New Delhi : US Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights Sarah Sewall will visit India later this week and meet senior government officials to discuss improved governance. She will also travel to Dharamsala to discuss Tibetan refugee issues.
A US embassy release here Monday said Sewall will meet senior Indian government officials to discuss “advancing common global interests, including improved citizen engagement and governance, through shared democratic values”.
She will deliver a policy speech on “Human Rights, Challenges and Opportunities in the 21st Century” at the American Center in New Delhi.
She will meet Kailash Satyarthi, the co-winner of the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize, for his efforts to end child labour and trafficking.
The release said Sewall, who is the US Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues, will travel to Dharamsala in Himachal Pradesh to discuss Tibetan refugee issues.
“She will announce a new award of $3.2 million for a Tibetan health system strengthening project to universalize access to quality health services, and especially to end preventable child and maternal deaths and create tuberculosis-free communities, for Tibetan refugee communities in India and Nepal,” the release said.
The Tibetan government-in-exile is headquartered in Dharamsala.
Officials said Sewall is first visiting Nepal during her eight-day visit to the region that began Sunday. In Nepal, she will discuss bilateral coordination on key issues, including Nepal’s progress toward adopting a constitution and completing its democratic transition.
The release said Sewall will meet civil society leaders, including Judge Tek Narayan Kunwar, recognized as a 2014 TIP (Trafficking in Persons) Report Hero for efforts within the criminal justice system to combat human trafficking.
She will also visit Tibetan refugee settlements in Kathmandu and Pokhara.