Latest Human Rights Council Draft Makes Only Small Steps to Reform

February 23, 2006 -- General Assembly President Jan Eliasson released today a draft resolution creating a new Human Rights Council to replace the discredited Human Rights Commission.

Citizens for Global Solutions expressed deep concern about the proposal  that stands to be adopted. While it is important that the resolution be adopted in order to achieve progress, the test of the new Human Rights Council -- and for the U.S. -- will be in its implementation.  We believe that the U.S. and those nations that would like to be considered allies of our nation must be truly committed to electing members that will stand up for human rights victims or the Council will be no better than the current commission. The challenge now rests with our ambassador to make sure that the new Council lives up to the UN’s ideals.

The draft does make small steps toward a better UN human rights mechanism.  It will periodically review every country’s human rights record and will meet year-round – two important improvements.  However, it only requires a majority vote of the General Assembly for election of countries as members, a lower threshold than the two-thirds majority that many hoped would be achieved. 

Missing Layups: The Human Rights Council (Bolton Watch)
Citizens for Global Solutions staffer Scott Paul's analysis of the failure of U.S. diplomacy to achieve what should have been an easy victory lays the blame squarely at the feet of Ambassador John Bolton.

Letter to Secretary Rice on Human Rights Council Proposal (PDF)
Citizens for Global Solutions joins other leading organizations to express concern about latest draft of HRC draft but urge its adoption as the first step in a longer reform process.

Washingtonpost.com's Associated Press Article on the Proposal
Discusses the negotiations and the NGO letter.

Draft Resolution (PDF Format)
Read the draft resolution released 23 February 2006.

Comparison of the new Human Rights Council vs. the current Commission on Human Rights (PDF Format)