Geneva, July 23 - After nearly two months where no credible figure would take the job, the UN Human Rights Council today named three commissioners to its inquiry on Israeli actions during the May 31 flotilla incident, but the probe’s credibility is marred by a predetermined verdict, said UN Watch, a non-governmental human rights organization based in Geneva, Switzerland.
“The mandate of the probe violates due process and objectivity by presuming Israeli guilt from the outset,” said Hillel Neuer, UN Watch executive director. “It’s another example of what former UN rights chief Mary Robinson recently described as the unfortunate and regrettable practice by the council to adopt resolutions guided not by human rights but by politics.”[See Note 1]
According to Neuer, “by declaring Israel guilty before any facts were even collected, the resolution taints the mission with prejudicial bias, and contravenes the UN’s own Declaration on Fact Finding, which requires objectivity and impartiality.” Continue reading ‘Watchdog: U.N. Flotilla Probe Marred by Predetermined Verdict’
Geneva, July 22 -  An international coalition of 38 human rights groups called on the United Nations today to investigate allegations that the Chinese government committed gross human rights violations by forcibly evicting 18,000 families to make way for the current 2010 World Expo in Shanghai, China. The giant exposition, whose motto is “Better Cities, Better Life,” runs until October.
In advance of the progress report to be published shortly by U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon, the Israeli government has now published a 37-page update on the status of investigations into its 2009 war with Hamas. The report is written in a conciliatory tone, apparently intended to reassure the international community of Israel’s serious approach.The upshot is that Israel has conducted a series of thorough investigations that take into account not only its own findings but even those allegations made in reports by the UN and NGOs that it has deemed to be one-sided and flawed; that it has punished those found culpable; has drawn lessons and made changes to its operating procedures; but that, at the end of the day, the core thesis of the U.N.’s Goldstone Report — that Israel’s 2009 campaign set out deliberately to kill civilians — continues to be utterly false and without any basis.
Remarks by Ambassador Susan E. Rice U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, During a Reception for Israeli Ambassadors Gabriela Shalev and Daniel Carmon Held by the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations New York, NY July 14, 2010
As delivered
Good evening everybody, and Alan, thank you so much for introducing me. I’m delighted to be able to be here with all of you and to see friends like Mort Zuckerman and Malcolm Hoenlein and many others, and I look forward to having a chance to spend some time here with you a little later on. The Conference of Presidents is a strong, clear voice on behalf of the American Jewish community and for Israel’s security and well-being. So I want to begin by thanking you all for the important work you do.
But today, I mostly want to talk about my very dear friend, Ambassador Gabriela Shalev. She’s truly one of my favorite people, and she’s done a tremendous job representing her country here at the United Nations. Now there have been some rather distinguished Israeli leaders who served as Ambassadors to the United Nations: Abba Eban, Chaim Herzog, and a scrappy up-and-comer named Bibi Netanyahu. But I believe when the history books are written, in all honesty, historians will rank Gabriela Shalev as among the best representatives that Israel has ever had at the United Nations-for her dedication, her skill, and her extraordinary heart. Continue reading ‘U.S. Envoy Susan Rice: We will combat U.N. attempts to delegitimize Israel’
Three Chinese nationals are seeking to overturn their forced evictions from their homes by appealing directly to officials and citizens in New York and Beijing.
Hu Yan, Chen Xuxing and Xu Xiaoqi, the daughter of one of the founders of China’s Communist Party, say they hope to raise international awareness of their and others’ plight, and to pressure Beijing — via the U.N. and the United States — to alter its eviction policy.
The trio is working with the Sparrow Initiative, a project to help the victims of forced evictions, to spread the word about how they are being forced from their homes in China.
In New York, Ms. Hu and Mr. Chen said they shared their stories with hundreds of passersby, aided by the activities of about 100 supporters.
In Beijing, Ms. Xu marched to a government office in Beijing to petition for an audience, in spite of police warnings that she was just making trouble for herself.
“The silence on this is deafening,” said Jim Geheran, director of Initiatives for China, an organization that promotes a peaceful transition to democracy.
