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US Elected to UN Rights Council
The United States has been elected to a seat on the UN Human Rights Council for the first time.
The council had been shunned by the Bush administration, which accused it of admitting states with poor rights records and having an anti-Israel bias.
But the Obama administration has reversed its predecessor's policy of boycotting the Geneva-based body.
The US was one of 18 countries elected to the 47-seat council in a vote by the UN General Assembly.
It received 167 votes, far more than the 97 votes needed in the secret ballot.
The Obama administration announced in March that it would be seeking to join the Human Rights Council as part of a broader strategy to create a "new era of engagement" with the rest of the world.
Previously, the US government had accused the council of being hijacked by countries with a strong bias against Israel, and had criticised it for its failure to condemn perceived human rights violations by the Sudanese government in Darfur.
A number of countries whose human rights records have been criticised by the US - including Cuba, Saudi Arabia, China and Russia - are also represented on the council.
The council was set up in 2006 to replace the UN Commission on Human Rights, which had also been dogged by accusations of anti-Israeli prejudice.
46 Comments so far
Show AllWith a rogues' gallery like that on the council, I guess the basic rule about human rights will be that "The ones with the guns have the rights."
The USA and Israel: shining beacons of human rights. Excellent examples for the rest of the world to follow. These countries have the moral authority to dictate what the rest of the world does, using violence if necessary.
Sorry for this slightly off-the-wall comment, but this development reminds me of an episode in a truly excellent book called, "The Way It Spozed to Be" by James Herndon. Written c. 1960, it's the author's account of his first year teaching in an inner-city elementary school in California. (He is fired for incompetence, although he made a comeback and became a widely-respected teacher and author.)
Since I doubt that anyone will rush to dig it up, I'll cut to the chase: one of the students in Herndon's English class is Leon LaTore, who makes an appearance now and then, but spends most of the school year in and out of "Juvi", or wandering around the school making trouble-- e.g., setting fires in trash cans, selling kids drinks of wine for a nickel, etc. The kid is bad news, and no scholar.
On the last day of school there's a big assembly in which awards are handed out. The principal saves the best for last, presenting a Spelling Award to... Leon LaTore! Herndon knows that the only way to get such award is to take a spelling test given in English class-- and LaTore was in Herndon's English class. Or not. So Herndon knows that Leon never took the test; the award is totally bogus, and the principal apparently made some kind of face-saving deal with Public Enemy Number One.
Needless to say, LaTore strolls up on stage and collects his prize like he was born to receive it.
Sorry if that was a long way to go, but "US Elected to UN Rights Council" is the global equivalent of "Leon LaTore Gets Spelling Award".
· Yr Obd't Servant
Where are they now?
Leon LaTore has been appointed as our representative to the UN...
Well put. Until We the People find some way to stop the MIC and the ongoing administrations from reaping endless profits by raping the environment and by killing and exploiting the people of poorer lands, we belong in the "hall of Shame" not the Hall of Fame.
It appears to me that the goats have been loosed to guard the cabbage patch and the wolves are to shepherd the sheeple.
Well, you've got to start some place. What we need to do is to dissolve the NSC, which is the avenue for veto power quashing, making an international 'forum' with 'equal voices' impossible. I am convinced much violence will begin to abate when EVERY nation is given a voice (and real consideration). It is inevitable if we are to survive now on this globe. There has to be more tolerance for all types of nations. The Latin-American countries have been forming an alliance because of this, and strong defensive alliances/power blocks will continue to develop until the U.N. becomes the body it was meant to be. Aggression can be dealt with MUCH better if ALL other nations collectively restrain illegal invasions (of course the U.S. and Israel/AIPAC have already violated that principle lately - in fact Israel has more UN violations than Iraq the last I heard). The UN may never be the ideal in the near future, but it has to move that direction. The U.S. is staggering from it's second 'stroke' (the first one was WW II/industrialization); is suffering from the 'oligarchic corporacraticitis' virus; and an 'MIC basis foreiginterventionitis' is still raging. In addition, we need to treat 'militarensis bloatitis' and go through a serious treatment of self reflection if we hope to recover anytime soon. Also, it wouldn't hurt to learn some natural holistic medicine to reduce all the unneccesary toxic pharmaceutical-induced behavior, sickness and out-of-control medical costs here while we're at it.
Is sick joke, n'est pas?
So we can re-write the universal declaration of Human Rights, right?
You have the right to be tortured for something you may or may not have done.
You have the right to voice opinions approved of by the government and big media corporations.
The bigger the Corporation, the more rights you have.
