U.N. Creates New Human Rights Council

With the United States nearly alone in its opposition, the United Nations General Assembly yesterday approved the creation of a new Human Rights Council to replace the discredited U.N. Commission on Human Rights. Yesterday the New York Times reported that by a vote of 170-4 with 3 abstentions, the General Assembly passed the resolution that calls for the election of new Council members on May 9, 2006 and a first meeting of the Council on June 19. Joining the U.S. in voting against the resolution were Israel, the Marshall Islands and Palau. Abstaining were Belarus, Iran and Venezuela. The U.S. has objected to the resolution because it does not go far enough in guaranteeing that countries notorious for their human rights abuses will be kept off the new Council. The U.S. wanted a requirement that Council members be elected only by a 2/3 vote in the General Assembly. (See prior posting.) Nevertheless, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, John Bolton, said the U.S. would work cooperatively to strengthen the Council. He said whether the U.S. would be a candidate for membership on the Council is still under discussion.