As part of the effort, Yang Haihan, a naturalized U.S. citizen, stood with 20 friends outside the Chinese consulate in Los Angeles to send a statement to China and passersby about forced evictions.
Mr. Yang said he chose the consulate so “the people leaving would have to see us and what we were saying.”
The United Nations Watch, a human rights watchdog, is putting together a joint appeal on the forced evictions of the Shanghai World Expo, which Initiatives for China President Yang Jianli said will give the Sparrow Initiative “new momentum to push forward.”
Geneva, July 7Â - The UN Human Rights Council is reportedly naming commissioners to its inquiry on Israeli actions during the May 31 flotilla incident, but the probe’s credibility is marred by a predetermined verdict, said UN Watch, a non-governmental human rights organization based in Geneva, Switzerland.
“The mandate of the probe violates due process and objectivity by presuming Israeli guilt from the outset,” said Hillel Neuer, UN Watch executive director. “It’s another example of what former UN rights chief Mary Robinson recently described as the unfortunate and regrettable practice by the council to adopt resolutions guided not by human rights but by politics.”[See Note 1]
UN Human Rights Council, Debate on Racism and Discrimination, June 16, 2010
Pakistan for the Islamic Group: The intellectual climate in the West is increasingly marked by a disturbing tendency to demonize Islam… Muslims are being demonized and dehumanized as Jews were in the inter-war period of the last century…
Qatar: The sufferings of Arab and Muslim communities in Western countries in terms of discrimination…
Libya: Israel’s occupation of Palestine and the other occupied Arab territories is based on racism… The phenomenon of racial discrimination and incitement to hatred against Muslims through attempts to distort the picture of Islam through relating it to terrorism…  Making insults against the Holy Prophet in the media, particularly in certain Western European countries…
Pakistan for the Islamic Group:Â Contemporary manifestations of racism prevail in different parts of the world — in particular in Western societies…
Sudan for the Arab Group: Islamophobia in countries of the North…Â The racist practices of Israel, the occupying force in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, is one of the worst forms of racism…
UN Watch Responds:
 Mr Rapporteur, this Council recently adopted yet another resolution expressing its deep concern about serious instances of deliberate media stereotyping of religions, their adherents, and sacred persons.
Your report calls for an end to such media stereotyping and incitement to hatred.
During your work, have you ever noticed that the countries that are the most egregious practitioners of this stereotyping, in the form of caricatures, are those who sponsor and support these UN resolutions?
In particular, have you ever noticed that state-controlled newspapers in the Middle East regularly publish the most repugnant anti-Semitic cartoons?
Depictions of Jews as bloodthirsty are commonplace. For example, in Jordan, on January 15, 2009, Al-Arab al-Yaum published a cartoon of a hunch-backed and hook-nosed Jew, drinking Palestinian blood.
Other images promote the notion of a Jewish conspiracy. In 2008, Syria’s Al-Watan published a cartoon of a religious Jew holding puppets of U.S. presidential candidates McCain and Obama.
Jews are regularly depicted as bloodthirsty murderers. In Qatar, on June 2, 2010, Al-Watan published a caricature of a Jew who is half-man and half-octopus, wielding a weapon and an axe dripping with blood.
One could also cite dozens of caricatures portraying Jews stealing organs of Palestinians, such as this one published in Oman, on August 20, 2009, in Al-Watan.
All of these caricatures are reminiscent of the Nazi area, and depict religious Jews in classic stereotypes: long beards, black hats and coats, all of which target the Jewish religion and its adherents.
Mr. Rapporteur, in your investigation of intolerance and religious hatred, we call upon you to examine first — as logic would require — the countries that sponsor these resolutions.
Geneva, June 23 - As the Geneva-based non-governmental organization UN Watch warned last week, controversial ex-Sandinista Miguel d’Escoto is already abusing his new mandate as advisor to the UN Human Rights Council to promote divisive politics, pledging today on Colombian TV to use his UN podium specifically to target the U.S., which he compared to a “monster,”  and Israel.
