Posted on 07/28/2006 10:50:17 AM PDT by SF Republican
The United States must better protect poor people and African-Americans in natural disasters to avoid problems like those after Hurricane Katrina, a U.N. human rights panel said Friday.
The U.N. Human Rights Committee said poor and black Americans were "disadvantaged" after Katrina, and the U.S. should work harder to ensure that their rights "are fully taken into consideration in the reconstruction plans with regard to access to housing, education and health care."
The United States said federal and Louisiana state authorities were examining many of the issues raised by the committee.
The U.N. panel said it wants to be informed of the results of inquiries into the alleged failure to evacuate inmates from a prison, and into allegations that authorities did not allow New Orleans residents to cross a bridge into Gretna, La.
It offered no further specifics about problems it found with the Katrina response, or possible solutions.
"I think the president and everyone in the United States said that Katrina was something that no one was entirely prepared for and it did raise huge challenges for the United States," said Robert Harris, of the office of the Legal Adviser of the U.S. State Department. "We're looking at a large list of lessons from Katrina and trying to make sure that the next time, God forbid something like that happens, we are better prepared."
The panel of 18 independent experts, which reviews the practices of the 156 countries who have ratified the 1966 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, said it was concerned about information that blacks and poor people "were disadvantaged by the rescue and evacuation plans implemented when Hurricane Katrina hit."
Criticism by the panel brings no penalties beyond international scrutiny.
The Katrina findings comprised two paragraphs in a 12-page release of findings that also included recommendations on U.S. policies in the war on terror.
The U.S. mission to the U.N.'s European headquarters in Geneva criticized the committee's examination of many issues it said were outside the scope of its mandate, particularly dealing with the war on terrorism.
But on domestic issues, it said "the committee has made recommendations in matters under its competence, including efforts to address race and sex discrimination, capital punishment, the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and voting rights."
The committee also addressed reports of de facto racial segregation in public schools.
Unbelievable.
Hey, UN - figure out what to do with Darfur and get back to us. Until then, put your tall building in New York to good use and take a flying leap off of it.
From the organization that couldn't protect 4 soldiers in a watch tower.
I'm sick of these scumbags. The sooner they are kicked out..the better! They have no business being informed of $hit!
Will the UN be sending a multinational force?
I guess they fixed Darfur already.
My blood pressure just rose significantly reading this.
Do they seriously think they govern us?
Weren't there 800,000 disadvantaged african-african Rwandans that could have used assistance????
I am so glad we have John Bolton in the U.N. now, to address this God-forsaken bunch of misfits and egomaniacs who want to rule the world.
Where, please tell me, in the U.S. Constitution does it say that people have to be protected from their own ignorance and irresponsibility?
International law is not part of the Constitution of this country, and we don't need a bunch of Third World idiots telling us how to take care of ourselves. Our Soverignty is at stake, and we don't need the U.N. in our internal affairs.
Brace yourself before reading.
Was that one of those panels similar too the human rights committees'; maybe composed of Syria, Cuba, North Vietnam, Venezuela, the island of Cindy Sheehan etc.
They have, dirtboy. Haven't you figured it out yet?
Christians being slaughtered in Darfur by muslims.
The un supports and aids hezbollah (muslim) against Israel.
Look anywhere there are muslims fighting christians and Jews, and you will see the un's unfaltering support for the terrorist.
The un is untouchable. Kofi is untouchable. That's something people need to start getting used too. 75% of the un's budget goes to their salaries...little else. They are the Antichrist in my book. Only one way to deal with the Antichrist.......
What part of nearly a week of "THERE'S A MAJOR HURRICANE HEADING THIS WAY - GET OUT OF THE KNOWN FLOOD ZONE!!!" wasn't enough?
Yeah. Independent anti American, MARXIST experts...
I think Karl Rove should get out his Magic Weather Machine and target the UN building with a tornado.
BLAH,Blah,blah
Who really gives a flying **** what the UN thinks?
"The U.N. Human Rights Committee said poor and black Americans were "disadvantaged""
They are only disadvantaged because all alot of them do is sit around complain about how they are not being treated fairly because they are not given everything that they want on a silver platter.
Keep on whining and they won't get much.
Of course, look who the un charter was written by...Alger Hess. His dream come true for the un.
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