Anne Bayefsky
MESS: Watch the ‘Reformed’ UN Human Rights Council in Action
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
The "Reformed" UN Human Rights Council
Its Central New Contribution to Protecting Human Rights
-- The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) --
Easy on Abusers -- Hard on Democracies
In the "new and improved" UN Human Rights Council, the worst human rights abusers are praised and admired. The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is said to be the major innovation offered by the Council over its predecessor, the UN Human Rights Commission.
In fact, the UPR has become a place where abusers are applauded and democracies are heavily criticized.
When the discussion of a country's human rights record is over, the country involved is asked for a "response" to any recommendations for improvement.
Watch EYEontheUN videos for the UN's treatment of China, Cuba, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, and their response to recommendations.
And compare it to the UN's treatment of Israel and Canada.
Group 1: The UN's Idea of the Friends of Human Rights
| China and the UN Human Rights Council
February 9, 2009: The "Universal Periodic Review" of China | |
| Cuba and the UN Human Rights Council
February 5, 2009: The "Universal Periodic Review" of Cuba | |
| Saudi Arabia and the UN Human Rights Council
February 6, 2009: The "Universal Periodic Review" of Saudi Arabia | |
| United Arab Emirates and the UN Human Rights Council
December 4, 2008: The "Universal Periodic Review" of the UAE | |
| Turkmenistan and the UN Human Rights Council
December 9, 2008: The "Universal Periodic Review" of Turkmenistan | |
| Uzbekistan and the UN Human Rights Council
December 11, 2008: The "Universal Periodic Review" of Uzbekistan | |
Group 2: The UN's Idea of Human Rights Foes
| Israel and the UN Human Rights Council
December 4, 2008: The "Universal Periodic Review" of Israel | |
| Canada and the UN Human Rights Council
February 3, 2009: The "Universal Periodic Review" of Canada | |