Sparks likely as UN votes new rights council members
May 20, 2008
Agence-France Press
Original Source: http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hskjae9WZBotjAlsPegKfOfap0SA
UNITED NATIONS (AFP) — Sparks are set to fly Wednesday when 15 seats on the UN Human Rights Council come up for election, with European nations vying for influence and NGOs warning some candidates are unfit to take part.
All of the United Nations' 192 members have a say in Wednesday's vote at the UN General Assembly in New York, where candidate nations need an absolute majority, or 97 votes, to be elected.
The 47-member, Geneva-based Human Rights Council was created in 2006 to replace the Human Rights Commission, which was discredited because governments with a record of abuse stifled concrete action.
The United States opposed its creation, saying the new body's rules would still not guarantee its effectiveness, and has refused to take a seat.
Two years on, the council is under fire for failing to act on human rights violations in places like Sudan's Darfur region while at the same time focusing on criticizing Israel for its treatment of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
This year, only 19 countries are contesting the 15 seats up for grabs across the geographical areas. Its critics say this demonstrates the weakness of the system, as the lack of competition clears the way for unqualified nations.
In reality, the allocation of seats in the African and Latin American groups is usually decided long before votes are cast.
The number of candidates coincides with the seats available, with Gabon, Ghana, Mali and Zambia vying for Africa's four seats, and Argentina, Brazil and Chile stepping up to take the three in Latin America.
In eastern Europe, the Ukraine, Serbia and Slovakia are fighting over two seats, while Japan, South Korea, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bahrain and East Timor are competing for just four council seats in Asia.
Under council regulations, candidates are evaluated on the political rights, civil liberties and freedom of the press in their countries, as well as their approach to human rights promotion at the United Nations.
Non-governmental organizations UN Watch and Freedom House carried out this evaluation and concluded that Bahrain, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Gabon and Zambia were not qualified for seats on the Human Rights Council.
They lamented that lack of competition in the African group meant Gabon and Zambia were guaranteed a seat.
Democratic countries are squandering a golden opportunity to promote human rights through this important UN body, Hillel Neuer, executive director of the Geneva-based UN Watch, told reporters.
The NGOs raised doubts about Brazil, Burkina Faso and East Timor, but said the remaining 11 nations were qualified to sit on the council.
Meanwhile, France and Britain have been on the diplomatic offensive here in New York in a bid to keep their seats in the face of a challenge by Spain for one of only two seats available for western European countries.
Francois Zimeray, France's ambassador for human rights, has visited the UN twice. He told reporters earlier this month that his country should keep its place on the council not by virtue of its history, but its mediating role.
On human rights, we do not feel qualified to give lectures to others, even though we have a message given our history, he said, but added: The role of France is essential in helping reach consensus.
Noting that the Universal Declaration on Human Rights was signed in Paris 60 years ago, Zimeray said losing its seat on the council would be a major blow.