Posted on 09/29/2009 9:45:27 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
Berkeley would become the first city in the United States to independently try to comply with U.N. treaties on torture, civil rights and racial discrimination, if the City Council passes a measure on the issue tonight.
The measure would require the city to file biennial reports to the United Nations on how - or whether - the city meets international human rights standards. In Berkeley, that could include its record on homelessness, the achievement gap among different racial groups at Berkeley High and the presence of John Yoo, a UC Berkeley School of Law professor and Berkeley resident who authored the Bush administration's justification for torture.
"It's critical that cities and counties, not just nations, make these reports to the U.N.," said Ann Fagan Ginger, head of the Meiklejohn Civil Liberties Institute in Berkeley. "To relate directly to the U.N. is the closest way we have of supporting the rights spelled out in these treaties."
Unpaid law students at Ginger's institute and volunteers on the city's Peace and Justice Commission would compile most of the city data for the United Nations. City staff would chip in if more work is needed, according to the city manager.
Berkeley would be the first city in the country, and possibly the world, to submit its compliance records to the United Nations, said Yves Sorokobi, a U.N. spokesman in New York.
"We welcome citizen participation in trying to uphold these treaties, but in general they are directed toward countries," he said. Berkeley "has taken the lead here."
That's not surprising. Berkeley has long conducted its own foreign policy, occasionally at odds with the U.S. State Department.
Some on the City Council said they're not sure Berkeley needs to comply with treaties to which the United States has already agreed.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
It is BerZerkeley.
Really now. And are they going to call in the UN to help them with their crime and illegals problem?
Considering the idiocy of their lib-arts departments, would not classes given by those turkeys be considered torture?
Like the UN gives a red rats patoot what Berkely does.
Nutbags the whole lot.
That would be unconstitutional, since no state (and by extension, city) can sign a treaty with a foreign power.
An area of the country I wish would go ahead and fall into the ocean..........forever.
Even if it is half in jest, it may set a very bad precedent.
What part of Article I, Section 10 does Berkley find so hard to understand? “No State shall, without the Consent of Congress...enter into any Agreement or Compact with another State, or with a foreign Power...”
If Berkeley is entering into treaties with the UN, can other states opt out of treaties the US enters into? I’m looking at you Texas.
Best to simply ignore them like a simple minded relative.......
HA!
Send the blue helmets in to Berkley. Of course, Woopi will define the actions later as not “rape -rape”.
At least they agreed to not use the word “torture”.
Ha!
Isn’t that special?
OH, good question. Berkeley heads probably never thought of unintended consequences.
My suggestion, the city of Berkeley secedes from the Union (good riddance) (/s)
“Berkeley heads probably never thought of unintended consequences.”
Of course not. Leftards never do.
Criminals would have a field day there..get to jail, whine to the UN about ‘torture” and get 3 meals/day. Those idiots deserve whatever crap they get.
Acting outside the Constitution would be grounds for arrest......just saying.
I assume all the pot holes are filled in Berkeley?....
“Berkeley has long conducted its own foreign policy”....
What a joke!....
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