“A man who has eagerly sided with international criminals such as Iran’s Ahmadinejad and Sudan’s Al-Bashir has no credibility on human rights, and embodies precisely the inverted morality and debased political culture that currently reigns at the UN Human Rights Council, which just this week added Col. Qaddafi’s Libya as a member,” said UN Watch executive director Hillel Neuer. Continue reading ‘New UN Rights Appointee Pledges to Attack U.S. “Monster” and Israel’
On Friday, the UN Human Rights Council appointed ex-Sandinista Miguel d’Escoto Brockman to its 18-member advisory panel. Despite UN Watch’s warning that the incendiary politician would abuse his post to continue his practice of ranting against the U.S. and Israel — and to defend rogues  such as Iran’s Ahmadinejad and Sudan’s Al-Bashir — no country objected to his confirmation, not even the US.Â
 Video from U.N. Debate This Week: UN Watch’s Hillel Neuer asked the U.N. Human Rights Council why it ignored the hundreds massacred this week in Kyrgyzstan and the humanitarian crisis there, and instead devoted the session to bashing Israel:
UN Watch Testimony “Agenda Item 7: Human rights situation in
Palestine & other occupied Arab territories” Delivered by Hillel Neuer, 14 June 2010
Mr. President, we meet under the agenda item targeting Israel. There are two things terribly wrong with this disproportionate focus.
First, it is biased. After the item was adopted in 2007, the UK said “the practice of ‘singling out one’ risked undermining the Human Rights Council’s own principles.” France said it was “contrary to non-selectivity.” Canada noted that the Council breached its own principles-of universality, impartiality, objectivity, and non-selectivity. Targeting any UN member state, said Canada, was “politicized, selective, partial, and subjective.”
But Mr. President, there is something far more pernicious that ought to concern all supporters of human rights.
On 20 June 2007, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon criticized “the Council’s decision to single out only one specific regional item, given the range of human rights violations throughout the entire world.”
These words were never more clear than today.
For the second time in this brief session, we have spent the entire day today discussing alleged violations of Israel, hearing various reports about redundant investigations, all of which are have pre-determined conclusions.
Yet even as we meet, the international community is witnessing a grave and worsening human rights and humanitarian tragedy in Kyrgyzstan.
At least 200 have been slaughtered; 1500 injured; and 100,000 refugees seek to cross the border to escape the violence. The Red Cross warned just now that the humanitarian crisis that is “getting worse by the hour.” Witnesses report that women and children are being shot as they try to flee, and that bodies litter the city’s streets and many of its destroyed buildings. According to Dilmurad Ishanov, an Uzbek human rights worker in Osh, “They are killing Uzbeks like animals. Almost the whole city is in flames.”
Mr. President, we heard speeches today from Libya, Syria, Iran, Sudan, North Korea, Venezuela, the Organization of the Islamic Conference and the Arab League. I ask them: If all human beings are equal, why are you silent today for the victims of Kyrgyzstan? After you called an urgent debate and investigation for the so-called humanitarian flotilla, why do you not do the same for what everyone agrees is a humanitarian tragedy of colossal proportions?Â
Mr. President, this agenda item deafens our ears to the cries of human rights victims everywhere.
GENEVA, June 17 - The Geneva-based non-governmental organization UN Watch called on the U.S., the EU and all other democracies to forcefully object to the UN Human Rights Council’s planned appointment tomorrow of ex-Sandinista Miguel D’Escoto Brockman to its 18-member Advisory Committee.
Richard Falk is scheduled to present his latest report tomorrow morning to the UN Human Rights Council. Why was his overdue report delayed several times, about which we first reported in February?
Because of the Palestinian Authority’s newly acquired hostility to the person they themselves nominated to be the UN Human Rights Council’s permanent investigator of alleged Israeli violations in the Palestinian territories.
