New UN rights body kicks off, seeking to avoid past failures

GENEVA – The United Nations’ reformed Human Rights Council began its first-ever session yesterday, with high hopes that it will do more for the victims of abuses and avoid the political horse-trading of the past.

Opening the two-week inaugural session of the 47-nation panel, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said the world was watching – particularly the victims of human rights violations. “I trust that all members of the Council are fully aware of the hopes that have thus been raised, and are determined not to disappoint them,” he said in the presence of ministers and senior representatives from 100 countries.The new Council replaces the former UN Commission on Human Rights which was widely regarded as discredited due to the dominant presence of countries with poor human rights records and pervasive behind-the-scenes political bargaining that helped states duck criticism.”The Council’s work must mark a clean break from the past,” Annan said.”Never allow this Council to become caught up in political point-scoring or petty manoeuvre,” Annan cautioned.”Human rights are an inherently sensitive topic.But that does not mean they are inherently intrusive, or antithetical to state interests.Nor should we accept the widely parroted notion that there is a built-in tension, or a necessary trade-off, between freedom and security.”The Council will seek to avoid a charge levelled at the 53-nation Commission that it was selective in the cases it treated, by carrying out systematic human rights reviews for each of the UN’s 191 member states.Louise Arbour, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said the new Council was “uniquely positioned to redress the shortcomings of the past.””It is empowered to devise the means that will prevent abuses, protect the most vulnerable, and expose perpetrators,” she told the session.The Council, however, is already beset by criticism and lacks the support of the United States.Washington was one of only a handful of UN members to vote against the new body, saying the reforms did not go far enough to correct the deficiencies of the Commission.It also objected to the inclusion of Cuba and other alleged rights abusers such as China and Saudi Arabia.Pressure groups have also spotlighted the membership of countries such as Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia and Tunisia.Arbour noted that when they stood for election, the new Council members had pledged to promote and respect human rights.Member states serve a renewable three-year term.Delegates at the first session are set to work on establishing the council’s working methods.No examination of individual cases is expected, except for a possible discussion of the situation in the Palestinian territories.- Nampa-AFP”I trust that all members of the Council are fully aware of the hopes that have thus been raised, and are determined not to disappoint them,” he said in the presence of ministers and senior representatives from 100 countries.The new Council replaces the former UN Commission on Human Rights which was widely regarded as discredited due to the dominant presence of countries with poor human rights records and pervasive behind-the-scenes political bargaining that helped states duck criticism.”The Council’s work must mark a clean break from the past,” Annan said.”Never allow this Council to become caught up in political point-scoring or petty manoeuvre,” Annan cautioned.”Human rights are an inherently sensitive topic.But that does not mean they are inherently intrusive, or antithetical to state interests.Nor should we accept the widely parroted notion that there is a built-in tension, or a necessary trade-off, between freedom and security.”The Council will seek to avoid a charge levelled at the 53-nation Commission that it was selective in the cases it treated, by carrying out systematic human rights reviews for each of the UN’s 191 member states.Louise Arbour, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said the new Council was “uniquely positioned to redress the shortcomings of the past.””It is empowered to devise the means that will prevent abuses, protect the most vulnerable, and expose perpetrators,” she told the session.The Council, however, is already beset by criticism and lacks the support of the United States.Washington was one of only a handful of UN members to vote against the new body, saying the reforms did not go far enough to correct the deficiencies of the Commission.It also objected to the inclusion of Cuba and other alleged rights abusers such as China and Saudi Arabia.Pressure groups have also spotlighted the membership of countries such as Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia and Tunisia.Arbour noted that when they stood for election, the new Council members had pledged to promote and respect human rights.Member states serve a renewable three-year term.Delegates at the first session are set to work on establishing the council’s working methods.No examination of individual cases is expected, except for a possible discussion of the situation in the Palestinian territories.- Nampa-AFP