2008 July archive at View from Geneva

The annual July session of ECOSOC, the UN Economic and Social Council, featured the usual malicious attempts to deny UN accreditation to legitimate non-governmental organizations.

Applications for accreditation are considered by the 19-nation Committee on NGOs, which includes such NGO-friendly governments as China, Cuba, Egypt, Pakistan, Russia and Sudan. The committee spends most of its time harassing or barring groups that speak out for individual freedom. Its rulings, however, must be approved by the 54-nation ECOSOC, where Western democracies are stronger.

In January, the NGO Committee denied consultative status to the Federación Estatal de Lesbianas, Gays, Transexuales y Bisexuales (FELGTB), a group from Spain. When the recommendation went before ECOSOC, France on behalf of the EU expressed regret at the “discriminatory trend towards lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual groups in the [NGO] Committee for many years.” Spain and the United States also noted with concern the ongoing intolerance against such groups.

On a motion from France, ECOSOC overruled the NGO Committee, and voted to accredit FELGTB. A Saudi call for a revote, supported by Pakistan and Cape Verde, led to naught, and the Spanish gay rights group maintained its newly-won accreditation. Spain warmly thanked the countries that defended FELGTB, and regretted the efforts to block its participation.

In a separate controversy, the NGO Committee had recommended to deny consultative status to the Human Rights Foundation (HRF). The United States asked ECOSOC to reconsider, noting that the HRF board included such distinguished human rights activists as Nobel Peace Prize laureate Elie Wiesel. Also noted was that HRF is chaired by Armando Valladares, recognized by Amnesty International as a prisoner of conscience for his years of incarceration in Cuban prisons.

The Cubans replied that Mr. Valladares is a “terrorist” and “a clown and a member of a criminal gang.” Cuba, Egypt for the Islamic Group, Russia, Bolivia, Venezuela, Sudan, and Belarus spoke out forcefully against HRC. Ecuador said it had “carried out activities that promoted subversion,” and labeled the group a “terrorist organization.”

Chavez, Castro, Mubarak, Lukashenko, al-Bashir, Morales, and Putin-Medvedev won. ECOSOC upheld the decision to bar the the Human Rights Foundation from the UN. Not the best way for ECOSOC to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

In its recently concluded June session, the UN Human Rights Council ruled that any references to Islamic Shar’ia law are prohibited in the council chamber. Even outgoing UN rights chief Louise Arbour, who more than once sought to appease the UN’s anti-blasphemy squads, expressed her concern.

It all started when the heroic David Littman, undaunted by malicious attempts to expel him from the UN, tried to deliver a speech on violence against women and what Islamic scholars can do to prevent it. The Egyptian representative interrupted repeatedly and challenged the council president. “Regardless of the result of the vote — I couldn’t care less if I will win or lose this vote — my point is that Islam will not be crucified in this council!”

The president gave in: “Statements should refrain from making judgments or evaluations of a particular religion. . . I can promise that at the next evaluation of a religious creed, law, or document, I will interrupt the speaker and we’ll go on to the next one.”

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Following is a transcript from June 16, 2008 debate at 8th Session of the UN Human Rights Council. General debate on Agenda Item 8, “Follow up and implementation of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action.” The video archive can be seen here under “Points of Order” (requires RealPlayer).

DAVID LITTMAN, IN JOINT STATEMENT BY ASSOCIATION FOR WORLD EDUCATION, INTERNATIONAL HUMANIST AND ETHICAL UNION

In the context of integrating the human rights of women throughout the United Nations system we wish to draw attention to four examples of widespread violence against women that we believe merits far greater attention from the council. One, regarding FGM [female genital mutilation], we are making available our detailed written statement…

PRESIDENT COSTEA

[Bangs gavel.] A point of order raised by the delegation of Egypt. You have the floor, sir.

EGYPT - POINT OF ORDER

Thank you Mr. President. Mr. President, I have a copy of this statement. Continue reading ‘U.N. Ruling: Islamic Sharia Taboo in Human Rights Council Debates’