Delivered by Ambassador Daniel Baer, U.S. Permanent Representative to the OSCE | OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting | Warsaw, September 25, 2014
We exercise our right of reply to respond to the Russian Federation. First, as our practice has demonstrated over the years, the United States uses this forum as an opportunity to discuss areas of progress and of continuing challenges equally. This applies to all countries sitting around this table, including our own. In each of our statements we are guided by two reference points: OSCE commitments and facts.
On the issue of child trafficking and U.S. adoptions from Russia, the U.S. has laws specifically designed to protect children from abusive acts, which apply regardless of the nationality of the victim. Any criminal acts should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law and the affected children should be removed from situations involving abuse.
Finally, with regard to some other statements we have heard here, we reject any attempt to link a specific religion, ethnic group or culture to the scourge of human trafficking, which unfortunately occurs in countries throughout the world.
