A rights battle we can't afford to lose
Jean-Louis Roy
March 20, 2007
Globe and Mail
Original Source: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070320.wcomment0320/BNStory/International/

An epic political struggle is raging in Geneva over the future of international human rights. It is one that established and emerging democracies may very well lose to regressive states if they fail to unite around support for a strong, credible and effective international system.
At stake is the integrity of the United Nations Human Rights Council, which replaced the discredited Human Rights Commission less than one year ago. Then, advocates applauded the promise of a new and improved forum for international human rights. Today, many of these same organizations worry that the new council is in danger of becoming an instrument controlled by abusive regimes determined to undermine the implementation of human rights and weaken the international community's responsibility to protect.
At stake are the universal values of dignity, freedom from want and freedom from fear that has propelled the development of international human-rights law since 1945. Also at stake is the international community's ability to systematically and objectively assess the situation in individual states and to react to massive rights violations in real time.
The General Assembly gave the new council one year to develop its mandates, mechanisms and functions. And yet, since its first meeting last June, the body's activities have been little more than a shameful parody of reform. Selectivity continues to trump universality and accountability. Firm, swift and concerted action on Darfur and other grave situations is being blocked at every step. National and regional political interests are again triumphing over an objective analysis of the rights situation around the world.
If the situation is to be reversed, Canada and other progressive members of the council must undertake the aggressive negotiation of four key outcomes in the next three months:
-- An effective universal periodic review mechanism must be established for the regular assessment of the human-rights situation in all states.
-- A comprehensive system of special rapporteurs must be maintained with the authority to investigate country situations and critical thematic issues, such as violence against women and the rights of indigenous people.
-- A strong expert advisory body must be developed with a mandate for establishing international legal standards.
-- A complaint mechanism must be created allowing individuals to seek international redress for human-rights violations.
Many established and emerging democracies have already voted against proposals aimed at reinforcing the Human Rights Council's ability to react to rights violations independently and forcefully. Many others have abstained from taking a position. The future of international human rights needs Canadian leadership now more than ever.
Ottawa should take immediate action to assume this leadership role on the council and build coalitions with our allies and those council members that can still see merit in a viable international system for the promotion and protection of human rights.
This is a critical phase in the development of our international human-rights system. Canada has provided key support for this system over the last 60 years and, in the spirit of these past contributions, Prime Minister Stephen Harper should consider appointing a special representative to promote the importance of a strong, credible and independent system, and counter those with vested interests in seeing it undermined and discredited. The struggle for the Human Rights Council is one battle Canada and its fellow democracies cannot afford to lose.
Jean-Louis Roy is president of Rights & Democracy.