to the U.N. as an institution, as well as our approach to multilateralism in general. We start from the premise that this change is necessary because we face an extraordinary array of global challenges -- things like poorly guarded nuclear facilities, terrorism by al Qaeda and its affiliates, nuclear challenges from Iran and North Korea, genocide and mass atrocities, cyber attacks on our digital infrastructure, pandemic disease, climate change, international criminal networks and organizations." -Full Text
United States Assumes Seat on the UN Human Rights Council
United States Mission to the United Nations in Geneva, September 14, 2009: Today the United States begins its three-year term on the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. Assistant Secretary for International Organization Affairs Esther Brimmer is representing the United States at the Council during the opening session. In assuming a seat on the Council, the United States looks forward to employing its voice in the promotion and protection of fundamental human rights and liberties. We will also encourage members of the Council to work to fulfill the vision outlined upon its formation: that it be the pre-eminent UN forum for the credible, balanced and effective advancement of human rights. -Remarks by Assistant Secretary Brimmer
Overview on Upcoming UN Security Council Activities
Ambassador Rice (Sept. 2): "The first meeting and session I'd like to highlight is the one you're well aware of: On September 24th, the President of the United States will chair a summit-level meeting of the Council on nuclear nonproliferation and nuclear disarmament. This will be only the fifth occasion in United Nations history for a meeting at the summit level, and the first time in history that an American President will chair the United Nations Security Council."
-Full Text -View Video
Other U.S. Missions
U.S. Multilateral Engagement: Benefits to American Citizens (10/23)
Remarks at the Israeli Presidential Conference 2009
UN Ambassador Rice (Oct. 21): "I’m especially honored to be here at the invitation of President Shimon Peres - an inspiration and a hero to us all. On behalf of President Obama, I want to extend America’s deepest thanks for everything you do to move Israel - and the world - toward lasting security and peace." -Full Text
Global Food Security: U.S. Commitment to Action
Secretary Clinton (Sept. 26): "Yesterday, at the Clinton Global Initiative, I discussed the principles that the Secretary General referred to: how we’re going to fight hunger together and begin to alleviate and decrease poverty through sustainable agricultural development. We want to make sure that enough food is available, and that people have the resources to purchase it." -Full Text -Learn More
Response to the Report of the United Nations Fact-Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict
Statement by Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Michael Posner before the 12th Session of the Human Rights Council. -Full Text
Overview of UN General Assembly Agenda
Secretary Clinton (Sept. 18): "As President Obama leads our U.S. delegation at this year’s General Assembly, I hope we can demonstrate that the United Nations does not have to be just a diplomatic talk shop on First Avenue. At its best, it can be an institution that brings the world’s nations together to solve global problems through adherence to rules and principles set forth in the UN charter. And it is the responsibility of the 192 member nations during the General Assembly and beyond to capitalize on the opportunity for global cooperation and progress that the United Nations affords to each of us." -Full Text
Secretary Clinton Travels to New York for the United Nations 64th General Assembly
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton attends the United Nations 64th General Assembly. While in New York, Secretary Clinton will attend various events and conduct a number of bilateral and multilateral meetings with her counterparts. -Full Text
The Office of Electronic Information, Bureau of Public Affairs, manages this site as a portal for information from the U.S. State Department. External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein.