New U.N. Human Rights Council Debuts Monday
Nidhi Sharma - All Headline News Staff Writer Geneva, Switzerland (AHN) - On Monday, The United Nations inaugurated its new Human Rights Council thereby replacing the Human Rights Commission, which became discredited in recent years as rights-abusing countries conspired to escape condemnation. Despite lingering doubts about its effectiveness, the 47-member council vows to "uphold the highest standards of human rights and erase the tarnished image of its predecessor". U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan is quoted by the AP as as saying, "Never allow this council to become caught up in political point-scoring or petty maneuver. Think always of those whose rights are denied." He says the council has a chance to start its work with a tangible achievement, by passing two "vital documents" one against enforced disappearances, the other guaranteeing the rights of indigenous peoples and sending them for approval by the General Assembly. The council's first meeting is scheduled for June 30. It aims only to establish its operating procedures, including how it should carry out human rights reviews of all 191 U.N. member states, and how often. The new council will hold more meetings than the commission, comprising 10 weeks a year greater than the current six weeks. Furthermore, any member that "commits gross and systematic violations of human rights" can be suspended from the council by a two-thirds vote of the General Assembly. |
