Baylor Law Grad Urges U.N. To Counter Terrorism While Protecting Human Rights

Susan Moore's full statement to the United Nations General Assembly can be found below.

NEW YORK - U.S. Public Delegate and 1990 Baylor law graduate Susan Moore spoke on behalf of the United States delegation to the United Nations General Assembly on Nov. 24, calling on member states to take steps to counter terrorism while protecting human rights.
A native of Arlington, Texas, Moore is a former member of the Baylor Law School Alumni Advisory Board. She served as Chief of Staff and General Counsel to the late Texas Lt. Gov. Bob Bullock, also a Baylor law graduate, and is currently a public affairs and government consultant in Austin. As Public Delegate, she is representing the United States during the current session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Moore told the General Assembly that "deeds matter more than words." She urged member states to look at what they have done to contribute to the fight against terrorism and see where they can do more. She encouraged states that have not done so to join international terrorism agreements, enhance their domestic counter-terrorism infrastructure and, as necessary, seek assistance from available United Nations resources. In a previous statement to the General Assembly, she urged member states to strengthen border controls and improve the security of travel documents to stop the movement of terrorists across national borders.
While countering terrorism, Moore affirmed that the United States remains committed to the promotion and protection of human rights. Moore cited the United States' prompt, forceful and continuing actions in investigating and bringing to justice those persons in the United States government, including the military, who violate United States law while combating terrorism.
"I support President Bush's statement that we must 'fight radicalism and terror with justice and dignity, to achieve a true peace, founded on human freedom.'"
Public Delegate Moore has spoken on behalf of the United States delegation on issues ranging from the situation between the countries of Azerbaijan and Armenia to the International Criminal Tribunals for Rwanda and Yugoslavia. She has also spoken on behalf of the United States delegation on land mines and the International Year of Sport and Physical Education.
Moore is an advocate for the prevention of domestic violence. She has received several honors for her professional and personal achievements, including selection as a Fellow to the Center for Public Policy Dispute Resolution Center at the University of Texas at Austin and an Inductee to Leadership Texas, sponsored by the Foundation for Women's Resources. In addition to membership of the Baylor Law School Alumni Association Board from 1999 to 2002, she has served on the alumni board at the University of Texas at Arlington.

Statement by Susan Moore, Senior Advisor, on Agenda Item 105: Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms while Countering Terrorism, in the Third Committee, November 24, 2004

Madam Chairperson,

The United States is pleased to join consensus in support of the Agenda item "Protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism."

The United States sets the highest priority on the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms. As President Bush has stated, "Americans stand united with those who love democracy, justice, and individual liberty. We are committed to upholding these principles, embodied in our Constitution's Bill of Rights, that have safeguarded us throughout our history and that continue to provide the foundation of our strength and prosperity. Respect for human dignity and individual freedoms reaffirms a core tenet of civilized people everywhere."

While countering terrorism, the United States remains committed to the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms. Our commitment has been most recently demonstrated by our prompt, forceful and continuing actions in investigating and bringing to justice those persons in our government, including the military, who violate the laws of our government while combating terrorism.

The United States believes that we all must fight radicalism and terror with justice and dignity, to achieve a true peace, founded on human freedom. As President Bush has stated, "defending our ideals is vital, but it is not enough. Our broader mission as U.N. members is to apply these ideals to the great issues of our time. Our wider goal is to promote hope and progress as the alternatives to hatred and violence. Our great purpose is to build a better world beyond the war on terror."

The United States again calls upon all States and organizations to look at what they have done to contribute to the fight against terrorism and see where they can do more. Deeds matter more than words. We call on states who have not done so to join relevant international terrorism instruments, to enhance their counter-terrorism infrastructure and to seek, as needed, assistance from the U.N. Terrorism Prevention Branch. This global fight can only be won with the unrelenting collaborative efforts of all Member States of this Organization and of all other international bodies committed to fighting this evil.

Thank you.