You have the right to worship any faith that keeps your women in line, and yourself unquestioning.
Some humans are born with more rights than you, don't complain that's the way of the world.
People who break the drug laws will be enslaved.
Every poor person is subject to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.
Everyone is entitled to a kangaroo trial.
As the Romans did, everyone charged with a crime is guilty until proven innocent.
You have the freedom to move, if you can afford the gas.
Everyone has the right to own property, unless the goverment can make more money by siezing it and granting it to a corporation. You might be compensated, at half the value of the land...
You have the right to be ignored should you protest peacefully in 'free speach zones' but you could be arrested for going to or from those zones at the whim of the politican/police.
This was also my first impression - that the US wanted to strong-arm the rest of the world into rewriting the laws so torture and other gross violations of human rights would then be 'legal' - but they can't make them 'moral' - there is no power strong enough to cure morality.
There are many Human right issues on this planet. Yet, before 2008, the only country which was singled out by name by this UN Human Rights Council was only Israel.
All other 191 UN members, some of which committed human right violations far worse than Israel (by a factor of 1000) - were not worthy of being condemned by this council.
As of January 24, 2008, Israel had been condemned 15 times in less than two years.
On 20 June 2007, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon issued a statement that read: "The Secretary-General is disappointed at the council's decision to single out only one specific regional item given the range and scope of allegations of human rights violations throughout the world.
Anti-Israel bias was a fact.
I hope UN Rights Council will start protect human right universally. And treat all humans right victims equally.
Am I to understand, sanchothebailiff, that according to you:
Israel : 15
The rest of the world: 0
(As per UN Human Right Council country specific condemnations before 2008) is a fair and unbiased representation of Human Right violations on this planet?
And you call my comments “smear”?
True. But have you thought to ask why?
Member states are testing the waters to see if US allies are immune from human rights violations. Have you forgotten that the context of this situation is a 60 year old pro-Israel bias?
Ask yourself how many times we have vetoed a near unanimous condemnation of Israel by the UN.
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/UN/usvetoes.html
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines03/0311-10.htm
That's why they want to proceed with this issue. They want to see if our attack dog is immune to prosecution/condemnation. Because if Israel is off limits, then they know their purpose is to merely condemn enemies of the US like N. Korea, Cuba, Venezuela etc... And their role as a fair and unbiased (did you mean "balanced"?) representation of Human Right violations on this planet is a joke.
Look at it this way, if you were given a position in a police department created by the mafia, wouldn't the first question you would have be "do we arrest mobsters or just their competition"?
You got to admit, Letto, you are simply parroting the exact same line Bush spokesman Sean McCormack did.
"Spokesman Sean McCormack again criticized the Commission for focusing on Israel in light of many more pressing human rights issues around the world, such as Sudan or Myanmar, and went on to criticize the termination of Special Rapporteurs to Cuba and Belarus, as well as procedural irregularities that prevented member-states from voting on the issues; a similar critique was issued by the Canadian representative."
However, contrary to both of your assertions, context actually matters quite a bit and the singling out of Israel is not random or without a purpose.
hopedup, indeed I asked myself that question.
Why would an organization, who was supposed to represent human right, all human right, globally, ignored 191 countries. Some of whom are the worse human right abusers on this planet. (Sometimes by a factor of 1000 when compared to Israel)
Why the UN Human Right Council would chose to single out, again and again, only Israel?
Surprisingly, the words that pops into my mind are: “Double Standards” and "anti-semitism" instead of “Context”
Weird, isn’t it?
Because its hypocrisy to allow the powerful off scott free.
Let me get this straight, Letto, you are now accusing nearly the entire UN General Assembly of antisemitism?
Are you forgetting how many times Israel has been condemned (democratically) by the member states of the UN?
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/UN/gatoc.html
You actually claiming that the votes of countries like Antigua or Cambodia are motivated by antisemitism? That the entire world hates Jews - even where they have no historical connection or sizable local population?
It really isn't surprising that you want to obscure the context and history of this situation. It's like Zionists have developed a form of Tourette's syndrome where they have to shout antisemitism whether or not it makes any sense.
The article and the discussion here is about the UN Human Rights Council and not about the UN General Assembly.
Suppose in a town of 192 people, 191 white and one black, the Sheriff arrest the black guy 15 times for jaywalking, while many white people jaywalk, steal, and rape on a massive scale in front of the Sheriff’s eyes, yet he let all the white guys walk free.
Wouldn’t you say that this Sherriff is racist? Or will you bring other reasoning such as ‘context’ to justify the Sherriff’s behavior?
