Discredited UN human rights body voted out
The UN General Assembly voted overwhelmingly yesterday to replace its discredited human rights body with a new Human Rights Council, ignoring US objections that not enough was done to prevent abusive countries from becoming members.
Ambassadors from most of the 191 UN member states burst into sustained applause when General Assembly President Jan Eliasson, announced the results of the vote: 170 in favour, four against, and three abstentions.
Austria’s UN Ambassador Gerhard Pfanzelter, who spoke on behalf of the European Union which supported the council, recalled Annan’s words: “We will not enjoy development without security, we will not enjoy security without development and we will not enjoy either without respect for human rights.”
A year ago, Secretary-General Kofi Annan proposed replacing the widely criticised and highly politicised UN Human Rights Commission, which has allowed some of the worst-offending countries to use their membership to protect one another from condemnation.
The Human Rights Council approved yesterday is a watered-down version of Annan’s vision, but the secretary-general still called it “historic,” and human rights groups welcomed its creation.
“This gives the United Nations the chance – a much-needed chance – to make a new beginning in its work for human rights around the world,” Annan said in a statement.
While no country will be satisfied with everything in the resolution establishing the new council, he said it provides “a solid foundation on which all who are truly committed to the cause of human rights must now build.”
The resolution was drafted by Eliasson after months of contentious negotiations.
Before the vote, he told the assembly it represents “a unique opportunity for a fresh start for human rights” and would strengthen the UN’s machinery and toughen criteria for membership by requiring members to uphold the highest human rights standards.
The new council will also meet more frequently and periodically review the rights records of all 191 UN member states for the first time. The General Assembly can suspend a member for “gross” human rights violations by a two-thirds majority of those voting – and a special session can be called if at least one-third of the council’s 47 members approve, a provision aimed at responding quickly to human rights emergencies.
Under the resolution, the 53-member commission will be abolished on June 16 and the new 47-member Human Rights Council will hold its first meeting on June 19. Like the commission, the council will be based in Geneva.
Yvonne Terlingen, UN representative for Amnesty International, said the next task “is for all states to join forces and elect council members who are solidly committed to upholding human rights.”
“We call on all countries to pledge not to vote for governments that systematically repress their people,” said Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch. “States like Nepal, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, or Zimbabwe, which are current members of the old commission, cannot be allowed on the new council.”
One of the surprises was Cuba’s “yes” vote, despite its claim that the council, like the commission, unjustly targeted developing countries and Joining the US in opposing the resolution were Israel, the Marshall Islands and Palau. Venezuela, Belarus and Iran abstained.
World leaders at last September’s UN summit decided to create the council as part of a major overhaul of the United Nations, which was created after World War II and must now tackle 21st century challenges ranging from terrorism to weapons proliferation.
