Washington: A top American diplomat on human rights will travel to India next week to meet Indian Nobel Laureate Kailash Satyarthi and announce a USD 3.2 million grant for health services to Tibetan refugees.
On a week-long South Asia travel, Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights Sarah Sewall would travel to Nepal and India from November 9, the State Department said, adding that Kathmandu would be her first destination.
While in India, Sewall will meet with senior government officials to discuss advancing common global interests, including improved citizen engagement and governance through shared democratic values.
She will deliver a policy speech, "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 and a 2007 TIP (trafficking in persons) Report Hero for his efforts to end child labour and trafficking.
Satyarthi won the Nobel along with Pakistani teenage rights activist Malala Yousufzai.
Sewall, during her India trip, will also discuss combating extremism with interfaith leaders, the State Department said.
In her capacity as the US Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues, Sewall will travel to Dharamsala to discuss Tibetan refugee issues.
She will announce a new award of USD 3.2 million for a Tibetan Health System Strengthening Project to universalise 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.
While in Nepal, Sewall will meet with the Prime Minister, the Foreign Minister, and other senior government officials to discuss bilateral coordination on key issues, including Nepal's progress toward adopting a Constitution and completing its democratic transition.
She will meet with civil society leaders, including Judge Tek Narayan Kunwar, recognised as a 2014 TIP Report Hero for efforts within the criminal justice system to combat human trafficking.
She will also visit Tibetan refugee settlements in Kathmandu and Pokhara, the State Department said.
