US leaves 'hypocritical and self-serving' UN Human Rights Council
RT,
19
June, 2018
Washington
has decided to walk out of the UN Human Rights Council, accusing the
body of hypocrisy. The US has long cited concerns about the body’s
“anti-Israel bias.”
Secretary
of State Mike Pompeo and US envoy to the UN Nikki Haley announced the
decision at a press conference Tuesday afternoon.
“The
US is officially withdrawing from the UN Human Rights Council,”
Haley said, calling it a “hypocritical and self-serving
organization that makes a mockery of human rights.”
“American
participation is the last shred of credibility the council has,”
Haley argued. “That is precisely why we must leave.”
“The
Human Rights Council is a poor defender of human rights. Worse than
that, it has become an exercise in shameless hypocrisy,” Pompeo
said, blasting the council for passing more resolutions against
Israel than against the rest of the world combined.
"Disappointing, if not really surprising, news. Given the state of #HumanRights in today's world, the US should be stepping up, not stepping back" -- UN Human Rights Chief #Zeid following USA decision to withdraw from U.N. Human Rights Council.#StandUp4HumanRights
Israeli
PM Benjamin Netanyahu thanked the US for the “courageous decision”
to leave the body, which he called a “biased, hostile, anti-Israel
organization that has betrayed its mission of protecting human
rights.”
“The
US decision to leave this prejudiced body is an unequivocal statement
that enough is enough,” Netanyahu said. “Israel welcomes the
American announcement.”
Israel thanks President Trump, Secretary Pompeo and Ambassador Haley for their courageous decision against the hypocrisy and the lies of the so-called UN Human Rights Council.
This
is the first time a member of the council would leave the body
voluntarily. The US was halfway through its three-year term on the
47-member panel.
On
Monday, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad
al-Hussein criticized Washington over the “unconscionable” policy
of separating children of immigrants who cross the border illegally
and holding them in detention centers.
“I
call on the United States to immediately end the practice of forcible
separation of these children,” al-Hussein said.
While
the timing of the US exit from the UN body coincides with this
criticism, Washington’s objections to the Human Rights Council over
the years have mostly been in regard to Israel. Ambassador Haley has
accused the council of a “relentless, pathological campaign”
against Israel, and said the US would leave unless the body gets rid
of its “chronic anti-Israel bias.”
Shortly
after its establishment in 2006, the council voted to make a review
of alleged human rights abuses by Israel a permanent feature of every
session, known as Agenda Item 7. Likewise, the body’s special
rapporteur on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the only expert
whose mandate is not time-limited.
The
George W. Bush administration boycotted the council at its inception,
but the Obama administration decided to “re-engage” with the body
in 2009. Even so, in 2011 Secretary of State Hillary Clinton accused
the council of “structural bias” against Israel.
Shortly after its establishment in 2006, the council voted to make a review of alleged human rights abuses by Israel a permanent feature of every session, known as Agenda Item 7. Likewise, the body’s special rapporteur on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the only expert whose mandate is not time-limited.
The George W. Bush administration boycotted the council at its inception, but the Obama administration decided to “re-engage” with the body in 2009. Even so, in 2011 Secretary of State Hillary Clinton accused the council of “structural bias”against Israel.
By withdrawing from the UN Human Rights Council, the Trump administration is effectively saying they don't believe in human rights or in holding @realDonaldTrump accountable to international law.#KeepFamilesTogether #resist #trump #unitednations #UNHumanRightsCouncil
Domestically,
some critics of President Donald Trump are citing the move as proof
his administration does not believe in human rights and rule of law.
The
decision “sends a clear message that the Trump administration does
not intend to lead the world when it comes to human rights,” said
Senator Chris Coons (D-Delaware), who serves on the Foreign Relations
Committee.
Leaving
the council is unlikely any immediate practical implications for US
diplomacy, aside from allowing the UN body to continue condemnations
of Israel without much in the way of opposition. Last month, when the
council voted to investigate the killing of over 100 Palestinians in
protests along the Israel-Gaza border and accused Israel of excessive
force, only the US and Australia voted against.
Russia Nominates For UN Human Rights Council Election - Permanent Mission to UN
Russia
put forward its candidacy for membership of the UN Human Rights
Council for 2021-2023, the Russian Permanent Mission to the United
Nations said on Wednesday.
"Russia
will continue its effective work in the Human Rights Council to
maintain equal dialogue and cooperation in the human rights sphere.
For this purpose, Russia has proposed its candidacy for membership of
the Human Rights Council for 2021-2023," First Secretary of the
Russian Mission to the United Nations, Fedor Strzhizhovskiy, said.
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