What's New

Resources updated between Monday, October 23, 2006 and Sunday, October 29, 2006

October 27, 2006

Even Myanmar lectures the Third Committee (the one devoted to humanitarian affairs) of the General Assembly on human rights. Rather than own up to its frightening human rights violations, Myanmar claims that it "has long been a victim of a systematic and well-orchestrated disinformation campaign launched by anti-government elements, generously funded by some Western quarters." Like other human rights violators, they call for "universality, impartiality, objectivity, non-selectivity and non-politicization" when discussing human rights in order to avoid ever being named as a violator.

Statement of Myanmar on Human rights situations and reports of special rapporteurs and representatives Development

Cuba once again deflects any possible criticism of its own human rights records by ranting against the United States in this statement to the Third Committee of the General Assembly. Cuba states that "Liberty and democracy are not the exclusive patrimony of the countries of the North, to which no one has granted powers to judge and determine the political and social system of other equally sovereign States" in order to undermine any criticism of Cuba's decades long dictatorship.

Statement of Cuba on Human rights situations and reports of special rapporteurs and representatives Development

Javad Zarif

In Iran's response to the European Union's package of June 6, 2006, Iran quotes the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency as stating "that Iran's nuclear program is no threat to international peace and security." Iran suggests that "western parties who want to participate in the negotiation team...set aside the policy of intimidation, pressure and sanctions..." Towards this end, Iran finds it fortunate that they have "extensive relations with China and Russia" - two permanent members of the Security Council who continually dilute any semblance of real action against Iran's nuclear program.

Letter from Iran to the Secretary-General on the Response of Iran to the package presented on 6 June 2006 Development

October 26, 2006

Cuba lectures the Third Committee of the General Assembly - the Human Rights Committee - on "US neocolonial domination." Cuba calls for cooperation on human rights matters based on "universality, objectivity, impartiality and non-selectivity" - all code words for never condemning countries like Cuba.

Statement of Cuba on human rights questions Development

Ethiopia, October 18, 2006 Human Rights Voices

Myanmar, October 18, 2006 Human Rights Voices

Another one-sided UN draft resolution is spewed out at this year's General Assembly, blaming only Israel for human rights violations.

Draft Resolution on the Permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources Development

Bushra Rehman

In this statement on human rights questions to the Third Committee of the General Assembly, the representative of Pakistan argues against naming human rights abusers. She criticizes the "lopsided focus on civil and political rights," and the "selectivity, politicization and double standards." Rather than having the Special Rapporteur on extra-judicial, summary and arbitrary executions focus on "sensitive theological jurisprudence regarding selective religions" she would rather have them focus on "the extra-territorial nature of these killings in situations of foreign occupation." Translation: focus on Israel instead of Muslim states.

Statement of Pakistan on human rights situations and reports of Special Rapporteurs and representatives Development

Cuba uses the UN platform to accuse the United States of genocide. North Korea comes to Cuba's defense and argues against all sanctions. Iran, another possible target of economic sanctions, joins the chorus against using embargoes for political purposes. Libya, Malaysia, Myanmar, Qatar, Russia, South Africa, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela and Zimbabwe - among others - all support Cuba. A myriad of UN agencies - paid for to a large extent by U.S. taxpayers - focus on the negative effects of the embargo on Cuba's economy.

Report of the Secretary-General on the Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba Development

October 25, 2006

Jean Ziegler

Jean Ziegler, the UN's rapporteur ostensibly on "the right to food", uses his UN platform to talk about Lebanese casualties of the war without mentioning Israeli civilians killed or Hizbollah's terrorism that started the July 2006 war in the first place.

Statement of the Special Rapporteur Jean Ziegler on the right to food Development

Optimism Gap Article

October 24, 2006

Mohamed ElBaradei

UN official once again working to stymie the interests of the United States and fellow democracies. International Atomic Energy Chief Mohamed ElBaradei - responsible for keeping Iran off the Security Council agenda for years and helping Iran to avoid any UN sanctions - has now turned his attention to protecting North Korea.

Sanctions Against North Korea Won't Work, IAEA Chief Says Article

Iran using the First Committee of the UN General Assembly (the Disarmament Committee) to deflect attention away from its own nuclear program by pointing the finger at Israel: "...the Israeli regime, which was not a member of the NPT and which was repeatedly recognized as the single greatest threat to the region, cried wolf about Iran's peaceful programme, which had led to a campaign of threats, lies, and misperceptions."

Middle East Nuclear Proliferation, Terrorist Aquisition of Weapons of Mass Destruction Among Issues Addressed, as First Committee Approves 12 Texts (Press Release) Development

Algeria, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen cosponsor the usual UN Resolution condemning Israel, this time on the Risk of Nuclear Proliferation in the Middle East. The draft refers to Israel twice yet does not mention Iran or its nuclear aspirations. Rather than actually vote against such a draft resolution and send a strong message to Iran, the European Union voted in favor of this draft and then gave an explanation lamenting Iran's failure to suspend its enrichment program. Confidence in the EU standing in the way of Iran's efforts to obtain nuclear weapons is evidently misplaced.

European Union's Explanation of Vote on the draft resolution on the Risk of Nuclear Proliferation in the Middle East Development

Monday, October 23, 2006

On October 19, UN-appointed "human rights" expert John Dugard told the General Assembly that "Palestinian suicide bombers" are "a consequence of occupation." In five years traveling on the UN payroll - twenty-two percent of which comes from American taxpayers - Dugard has now distinguished himself as the most fanatical spokesperson for terrorism at the UN outside the Arab and Moslem world.

