Cuba, Saudi Arabia, China, Russia, elected members of the new UN Human Rights Council

Outrage is selective on human rights

by PUNNADHAMMO BHIKKHU

OPINION

Whenever human rights meet foreign affairs, hypocrisy and cynicism are sure to follow. The United Nations has just established a new Human Rights Council to replace the old Human Rights Commission. This followed criticism of the old body on which some of the worst offenders had seats. The loudest critic was the United States, whose own human rights record has been less than exemplary since the War on Terror began.

Whether the new council is an real improvement, or just a bureaucratic facelift, only time will tell. The members of the new body are supposed to pledge to a high standard of human rights. But whether this will be insisted on is doubtful when such states as Saudi Arabia and China are included. Their election has more to do with regional power politics than human rights, and it was not practical to exclude them.

Editor's Note. Canada is also an elected member of the Council

United Nations Human Rights Council

Source: thestar.com - Saturday, June 3^rd 2006

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