UN Commission on Human Rights
May Condemn US
NZ Herald
Reuters
US may end up in dock at UN human rights meet
March 14, 2005
GENEVA - The United States, usually a finger-pointer on human
rights, could end up in the dock itself over reports of torture
and abuse in its war on terror when the United Nations begins a
worldwide scrutiny this week.
Activists, such as the New York-based Human Rights Watch, are
urging members of the Commission on Human Rights to condemn
Washington for mistreatment of prisoners detained abroad.
If any such move emerges during the commission's annual
session, which starts on Monday, the United States will be in a
similar position to Cuba, Iran and Sudan, countries which
Washington and others are likely to seek to pillory.
"If the commission is going to be taken seriously, it needs to
be looking at the United States as well as Cuba, China and other
serious human rights situations," said Loubna Freih, Geneva
representative of Human Rights Watch.
The United States has been strongly criticised over
revelations of abuse of prisoners in Iraq and Afghanistan and
allegations of mistreatment of detainees at Guantanamo Bay in
Cuba.
But for many activists and diplomats, it is debatable whether
the commission, whose 53 members include many states whose
rights' records are questionable, can still be taken
seriously.
Sudan, whose government has been accused by a UN-appointed
commission of inquiry of "heinous crimes" in its western Darfur
region, is a member, as are Zimbabwe and Saudi Arabia, two other
countries where critics say abuse is common.
A high level panel of experts probing the workings of the UN,
at the request of Secretary-General Kofi Annan, concluded its
credibility had been eroded because members were more concerned
with protecting themselves and their allies than in exposing
rights violations.
Launched in 1946, the Geneva-based commission examines
nations' adherence to treaties and conventions on issues
ranging from illegal killings and arbitrary detention to
women's rights, child pornography and the right to food and
health.
But the most political heat has traditionally been generated
by report cards on individual countries.
Israel's actions in Palestinian territory under military
occupation will be again condemned, as will North Korea, Myanmar
and possibly Belarus, diplomats say.
The six week session could also see tough words for Nepal,
where King Gyanendra sacked the government and took full powers,
adding to what Amnesty International says is a "human rights
catastrophe".
However, it was not certain there would be a fresh bid to
censure China over reported repression of ethnic and religious
minorities and other alleged abuses, or Russia over continuing
kidnappings and disappearances blamed on security forces in the
rebel region of Chechnya.
Russia was last criticised in 2001, but China has always
successfully used procedural manoeuvres to block any bid to
condemn it.
And African members of the commission may rally enough support
to ensure that Zimbabwe, where President Robert Mugabe's
government has been widely accused of repressing dissent, again
escapes rebuke, diplomats say.
In the case of Washington, so far only its political enemy
Cuba has said it will attempt to bring the prisoner abuse issue
before the commission.
- REUTERS
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