Why Mary Robinson rejected the mandate accepted by Judge Goldstone

With hearings to be held in Geneva next week by the UN Human Rights Council inquiry into the Israel-Gaza war, headed by Judge Richard Goldstone, it is interesting to recall that former UN rights chief Mary Robinson, as well as former Finnish president Martti Ahtisaari, were among the many international personalities that refused U.N. offers to head the mission... It is a mission created by the biased Human Rights Council, and it is to that body that team members will report in September. [more]

Human Rights Council Updates

See our blog for the latest updates on the Human Rights Council, including meeting summaries, texts, and media highlights.  [click here]

Iran concerned about pre-Durban II human rights summit featuring former prisoner Ahmed Batebi

Speaking today at a working group for Durban II at the U.N. Human Rights Council, Iran voiced its concern about an upcoming Geneva summit of human rights activists, to be held on the eve of Durban II, which will feature former Iranian prisoner of conscience Ahmed Batebi, made famous by his front cover picture in The Economist, holding the bloodied t-shirt of a fellow student demonstrator. [more]

U.N. Human Rights Council concludes main annual session

The U.N. Human Rights Council concluded its main annual session on Friday, March 28. Before the start of the session, Freedom House published an updated report, which listed eight countries and two territories that suffer from the “worst of the worst” human rights violations. Amongst the more than two dozen resolutions adopted this session, only those on Myanmar and North Korea condemned “worst of the worst” violators. The situation in Somalia was addressed, but in a weak manner. By contrast, Israel —ranked as “free”— was strongly condemned in five one-sided resolutions. [more]

States debate one-sided, anti-Israel report

At the U.N. Human Rights Council today, states debated Israel’s rights violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) and surrounding areas. The discussion began with the presentation of a report by Richard Falk, the U.N.’s Special Rapporteur on the OPT. The USA and the Czech Republic on behalf of the European Union argued that Falk’s report should be discredited for its unbalanced and unconstructive approach. They suggested that the council look into the objectivity of his mandate, which is to only investigate Israel’s violations while ignoring those of the Palestinians. [more]

The Islamic-sponsored protocol to ban criticism of religion under the international racism convention

Algerian ambassador Idriss Al-Jazairy, as head of the U.N.’s “Ad Hoc Committe on Complementary Standards,” has drafted an additional protocol to amend the International Covenant on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (ICERD). At first glance, the text speaks only of stopping “incitement,” and of seeking to protect freedom of religion, cleverly using the existing legal terminology of the ICCPR and the ICERD. However, all of this is code. [more]

Islamic states: Religious freedom report does not sufficiently attack Israel

During a debate at the U.N. Human Rights Council today, Islamic countries complained that a report on religious freedom did not adequately attack Israel, while daring to criticize Islamic countries. The report was presented by U.N. expert on Freedom of Religion and Belief, Ms. Asma Jahangir of Pakistan. [more]

South Africa betrays principles on gay rights

Human rights activists and other UN observers were surprised by South Africa’s opposition to recognizing gay rights during recent negotiations on the outcome document for the Durban Review Conference, whose stated aim is to combat racism, discrimination, and intolerance of any kind. The South African representative said that issues of sexual orientation go “beyond the framework of the Durban Declaration" ... The irony of South Africa’s opposition to recognizing gay rights is that it betrays the principles of its own constitution. [more]

Sudanese Front Organizations Stage U.N. Rally for Indicted President Al-Bashir

Some thirty supporters of Sudanese president Al-Bashir gathered today in front of the United Nations European headquarters in Geneva, urging the International Criminal Court to “interrupt the execution of the arrest warrant” against Al-Bashir, who was indicted last week for war crimes and crimes against humanity. [more]

Dutch FM Verhagen ‘deeply disturbed’ by Durban II

At the High Level Segment of the UN Human Rights Council today, the FM of Netherlands took a forceful stand on Durban II, while Denmark and Italy also sounded an alarm. The EU (represented by the Czech Republic) and Belgium expressed concerns. Germany, Portugal and Luxembourg were weak. Relevant segments from their speeches follow... [more]