According to Palestinian reports, the PA hates Falk, and is trying to get him fired, because he has sided with Hamas and insulted Abbas and his UN envoys. Specific PA objections to earlier drafts of the report were due to Falk’s recognition of Hamas as the legitimate ruler in Gaza. For more on the controversy, see the report by Marian Houk quoting an inside UN source. Continue reading ‘The UN siding with Hamas over PLO; why Abbas is trying to fire UN expert Richard Falk’
The U.N. was regrettably silent after Syria engaged in what seems to be its favorite national pastime: accusing Jews, “Zionism” and Israel of being blood-suckers. Only UN Watch confronted the Baathist regime’s latest blood libel:
It happened before in 1991, at the old UN Commission on Human Rights. The Syrian cited approvingly from the book “Matza of Zion,” authored by former Syrian Defense Minister Mustafa Tlas. It’s pretty clear these people really believe that Jews are out to kill Christians or Arabs and suck their blood. Then, however, 29 states — including UN Watch founder Morris B. Abram, then U.S. Permanent Representative to the U.N. in Geneva — sent formal letters of complaint. Click here for a PDF file containing some of the 1991 documentation, courtesy of the indomitable David Littman. It includes a transcript of the offending 8 February 1991 Syrian statement, the letters of protests from UN member states and NGOs, and Syria’s written reply.
Cover of “Matza of Zion,” book byÂ
former Syrian Defense Minister Mustafa Tlas
Geneva, June 10,  2010 - The Geneva-based UN Watch, a non-governmental human rights group, expressed disappointment today that it was removed from its top spot on the coveted list of speakers for today’s UN Human Rights Council review of Iran’s human rights record. (See below written copy of UN Watch testimony as submitted to the UN for its official record.)   Continue reading ‘NGO Slams Iranian Non-Compliance in UN Human Rights Council Review’
UN Watch Statement
UN Human Rights Council, 14th Session, 9 June 2010
Item 4: Human Rights Situations that Require the Council’s Attention
Delivered by Hillel NeuerÂ
Mr. President, we had prepared a speech on violations the world over. Instead, I am obliged to address a human rights violation that occurred here, in this chamber.
I am referring to remarks that violate the anti-racism prohibition of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
I am referring to the Syrian statement falsely accusing Israel of being a state that is not only “built on hatred… and a paranoid feeling of superiority,” but also one that glorifies the “ripping of flesh” and the “sucking of blood.” Continue reading ‘UN Watch Testifies to UN: Syrian Blood Libel is Racist’
NGO in UN Debate Slams Syrian Diplomat for Blood Libel, Calls on World Body to Condemn “Anti-Semitic” Remarks
Syria: Israeli anti-Arab hatred teaches children to sing “With my teeth I will rip your flesh, with my mouth I will suck your blood“
Geneva, June 9,  2010 - In a speech today to the United Nations (see full text below) the Geneva non-governmental human rights group UN Watch called on the world body to condemn “hateful and “anti-Semitic remarks” made yesterday by the Syrian delegate to the UN Human Rights Council.
In comments reported today in the the US and Canadian media, Syrian diplomat Rania Al Rifaiy had accused Israel of being a state “built on hatred, discrimination, oppression and a paranoid feeling of superiority.” (See transcript at bottom.)
As evidence, she purported to quote anti-Arab comments from a rabbi and a children’s song. “Let me quote a song,” said Al Rifaiy, “that a group of children on a school bus in Israel sing merrily as they go to school: `With my teeth I will rip your flesh, with my mouth I will suck your blood.”‘ Continue reading ‘Syria to UN: Israel glorifies sucking Arab blood’
Geneva, June 8 - UN Watch is calling on the United Nations to condemn hateful and anti-Semitic remarks made today by the Syrian delegate to the UN Human Rights Council.Â
“Let me quote a song,” said Syrian diplomat Rania Al Rifaiy, “that a group of children on a school bus in Israel sing merrily as they go to school: `With my teeth I will rip your flesh, with my mouth I will suck your blood.”‘
Below are highlights from the UN Human Rights Council debate held yesterday and today, followed by UN Watch’s response.
UN rights chief Navi Pillay opened the debate by saying she was “shocked” that “humanitarian aid would be met with such violence,” and “unequivocally condemned” Israel’s “unnecessary use of force.”
The Palestinian representative accused Israel of “believing it is above the law.” Turkey decried Israel’s “great breach of international law.” Egypt for the Non-Aligned Movement said that the incident was “another example of Israel’s total avoidance of international law and disregard for international norms.”
Austria, Iceland, Panama and El Salvador urged an investigation. However, Canada urged all states “not to rush to conclusions before all facts are known.” Canada expressed concern for the condition of people living in Gaza but “can strongly understand Israel’s concerns about terrorism from Gaza that threatens their national security.”
