Emily Thornberry Quotes

Countries often prioritise economic interests over human rights - hence all the kowtowing to China.

There was not an ambassador in the world who was not my personal human rights representative.

There may be circumstances in which damaging our relationship with countries over human rights is counterproductive and the benefits to human rights may be very small because of our limited capacity to enforce our stance. That was the dilemma the United States faced after Tiananmen Square.

For all the tough talk about China during the presidential debates, Romney and Obama evaded any mention of China's suspect human rights record, corruption, and rule of law. By not tackling these controversial topics, the candidates are protecting a strategic partnership with China at the expense of essential human values and beliefs.

It seems clear to me that the Obama Administration has no human rights policy. That is, while in some inchoate sense they would like respect for human rights to grow around the world, as all Americans would, they have no actual policy to achieve that goal - and they subordinate it to all their other policy goals.

The U.S. government engages with many countries around the world in official dialogues on human rights.

The subject of human rights in China confounds absolute pronouncements.

For many years, Myanmar's leadership was largely shut out from the world of international diplomacy.

I think clearly the United States, as well as other western nations, should stand by their commitments to human rights and democracy and should try to influence other countries to move in that direction.

I would say issues around human rights - either you're going to take a hard stance, or you're not. You can't borrow money from China the way the U.S. has done and then turn around and say, 'But you've got a human-rights problem.' You can't be half pregnant.

It's up to any government to decide how to react to the denial of basic human rights anywhere in the world, including Egypt.

Any Human Rights Council reform that allows countries that sponsor terrorism to remain as members, such as Cuba, is not real reform. And in the past, countries such as Libya, Iran and Syria have participated on this council.

The bottom line is these techniques have hurt our image around the world, the damage they have done to our interests far outweighed whatever benefit they gave us and they are not essential to our national security.

So I've gone in and out of the U.N., working on counter-terrorism, on U.N. reform, on peacekeeping, peace and security issues, many things through the years but always with a strong interest in humanitarian issues, and human rights issues as well.

And occasionally some of the nations that will be partners in this would probably not be, in terms of passing a pure human rights check, have everything going for them that you would like to have.

Today, we have two Vietnams, side by side, North and South, exchanging and working. We may not agree with all that North Vietnam is doing, but they are living in peace. I would look for a better human rights record for North Vietnam, but they are living side by side.

It's not easy being the world's policeman. No one thanks you for it.

Now the British are coming. I think Cameron should ask the Chinese government not to make people 'disappear' or to jail them merely because they have different opinions.

... authoritarian states sign on [to human rights treaties] solely for propaganda purposes and then find it fairly easy to flout the rules.

We won’t be very successful with the Chinese leadership [on human rights issues] if we’re in their face all the time.

Those who try to give us advice on matters of human rights do nothing but provoke an ironic smile among us. We will not permit anyone to interfere in our affairs.

Preserving peace does not always coincide with the promotion of human rights.

The lesson of history that all human rights are indivisible and that the failure to adhere to this principle jeopardizes the rights of all.

There is a terrible price the U. S. Government must pay when it associates itself … intimately with a repressive regime.

Having strong human rights laws is important, but they must be effectively enforced.