Well... that's exactly how the UN Human Rights Council did between 2006 - 2007.
Now don't get me wrong. - I'm not saying that the black guy is innocent. Nevertheless, the word ‘racists’ pops into my mind when describing this Sherriff.
Your analogy is missing a few details...
The whole town knows that the "black" guy broke into a neighbor's home, forced the inhabitants to live in a fenced cage in the back yard, after killing the father, denies them food and medicine, and tasers their children for resisting and protesting their incarceration...
The "black" guy shoots their dog and rapes their daughters while forcing their family to watch...
Also, his uncle is the police commissioner... And a jaywalking ticket is the only means that the sherriff has to show his contempt for these heinious ongoing crimes, since the Uncle will protect his nephew from any criminal investigation... In fact, his uncle gives him millions of dollars to test out new police weaponry on the prisoners, and tells the sherriff and everyone else in town that the black guy is a victim here because his grandfather was lynched by the white folk's grandfathers...
"The article and the discussion here is about the UN Human Rights Council and not about the UN General Assembly."
Are you for real? You can't simply ignore the relevant facts and the context which you find so uncomfortable. If you are claiming that that the UN Human Rights Council condemns Israel purely because of antisemitism and not because of their illegal actions or relationship to the US, then the same holds true for the much more numerous General Assembly votes.
Why is it you want to ignore them? Because it is CLEARLY absurd to accuse the ENTIRE world of antisemitism. If you didn't ignore them, you would be forced to admit that there are other reasons why Israel is being focused on. After all, I don't know a lot of Guatemalan antisemites, do you?
Letto, you are just playing games and you're not playing very well.
Perhaps because Israel, since 1948 has been commiting apartheid and genocide against the Palestinian people? Do you think that may factor in on the citations? Naaaaaaw...no way! It's all racism and bias and anti-Semitism and people forgetting about the Holocust which, as we know, is all the Palestinians' fault - no doubt!
Perhaps.
Or perhaps you didn't do your research.
Perhaps the countries that single out Israel and only Israel are more racist, more apartheid and more genocidal than Israel?
Perhaps that’s why Russia, who killed 50,000 people by shelling Grozny, Libya, who expelled its the Jews, Iran, who executed 40,000 people (Some because they were gays or practiced the ‘wrong’ religion), and China who occupy Tibet, while killing 1,000,000 Tibetans, chose to single out only the Jewish state while turning the blind eye upon themselves.
Nice try, didn't work. Zionists have lost all credibility - I don't even bother researching their claims anymore. I finally figured that out.
Research?!? Oh, Letto...
Are you forgetting how many times Israel has been condemned (democratically) by the member states of the UN?
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/UN/gatoc.html
Israel has been singled out by (almost)the entire UN General Assembly not once, but many times.
When you say,
"Perhaps the countries that single out Israel and only Israel are more racist, more apartheid and more genocidal than Israel?"
There is no way to get around the fact that you are accusing the whole world of antisemitism.
Do I even need to point out how absurd that is? Apparently so.
As for your claim that I didn't research, I would advise you to reread the article.
You may find out it was about UN Human Rights Council and not about the UN General Assembly.
You're right Letto,
Israel is a shining beacon of democracy and human rights, as is the USA. Those other countries are biased and just plain anti-American and anti-Semitic. Israel has done nothing wrong and the USA is acting on behalf of freedom and democracy against those bad Muslim terrsts. With that said, the USA/Israel special partnership needs to figure out how to take care of the Palestinians, Hizbullah, and Iran once and for all.
I never claimed otherwise, now did I?
But your insistence that we completely ignore the votes of the General Assembly are really quite funny in a pathetic sort of way.
Bravo to the UN. Israel is either the direct cause or exacerbater of most of the international problems in the world. Kudos.
Israel is the most racist, most antisemitic nation on the planet. Any UN body that fails to address that is simply not doing its job.
But supposedly, we are not allowed to say that, because it is antisemitic.
When it comes to trying to split hairs over the origin, definition or proper use of the word "anti-Semitic"...
Call me anti-semantic...
d
I hope UN Rights Council will start protect human rights universally. And treat all COUNTRIES equally.
"A number of countries whose human rights records have been criticised by the US - including Cuba, Saudi Arabia, China and Russia - are also represented on the council.
The council was set up in 2006 to replace the UN Commission on Human Rights, which had also been dogged by accusations of anti-Israeli prejudice. "
Oh yeah, it sounds wayyyy better now. What was it Jon Stewart said? "Mission Rebranding accomplished!"