Spain for the EU expressed “deepest concerns about the events.” Pakistan for the Islamic Group protested the “unprovoked outrageous attack on the ships carrying humanitarian aid… Israel should no longer be allowed to release a reign of terror on Palestinians.” Israel’s “heinous crime” was “a brutal reminder of its continued total disregard for human rights and humanitarian law.”
The USA was “deeply disturbed” by the recent violence and “regrets the tragic loss of life and injuries.” The Obama Administration “strongly urged the Israeli government to investigate the incident fully.” The USA remains “deeply concerned by the suffering of civilians in Gaza.” At the same time, Hamas’ arms smuggling and commitment to terrorism “undermines security and prosperity for Palestinians and Israelis alike.”
Sudan for the Arab Group stated that “this Israeli attack against the freedom flotilla is a violation of both maritime law and human rights law.”
Cuba slammed “the international powers that provide Israel with a cloak to protect and shield,” saying they “must answer to history.”
China called the events “shocking.” Yemen condemned Israel’s actions for showing “all forms of international terrorism and piracy.” Lebanon called Israel’s actions one more addition to “Israel’s long list of Israeli terror.”
Â
UN Watch Intervention
Delivered by Hillel Neuer, 2 June 2010
Mr. President, this debate turns on one question: Was the flotilla humanitarian, or not?
To answer this question, let us first examine the objective of the organizers, and then the means they used.
Evidence of the organizer’s objective can be found in the path they chose, and the path they rejected.
Israel, which in the past 18 months has delivered over 1 million tons of aid to Gaza, offered to receive the flotilla’s cargo in the nearby port of Ashdod, and, after inspection, to deliver it to Gaza. The organizers, however, rejected this offer. Because they wanted to create a political provocation; they were looking for a physical confrontation.
Mr. President, is this a humanitarian path?
Further evidence can be found in their state of mind, as demonstrated by their own words.
Before the ships sailed, supporters chanted “Intifada, Intifada,” and “Khaybar, Khaybar, O Jews, the army of Muhammed will return.” One of them declared that the aim of the flotilla was either of two “good things… achieving martyrdom or reaching Gaza.”
Mr. President, is this a humanitarian state of mind?
Let us also examine the means they used: metal bars, knives, axes, and even guns.
Mr. President, are these humanitarian means?
No. This operation was organized by an extremist group, the IHH, with extensive and documented ties to terrorist groups. Their objective and means had nothing to do with humanitarianism.
Now, seated around me here are representatives of some of the world’s leading humanitarian organizations, from the International Committee of the Red Cross, the UN Refugee Agency, and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Let us ask them: Are these the ways of humanitarians?
No, Mr. President, the resolution that is before us today - introduced by such countries as Iran, Libya, Saudi Arabia and Sudan - is an insult to the world’s real humanitarians.
Thank you, Mr. President. Â
(Written text of UN Watch’s speech, as it was provided to the UN for its official record)
Geneva, June 2,  2010 - The U.N. Human Rights Council voted 32 to 3 to adopt an Arab and Islamic-sponsored resolution (click here for final amended text) that began by declaring Israel guilty of committing an “outrageous attack” in monday’s Intifada on the high seas, and ended by creating a probe to find the facts.UN Watch, a non-governmental human rights monitoring group in Geneva, praised the U.S., Italy and Netherlands for opposing the “deeply flawed” text, as well as Belgium, France, Hungary, Slovakia, Ukraine, U.K., Japan, South Korea, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Zambia and Madagacar for refusing to support the resolution by abstaining or absenting themselves. Click here for full voting chart.“This is a highly politicized and inflammatory resolution that undermines the cause of peace and human rights by emboldening the Hamas terrorist group and its extremist  supporters, including those who resorted to pre-meditated violence on the Marmara ship,” said UN Watch Executive Director Hillel Neuer. (See below for UN Watch speech during UNHRC debate.)Continue reading ‘Press Release: Goldstone II? U.N. Rights Council Declares Israel Guilty in High Seas Intifada, Creates Probe to Find Facts’
The UN Human Rights Council voted 32 to 3, with 9 abstentions and 3 absent, to adopt a resolution (click here or see below) that “condemns in the strongest terms the outrageous attack by the Israeli forces against the humanitarian flotilla of ships.” In its usual upside down fashion, the resolution, after declaring Israel guilty, creates yet another “fact finding mission” — in effect, Goldstone II.