UN "independent expert" Dugard was selected in 2001 to report regularly on Israeli human rights abuses to the UN Commission/Council on Human Rights and the General Assembly. His job description, or UN mandate, deliberately excludes Palestinian human rights abuses. As Dugard lectured the Israeli representative on October 19th: "I have a limited mandate, which is to investigate human rights violations by Israelis, not by Palestinians." The pre-determined outcome, however, has never been a problem for this lawyer. Far from being embarrassed, he launched into this year's diatribe this way: "Today I deliver my annual criticism of Israel's human rights record."

There is no perennial criticism at the UN of the human rights record of any other state, or terror organization for that matter. Just Israel.

Dugard's fanaticism is consistent with the UN reality that the more hysterical his claims, the more likely he is to keep his job. His usual modus operandi is to demonize Israel as the racist, blood-thirsty aggressor opposed by a hapless, freedom-loving people. This year he decided to outdo himself, taking aim at the Jewishness of the Jewish state itself. "The litany of human rights violations...is difficult to reconcile with Israel's...claim to be "a light unto the nations." Here is a sampling of his other remarks:

  • "I wish we could get rid of the word "terror" in this debate...I appeal to the Israeli government:...If you label your opponent a terrorist, it becomes very difficult to start negotiating with him...I appeal to the Israeli government to discontinue using this term..."
  • Referring to the situation of Palestinian farmers, he said: "in other countries this process might be described as ethnic cleansing but political correctness forbids such language where Israel is concerned."
  • "IDF soldiers...seem to regard all Palestinians as terrorists."
  • "Israel's desire for Palestinian land is insatiable."
  • The West Bank has been made into "Bantustans" –a reference to apartheid South Africa.

Dugard's words Thursday were an instant hit with most of the UN representatives, who lined up to speak in an "interactive dialogue" conducted between him and the members of the General Assembly. One after another, Lebanon, Syria, Sudan, Cuba, Pakistan, Egypt, Malaysia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Algeria expressed their appreciation.. But the most obvious sign of the special UN reception that is reserved for those who demonize Israel and provide sustenance to terrorists is evident from the response of the Libyan representative: "When it comes to commending Professor Dugard, I find myself running out of words...[W]hen I heard his speech, I felt as if I am seeing a very symbol of an honest man in the 21st century....I feel like adding more to what has been said earlier is like adding more salt to a very delicious dish. So, all I can say is thank you, Mr. Dugard, and God bless you."

Just another day at the UN's Third Committee, composed of all 192 UN members. In case it isn't obvious, this committee is the General Assembly's primary body for protecting human rights.

This article originally appeared in the National Review Online.

Anne Bayefsky

On October 19, UN-appointed "human rights" expert John Dugard told the General Assembly that "Palestinian suicide bombers" are "a consequence of occupation." In five years traveling on the UN payroll - twenty-two percent of which comes from American taxpayers - Dugard has now distinguished himself as the most fanatical spokesperson for terrorism at the UN outside the Arab and Moslem world.

UN "independent expert" Dugard was selected in 2001 to report regularly on Israeli human rights abuses to the UN Commission/Council on Human Rights and the General Assembly. His job description, or UN mandate, deliberately excludes Palestinian human rights abuses. As Dugard lectured the Israeli representative on October 19th: "I have a limited mandate, which is to investigate human rights violations by Israelis, not by Palestinians." The pre-determined outcome, however, has never been a problem for this lawyer. Far from being embarrassed, he launched into this year's diatribe this way: "Today I deliver my annual criticism of Israel's human rights record."

The UN's Spokesperson for Suicide-Bombers: John Dugard Editor's Note

Iran using the UN Security Council as a platform to demonize Israel and encourage terrorism. Warning of the "State terrorism" and "atrocities" of the "Zionist regime," the Iranian representative said: "The Israeli regime has based its very existence on pursuing war, violence and bloodshed in Palestine and in the wider region...The people of Lebanon courageously resisted and defeated the wicked Israeli aggressors."

UN Transcript (Proces Verbal) of the Security Council meeting on the Situation in the Middle East Development

The UN soapbox for diverting attention away from real threats to peace and security and blaming the US and Israel. In this meeting of the First Committee of the General Assembly (the Disarmament Committee), North Korea blames its nuclear test on the threat posed to it by the United States. Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait all blame Israel for making the Middle East region tense and insecure.

First Committee discusses nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation (Press Release) Development

The usual UN agenda item dedicated solely to condemning Israel. Here is it is the Second Committee of the General Assembly (the Economic and Financial committee.) The item is called "Economic and social repercussions of the Israeli occupation on the living conditions of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan." The resulting dialogue is predictable. Sudan - in a rush to worry about human rights abuses - asked for proposals to end Palestinian suffering. Malaysia blamed the international boycott of the terrorist-led Palestinian government for the deteriorating situation. Syria, occupier of Lebanon, railed on about the effects of Israel's occpation. And so it went.

Second Committee discusses Arab sovereignty over natural resources and situation in Palestinian territories (Press Release) Development

In the Fourth Committee of the General Assembly (the Special Political and Decolonization committee) the Syrian delegate mentions Israeli aggression in the context of a debate on peacekeeping operations. This brings the total to three UN Committees being used on a single day as platforms to condemn Israel. Syria also mentioned that peacekeeping operations should respect "state sovereignty and territorial integrity" -- so that states such as Syria can can do such things as rearm Hezbollah without interference.

Fourth Committee begins review of UN Peacekeeping operations (Press Release) Development