UN General Assembly condones China’s human rights record and reappoints membership to the UN Human Rights Council
One of the founding members of the 2006 Council, China was re-elected for a second three-year term in 2009 and was one of the 14 elected members to the 47-member UN human rights body at the 68th session of the UN General Assembly.
With 176 favorable votes from the 192 UN member states, winning a three-year term in the Council from 2014 to 2016.
“The Chinese government attaches great importance to the promotion and protection of human rights.
It has made remarkable achievements and has vigorously developed international cooperation in the field of human rights,” said Wang Min, China’s deputy permanent representative to the UN, after the election.
The US-based Human Rights Watch expressed its disappointment with some of the names.
“With the return of China, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Cuba, human rights defenders will have their work cut out for them at the Human Rights Council next year,” Peggy Hicks, a HRW expert was quoted by Reuters.
In a pointed reference to China, and Russia, US Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power has said the newly elected members of the council include “some that commit significant violations of the rights the council is designed to advance and protect”. [1]
One can only ask what purpose does a body of this nature serve if it can not stand and condemn China and Saudi Arabia for their human rights record?
How will we ever change the world if we can not speak the truth?
By Boky and Blake
[1] The BRICS Post, November 13, 2013
“There is no greater tyranny than that which is perpetrated under the shield of the law and in the name of justice.”
Montesquieu