I guess the admission of the US with its poor human rights record won't affect anything since the UN council already has so many human rights abusers on it.
This is insane. What exactly are the ethical and practical guidelines of the General Assembly to cause it to take such an asinine vote? It ought to vote to purge the USA completely out of the UN. If we've learned only one lesson past eight years it is that triangulation destroys. Try something different, eh? Try zero tolerance. Hippocratic oath, eh? Gonna be ready for that some time in the next millennium, people?
C'mon, guys. They just did it to twist the U.s.'s nipple.
This is laughable at best. The US made a part to the UN Rights Council. ROFL! Rights to what? Rights to do what it wants? Rights to invade whoever it wants? Rights to kill innocent people at will? Rights to warmongering? Rights to tell others what to do and refuse to do it themselves? Rights to pillage, theft, chaos and mayhem? The UN is just such a waste of resources, time and energy whose only use is to give cushy jobs to fat cats on the take.
So Coyote guards the chickens.
It was a typo...
It is the "unright" council...
All, so well said. Thank you all.
Repent.Unite.Resist.
Another step in the right direction. Thank you President Obama.
Just a reminder. I have to do this in 2 posts due to the 1,000 word limit, but worth reading and remembering.
Part 1.
------------------------------------------------------
On December 10, 1948 the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights the full text of which appears in the following pages. Following this historic act the Assembly called upon all Member countries to publicize the text of the Declaration and "to cause it to be disseminated, displayed, read and expounded principally in schools and other educational institutions, without distinction based on the political status of countries or territories."
PREAMBLE
Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,
Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people,
Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law,
Whereas it is essential to promote the development of friendly relations between nations,
Whereas the peoples of the United Nations have in the Charter reaffirmed their faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women and have determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,
Whereas Member States have pledged themselves to achieve, in co-operation with the United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms,
Whereas a common understanding of these rights and freedoms is of the greatest importance for the full realization of this pledge,
Now, Therefore THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY proclaims THIS UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of Member States themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction.
Article 1.
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
Article 2.
Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.
Article 3.
Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.
Article 4.
No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.
Article 5.
No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
Article 6.
Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.
Article 7.
All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.
Article 8.
Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals for acts violating the fundamental rights granted him by the constitution or by law.
Article 9.
No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.
Article 10.
Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.
Article 11.
(1) Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which he has had all the guarantees necessary for his defence.
(2) No one shall be held guilty of any penal offence on account of any act or omission which did not constitute a penal offence, under national or international law, at the time when it was committed. Nor shall a heavier penalty be imposed than the one that was applicable at the time the penal offence was committed.
Article 12.
No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.
Article 13.
(1) Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state.
(2) Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.
Article 14.
(1) Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution.
(2) This right may not be invoked in the case of prosecutions genuinely arising from non-political crimes or from acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.
Article 15.
(1) Everyone has the right to a nationality.
(2) No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the right to change his nationality.
-----------------------------------------
End of Part 1.
------------------------------------------------------
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Part 2.
-----------------------------------------------
Article 16.
(1) Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution.
(2) Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses.
(3) The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.
Article 17.
(1) Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others.
(2) No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.
Article 18.
Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.
Article 19.
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.
Article 20.
(1) Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.
(2) No one may be compelled to belong to an association.
Article 21.
(1) Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives.
(2) Everyone has the right of equal access to public service in his country.
(3) The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures.
Article 22.
Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security and is entitled to realization, through national effort and international co-operation and in accordance with the organization and resources of each State, of the economic, social and cultural rights indispensable for his dignity and the free development of his personality.
Article 23.
(1) Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.
(2) Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work.
(3) Everyone who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection.
(4) Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.
Article 24.
Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay.
Article 25.
(1) Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.
(2) Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection.
Article 26.
(1) Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.
(2) Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.
(3) Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.
Article 27.
(1) Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits.
(2) Everyone has the right to the protection of the moral and material interests resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic production of which he is the author.
Article 28.
Everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration can be fully realized.
Article 29.
(1) Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development of his personality is possible.
(2) In the exercise of his rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only to such limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order and the general welfare in a democratic society.
(3) These rights and freedoms may in no case be exercised contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.
Article 30.
Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth herein.
-----------------------------------------------
End of document.
a country without Habeus Corpus rights, and a known torturer, is elected to the Human rights council.
Brilliant
Article 5.
No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
Article 9.
No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.
"The only means of strengthening one's intellect is to make up one's mind about nothing, to let the mind be a thoroughfare for all thoughts." - John Keats
Yeah, and as we all know, none of the other countries currently on the UN Human Rights Council do that either.