Home -> Law Blog Directory -> Legal News Blogs -> JURIST - The Paper Chase

Legal News

: JURIST - The Paper Chase

US takes seat on UN rights council

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

[JURIST] The US officially took its place on the UN Human Rights Council for the first time Monday. In an address to the council, US Assistant Secretary for the Organization of International Affairs Esther Brimmer discussed four themes the US sees as key to its role on the council: the universality of human rights, the importance of dialogue between countries, the application of fundamental principles of human rights, and the need for truth and honesty in confronting human rights violations. Brimmer acknowledged that the US had made mistakes regarding human rights in the past but noted the progress of the US in correcting those lapses. The US's term on the council will expire in 2011. Last month, several human rights organizations criticized the council's election process, alleging vote trading and a lack of effective candidates. The US was among 18 countries elected to the council in May. In April, the US State Department released its commitments and pledges to human rights in anticipation of May election. The US announced its intent to seek a seat on the council in early April, hoping to affect more change by working from inside the council than by boycotting the effort. The UNHRC was created in 2006 to replace the much-criticized Committee on Human Rights, at which time the Bush administration declined to seek a Council seat or participate in its proceedings due to a perceived anti-Israeli sentiment by the UNHRC.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on September 15, 2009 (boomark / email).