Libya chairs human rights body

BBC ^ | March 17, 2003 | Emma Jane Kirby

[Indy Pendance]

Libya's appointment was heavily criticised

The United Nations Human Rights Commission begins its annual session on Monday amid criticism that its chair is itself guilty of gross human rights violations.

Libya was elected to head the commission in January over strong objections by the United States and human rights watchdog groups.

The 53-state assembly is meant to try to uphold the observance of minimum standards for human rights by governments worldwide.

But it has no real means of forcing authorities to adopt its codes.

This six week-long annual session is a chance for member states to name and shame publicly abusers of human rights.

Participating nations can pass resolutions highlighting or condemning violations committed inside countries, although resolutions are only adopted when voted upon by a majority of the commission - and that is the hard part.

The member states are all protecting very different political interests and proposals are rarely agreed.

Accusations

This year, with international tensions mounting over Iraq, the commission is in for some hard diplomatic wrangling.

The United States has strongly criticised the appointment of Libya, which is already under UN sanctions for the 1988 Pan-Am bombing, saying it does not have a legitimate right to head the assembly.

Other countries, however, are expected to raise concerns about a possible US violation of human rights over its treatment of prisoners held in Guantanamo Bay.

They say the US is holding the prisoners unfairly.

Human rights watchdog groups fear the commission is becoming blurred and unfocused and they have called on member countries not to let political and economic concerns stand in the way of taking action against real human rights abuses.

[Gorzaloon]

Libya chairs human rights body

BBC ^ | March 17, 2003 | Emma Jane Kirby

Hmm. BBC, BBC, and Libya chairing a human rights thing.

Oh, wait. I bet I know what it is! This must be an old Monty Python programme running by mistake!

[CyberAnt]

Let's just dump this joint!!

[anymouse]

"Right-o now. Let's see what other nonsense these twits at the UN can come up with. Shall we now expect a visit from ol' Mumar wanting to inspect Texas prisons on off chance that he would find an infraction of some bloke's UN granted rights?"

[anymouse]

"Right-o now. Let's see what other nonsense these twits at the UN can come up with. Shall we now expect a visit from ol' Mumar wanting to inspect Texas prisons on off chance that he would find an infraction of some bloke's UN granted rights?"

[NetValue]

The terrorist leader of a terrorist state, responsible for bombing at least one airliner, seeker of a dirty bomb, maker of bio-weapons...the infamous Quad-daffy....Chairman of the UN Human Rights Committee.

The mind reels. Words do not convey.

Get the US out of the UN. Get the UN out of the US.

[PistolPaknMama]

Libya chairs human rights body

That deserves an LOL without reading the rest of article!

PS - and his mother dresses him funny.

[bart99]

This is so ludicrous it doesn't deserve comment.......

However, I think the first two resolutions (or whatever they are) will be against the US in Gitmo for it's treatment of emeny combatants, and, of course, Israel for it's incursions.

I wonder if there would be any complaints about Saddam or the Palestinian homicide bombers.

[bart99]

And Lybia is willing to grant assylum to Saddam. *sigh*

Saddam is a friggin war criminal and will end up in the Hague should he leave Iraq.