The three who voted against were the United States, Italy and the Netherlands. The 9 abstentions came from EU states Belgium, France, Hungary, Slovakia, Ukraine and the U.K., as well as from Japan, South Korea and Burkina Faso. All the non-democratic regimes, including China, Cuba, and Russia, joined by all the Latin American states, voted with the Arab and Islamic bloca. Click here for full voting chart.
A/HRC/14/L.1
Orally revised
Human Rights Council
Fourteenth session
Agenda item 1
Sponsored by Pakistan (on behalf of the Organization of the Islamic Conference), Palestine, Sudan (on behalf of the Group of Arab States)
14/…Â The Grave Attacks by Israeli Forces Against the Humanitarian Boat Convoy
The Human Rights Council,
Guided by the purposes and the principles of the United Nations Charter, as well as by the provisions of the Universal Declaration for Human Rights,
Taking into consideration the provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention for the protection of civilian persons in times of war of 12 August 1949,
Emphasizing the importance of the safety and well-being of all civilians including humanitarian personnel,
Expressing grave concern also at the deepening humanitarian crisis in Occupied Gaza,
Emphasizing the need to ensure sustained and regular flow of goods and people into Occupied Gaza and welcoming the initiatives aimed at creating and opening humanitarian corridors and other mechanisms for the sustained delivery of humanitarian aid;
1. Condemns in the strongest terms the outrageous attack by the Israeli forces against the humanitarian flotilla of ships which resulted in the killing and injuring of many innocent civilians from different countries;
2. Deeply deplores the loss of life of innocent civilians and expresses its deepest sympathy and condolences to the victims and their families;
3. Calls upon the occupying Power Israel to fully cooperate with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to seek and provide information on the whereabouts status and condition of the detained and injured persons
4. Demands the Occupying Power Israel to immediately release all detained men and material and facilitate their safe return to their homelands.
4bis. Calls upon the Occupying Power Israel to immediately lift the siege on occupied Gaza and other occupied Territories;Â
5. Calls upon the Occupying power Israel to ensure the unimpeded provision of humanitarian assistance, including of food, fuel and medical treatment to the occupied Gaza strip;
6. Welcomes the statements of the Secretary General UN and the High Commissioner for Human Rights condemning the Israeli attacks and calls for the full accountability and credible independent inquiries into these attacks.
7. Decides to dispatch an independent international fact finding mission to investigate violations of international law, including humanitarian and human rights law, resulting from the Israeli attacks on the flotilla of ships carrying humanitarian assistance.
7bis. Decides to authorize the President of the Council to appoint members of this independent international fact finding mission, who should report to the Council on their findings in its 15th session.
Written version of the UN Watch speech delivered this morning, as submitted for the  official U.N. record.Â
UN Watch Statement
to UN Human Rights Council “Urgent Debate on the Raid on the Flotilla” Delivered by Hillel Neuer, 2 June 2010Â
Mr. President, this debate turns on one question: Was the flotilla humanitarian, or not?
To answer this question, let us first examine the objective of the organizers, and then the means they used.
Evidence of the organizer’s objective can be found in the path they chose, and the path they rejected.
Israel, which in the past 18 months has delivered over 1 million tons of aid to Gaza, offered to receive the flotilla’s cargo in the nearby port of Ashdod, and, after inspection, to deliver it to Gaza. The organizers, however, rejected this offer. Because they wanted to create a political provocation; they were looking for a physical confrontation.
Mr. President, is this a humanitarian path?
Further evidence can be found in their state of mind, as demonstrated by their own words.
Before the ships sailed, supporters chanted “Intifada, Intifada,” and “Khaybar, Khaybar, O Jews, the army of Muhammed will return.” One of them declared that the aim of the flotilla was either of two “good things… achieving martyrdom or reaching Gaza.”
