Discredited UN rights body to be abolished on June 16

UNITED NATIONS – A week after the establishment of a new, more effective UN human rights body, the United Nations on Wednesday decided to abolish the current, discredited Human Rights Commission effective June 16.

The UN’s 54-member Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), a body which assists the General Assembly in promoting international economic and social cooperation and development, adopted a resolution to that effect without a vote. The decision was announced by ECOSOC President Ali Hachani of Tunisia.The resolution also directs the Geneva-based Commission “to conclude its work at its 62nd session, which should be short and procedural, and to transmit its final report to the Council.”Monday, the Geneva-based Commission adjourned its final annual meeting for another week.The session had opened one week earlier but was immediately suspended to await ECOSOC’s decision on its demise.Last Wednesday, the 191-nation UN General Assembly overwhelmingly decided to set up the new Human Rights Council.The United States was one of only four countries that voted against the new body, on the grounds that it would be too easy for countries which abuse human rights to be elected to the council.Critics have charged that the Commission has lost its way in recent years, getting bogged down in political grandstanding and backdoor dealing, and doing too little to tackle human rights violations.Human rights groups have slammed the role played in the 53-member Commission by governments that are regularly criticised for alleged abuse, such as China, Cuba, Sudan and Zimbabwe.The new Council will have 47 members, elected by secret ballot by a majority of the General Assembly, instead of being designated by each regional grouping in the United Nations.The Council will meet at least three times a year for 10 weeks, more frequently than the Commission.Members may be suspended if they commit serious human rights violations, under new powers granted to the body to try to sharpen its action against abuse.- Nampa-AFPThe decision was announced by ECOSOC President Ali Hachani of Tunisia.The resolution also directs the Geneva-based Commission “to conclude its work at its 62nd session, which should be short and procedural, and to transmit its final report to the Council.”Monday, the Geneva-based Commission adjourned its final annual meeting for another week.The session had opened one week earlier but was immediately suspended to await ECOSOC’s decision on its demise.Last Wednesday, the 191-nation UN General Assembly overwhelmingly decided to set up the new Human Rights Council.The United States was one of only four countries that voted against the new body, on the grounds that it would be too easy for countries which abuse human rights to be elected to the council.Critics have charged that the Commission has lost its way in recent years, getting bogged down in political grandstanding and backdoor dealing, and doing too little to tackle human rights violations.Human rights groups have slammed the role played in the 53-member Commission by governments that are regularly criticised for alleged abuse, such as China, Cuba, Sudan and Zimbabwe.The new Council will have 47 members, elected by secret ballot by a majority of the General Assembly, instead of being designated by each regional grouping in the United Nations.The Council will meet at least three times a year for 10 weeks, more frequently than the Commission.Members may be suspended if they commit serious human rights violations, under new powers granted to the body to try to sharpen its action against abuse.- Nampa-AFP