The Logic of the U.N. Human Rights Council

http://www.unwatch.org UN Watch Oral Statement, Delivered by Hillel Neuer, 8 June 2009
Agenda Item 4: Human rights situations that require the councils attention
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Thank you, Mr. President.

In addressing human rights, the world stands at a crossroads. President Obamas decision for the U.S. to join this council next week marks a new opportunity. Will we continue on the same path as before—a path that has failed the victims—or choose a new way?

We know the old way, the prevailing way. I have previously discussed the Councils inaction in face of crimes such as Saudi Arabias subjugation of women; Chinas arrest of pro-democracy bloggers; and the racist discrimination of President Ahmadinejads government, against Sunni Arabs, Azeris, Bahais, Baluchis, and Kurds, and his persecution of gays, even as he denies they exist.

The root problem is the logic that prevails today among the dominant majority. We just heard it at recent special session on Sri Lanka. We ask:

Is it logical to ignore Sri Lankas 20,000 dead civilians, and 300,000 now languishing in camps, until—as its distinguished representative just told this council—we discuss the colonial crimes of France and the UK from decades ago?

Is it logical, as Egypt and others said at the 22 May consultation, that Sri Lankas situation should be ignored until we discuss Afghanistan and Iraq? What stops these countries from convening special session on these situations?

Was it logical for Cuba, a police state, to lead the council in killing the draft resolution that would have spoken for the victims?

Was it logical for a body dedicated to protecting human rights—which means scrutinizing and limiting government encroachment of individual freedoms—to justify inaction on the basis of the long-discredited doctrine of non-interference in internal affairs, a doctrine that no longer applies in international law, in the era of the responsibility to protect?

Mr. President,

This old, prevailing logic says that human rights is a political weapon. But human rights is the birthright of mankind. Let us move to a new logic, a new way — and let human rights start a new day.

Thank you, Mr. President.

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