Mr. President, is this a humanitarian state of mind?
Let us also examine the means they used: metal bars, knives, axes, and even guns.
Mr. President, are these humanitarian means?
No. This operation was organized by an extremist group, the IHH, with extensive and documented ties to terrorist groups. Their objective and means had nothing to do with humanitarianism.
Now, seated around me here are representatives of some of the world’s leading humanitarian organizations, from the International Committee of the Red Cross, the UN Refugee Agency, and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Let us ask them: Are these the ways of humanitarians?
No, Mr. President, the resolution that is before us today — introduced by such countries as Iran, Libya, Saudi Arabia and Sudan — is an insult to the world’s real humanitarians.
The UNHRC’s “urgent debate on the raid on the flotilla” continued this morning. Libya accused “Zionist gangs” of committing a “massacre,” but Canada urged all states “not to rush to conclusions before all facts are known.” The plenary is expected to vote on a final text of the draft resolution around 2pm Geneva time. Continue reading ‘Canada supports Israel’s national security imperatives at Human Rights Council’
The U.S. government told the UN Human rights Council today that it was “deeply disturbed” by the loss of life during the flotilla incident, and “deeply concerned” about the “suffering of civilians in Gaza.” It also slammed Hamas for being committed to terrorism.
The Human Rights Council convened this afternoon for an emergency session on the Israeli flotilla attack. Israel offered a legal explanation of the events that occurred and distributed a legal brief on the customary naval code and international law that justifies the blockade and intervention. At the Council, Arab states condemned the attack as a “heinous crime” and an act of “Israeli terror,” while the United States and UK refrained from assigning blame prior to an investigation. The meeting will continue on Wednesday, June 2. Continue reading ‘Israel attacked at Human Rights Council for “terror”’
Aznar: ‘Nuclear bomb in hands of ayatollahs poses threat to stability of whole world’
Dr. Massouda Jalal: ‘Women’s rights key to fighting extremism and militarization’
Spanish ex-PM Jose Maria Aznar (left) receiving UN Watch’s 2010 Guardian of Freedom Award from Executive Director Hillel Neuer (right). UN Watch annual gala, Geneva, May 27, 2010. Photo: Oliver O’Hanlon.
GENEVA, May 31, 2010 - Former Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar and Afghan women’s rights advocate and former minister Dr. Massouda Jalal were awarded human rights prizes by UN Watch on Thursday night, at the non-governmental group’s annual gala in Geneva, in the presence of more than 150 ambassadors, U.N. officials, human rights activists and community leaders. Continue reading ‘Spanish Ex-PM Aznar and Afghan women’s equality advocate win UN Watch human rights awards’
The shock of Libya’s election to the UN Human Rights Council last Thursday continues to reverberate around the globe.
In Europe, today the France 24 news channel reported that the UN’s elevation of the Qaddafi regime “has been met with outrage the world over and is echoed on the web.” Berlin’s Morgen Post, Germany’s second most-read daily newspaper, called it a “success for Muammar Qaddafi,” and reported that “human rights groups are appalled.” Switzerland’s20 Minuten, the country’s most widely read daily, noted that Libya continues to hold Swiss hostage Max Göldi, and that some consider the UN council “a cartel of perpetrators” that makes sure nothing that could potentially harm their power is even discussed much less decided.” Continue reading ‘Global Outrage Mounts over Election of Libya to UN Human Rights Council’
Despite the determined efforts of UN Watch and its supporters, Libya won a seat on the UN Human Rights Council today in uncontested elections held at the General Assembly in New York, as did other rights abusing countries including Angola, Malaysia, and Qatar. UN Watch headed a global coalition of 37 human rights groups that fought to defeat the Qaddafi regime’s candidacy, with appeals urging the US and the EU to lead an opposition campaign. Continue reading ‘Libya Wins Seat on UN Rights Council; UN Watch Reaction Quoted in Media Worldwide’
Spanish ex-PM Jose Maria Aznar (left) receiving UN Watch’s 2010 Guardian of Freedom Award from Executive Director Hillel Neuer (right). UN Watch annual gala, Geneva, May 27, 2010. Photo: Oliver O’Hanlon.
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