Finally, some good news on Libya
There's finally some good news on Libya. Good - but unfortunately, largely symbolic. Libya may be In a [not so CiJ] strong stance against the violence that has engulfed Libya in the last eight days, at least 53 UN states signed their name to the call, including 31 nations who are not among the 47 members of the Human Rights Council.This is pathetic. Do the numbers - only 22 of the 47 Council members signed the call to condemn Libya. A 'probe' is meaningless. Even if it happens, what are they going to do? Condemn Gadhafi? What makes anyone think he or any of his sons will be taken alive? People are being murdered by the hour and 'Human Rights Watch' wants to do a probe - why? So they can go raise money for their budget?
Among the signatories were the US, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, France, Jordan, Qatar, Turkey and the “permanent observer mission of Palestine.”
A draft of the resolution to be debated on Friday condemns the “grave human rights violations,” which may have led to the death of more than 1,000 people in Libya, and it calls for an immediate UN investigation.
It slammed the “extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests, detention and torture of peaceful demonstrators, which if wide-spread and systematic, may amount to crimes against humanity.”
But the draft language does not condemn the Libyan government, which carried out the acts. Nor does the draft resolution recommend that the UN General Assembly vote to strip Libya of its council membership.
The resolution was submitted on Wednesday by Hungary on behalf of the European Union.
Julie De Rivero, a spokeswoman for Human Rights Watch in Geneva, said that her organization was “happy” that the resolution called for a probe.
“It is what we wanted from the council. It is important to document what happened, identify who is responsible and if they have committed crimes against humanity.”
But Hillel Neuer, executive director of UN Watch, said that while he appreciated the EU’s efforts, the draft resolution must be strengthened by including a call to strip Libya of council membership and by condemning Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and his government.
“First, the moral outrage of Libya’s membership on the world’s top human rights body must end immediately.
Even the Arab League ejected Libya. With bodies piling up on the streets of Libya, the EU and the international community must not stay silent on this pernicious moral hypocrisy,” Neuer said.
“Second, the EU must explain why its draft – breaking with council practice on condemnatory resolutions – studiously avoids naming the Libyan government or its leader as the perpetrators of the ongoing atrocities,” he said.
Diplomats are expected to hold a number of meetings to work on the draft’s language before Friday’s session.
There is some fear in Geneva that there might not be enough support within the council to pass a strong resolution against Libya, despite the many international voices, including that of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay, who have condemned the country’s government.
It remains a possibility that the measure might not pass at all. African and Asian members of the Human Rights Council have in the past blocked criticism of abusive governments except when it has been directed at Israel, which has been the subject of six emergency meetings in five years.
Hillel Neuer has got it right. I would add to what he said that the fact that there's any fear at all that this milquetoast resolution may not pass says a lot about the lowly state of real human rights advocacy in the world today.
Condemning the Libyan government and Gadhafi ought to be a no-brainer. Unfortunately, it's not.
And what about kicking Libya off the Council? Well, maybe....
Independent of diplomatic efforts at the UN’s Human Rights Council in Geneva, there is a simultaneous push to sway the UN General Assembly to call for a vote to strip Libya of its council membership. Human Rights Watch, which has been advocating for such a measure, said that it was complicated because no member had ever been kicked off the council.It's long past time to close the dysfunctional United Nations. Simply pathetic.
Labels: Libya, Muammar Gaddafi, United Nations Human Rights Council, United Nations Watch
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 1:26 PM
3 Comments:
Its time for Israel to leave the UN and set a moral example.
Why in the world the Jewish State insists on sitting in an organization filled with repressive regimes and tyrannies is beyond me.
Israel would have nothing to lose by quitting the UN and a lot to gain - it can never be reformed.
Netayahu of all people should understand this about the Useless Nations.
Totally agree with Norman
I also feel contempt for the UN. However, going on the principle of "keep your friends close and your enemies even closer", I wouldn't favor Israel, the US or any other Western nation quitting the UN. Unless it were done by all these civilized nations together-won't hold my breath on that collective sanity happening. By staying as members, these Western nations can minimize the evil done by this organization. Hopefully.
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