Key U.S. Outcomes at the UN Human Rights Council 19th Session- Your Comments
Posted on April 3rd, 2012
Key U.S. Outcomes at the UN Human Rights Council 19th Session
The 19th Session of the Human Rights Council underscored the importance of robust engagement at the Council, where the United States continues to work with a diverse range of countries from all regions of the world to address urgent human rights concerns.
U.S. leadership kept the Council at the forefront of the international effort to promote and protect human rights in the Middle East as the Arab Spring continues to transform the region. U.S. engagement has resulted in significant improvements to the Human Rights Council (HRC) over the past two and a half years, making it a more effective and credible multilateral forum for promoting and protecting human rights.
At the same time, the CouncilƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s biased and disproportionate focus on Israel continues to be a major challenge, as exemplified by the annual Item 7 resolutions. Through engagement at the Council, the U.S. continues to vigorously oppose this biased treatment.
MULTILATERAL RESPONSES TO COUNTRY SITUATIONS
Israel: The 19th Regular Session of the Human Rights Council was marred by the vote by member states to create another one-sided UN mechanism targeting Israel. As reflected by our vote against this measure, the United States strongly opposed the creation of a Fact Finding Mission on Israeli Settlements, a mission that does not advance the cause of peace. The United States made clear its belief that the fact finding mission on Israeli settlements does not advance the cause of peace, will not add useful information to the debate over settlements and will not help develop consensus. The United States also recorded its staunch opposition to the CouncilƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s broader pattern of anti-Israel bias – including the adoption of annual resolutions on Palestinian self-determination, human rights in the Palestinian territories, the Goldstone Report, and a resolution on the Golan – and will continue to refocus the CouncilƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s attention where it rightly belongs.
Sri Lanka: The United States, together with the international community, sent a strong signal that Sri Lanka will only achieve lasting peace through real reconciliation and accountability, and the international community stands ready to help. Through a new resolution, the Council encouraged the Government of Sri Lanka to implement the constructive recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) and take the necessary measures to address accountability. We are committed to working with the Sri Lankan government to help realize this goal.
April 3rd, 2012 at 5:22 pm
US, as most people are aware, is the biggest bully and violator of human rights in the world.(see the article by Shenali Waduge in Lankaweb at http://www.lankaweb.com/news/items/2012/02/28/how-great-is-the-us-human-rights-record/) However, they bulldoze their way into the UN with their economic power bullying the developing countries with the possibility of adverse repercussions. Even powerful India, long time friend and ally of Sri Lanka, fell victim to such bullying leading them to vote in favour of the US resolution against Sri Lanka. US forced the hand of many countries to get the resolution passed. This was because US never wanted Sri Lanka to be free from terrorism. Even at the last moment, as most are aware, US and their allies wanted to save the leadership of the LTTE to fight the legitimately elected government of Sri Lanka. The western allies of US are siding with US not based on reasoning, but merely on taking sides which serves their interests. All these western countries have also supported the terrorism in Sri Lanka in various ways.
Sri Lanka is the only country in the whole world that fed its enemy right through 30 years of war. It’s forces scarified their lives to save over 300,000 Tamils who were forced by the LTTE to make a defensive human shield around them. The government of Sri Lanka not only resettled these people, but also rehabilitated most of the LTTE cadres who fought the Sri Lankan forces. (Please read details at http://www.lankaweb.com/news/items/2012/04/03/why-lankan-armys-epic-hostage-rescue-ignored/). Are these acts of a government that commit human right violations? Of course, no war is without casualties.
Please read what US has done through its CIA (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RXPJmqkxmI) and you be the judge as to what human rights record it holds.
So, what do you think of the US resolution? Is the UNHCR a credible organization or a big joke?
April 4th, 2012 at 3:51 pm
Last two paragraphs explains all.
Now that “past action” has been taken into discussion and hence the resolution against Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka MUST table a new resolution condemning US mass killing of Japanese civilins by testing a weapon of mass distruction in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
April 4th, 2012 at 7:58 pm
Whole world knows and US itself and the west know whether they help or had helped anyone genuinely.
I don’t think think anyone believe that US genuinely wants to help Sri Lanka.
It was simply unnecessary for US to involve. In order to understand that, US should compare how US has treated It’s own black Americans and US – Natives with how Sri Lanka has treated Tamils.
Most of the colonial masters who voted for that resolution know what kind of history and what kind of present they have.
April 5th, 2012 at 6:46 am
It is India and Indian colonialism and Imperialism.
US has offered $10 million to catch an alleged Pakistani terrorist for India. Indian Tamil terrorist outfit made it sure no whites were caught up in their terrorist bombs; only Sinhalese, Muslims, Burghers and Malays.
India after using British Aunt is after poor Uncle Sam now.