UN Council to Praise Libya’s Human Rights Record
- Posted on February 28, 2011 at 8:19pm by
Meredith Jessup
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As the international community feverishly condemns the atrocious treatment of pro-democracy protesters by Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, the United Nations Human Rights Council is poised to adopt a report which praises the country’s human rights record.
The U.N. review commends Libya for making human rights a “priority” while improving the country’s education system and “constitutional” framework. Several countries — including Iran, Cuba, Venezuela, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Sudan — offer positive marks for the country now facing historic political turmoil.
Fox News reports:
The U.S. mission in Geneva said it would look into the status of the document in response to a question about whether any efforts are being made to cancel or postpone consideration of the report. But an agenda put out by the United Nations in January said the Human Rights Council, of which Libya has been a member since last year, will “consider and adopt” the document at its session, which is under way and continues to the end of March.
UN Watch, a watchdog group based in Geneva, called on the council Monday to withdraw the report and launch a new review that “would tell the truth about the (Qaddafi) regime’s heinous crimes.”
UN Watch Director Hillel Neuer told FoxNews.com the review, formally known as the Universal Periodic Review, is a “complete distortion” of Libya’s rights record. “The review is supposed to be a serious examination of a country’s human rights record to hold it accountable,” Neuer said. “All they do is give praise and give cover to Libya’s abuses.”
The report — put together after a November 2010 session, months before protesters challenged Qaddafi’s legitimacy and prompted an historic confrontation with his regime — includes dozens of recommendations for how Libya can improve human rights. But it also includes pages of commentary, mostly positive, from the other 46 delegations to the controversial Human Rights Council.
The United States is a new member of the Human Rights Council, having boycotted the body during the George W. Bush administration for being anti-Israel and prone to ignore certain human rights violations on political grounds. President Obama reversed this policy in 2009 and sent a U.S. delegation to Geneva.
While the U.N.’s General Assembly is poised to vote on a broader resolution condemning the Gaddafi regime, the U.S. called on Libya to “comply with its human rights treaty obligations” in the Human Rights Council report. In addition, the U.S. expressed concerns over Libyans limited freedom of speech and reported torture of prisoners.
On Monday, Susan Rice, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., called Gaddafi “delusional,“ adding that his regime is ”slaughtering his own people“ and should be ”held accountable” for the continuing human rights violations.
“In Libya, the United Nations is demonstrating the indispensable role that it can play in advancing our interests and defending our values,” Rice said.
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Bernard
Posted on March 1, 2011 at 4:18pmAt least the UN is consistent in her stupidity. Just like China, Libya is now “praised” by the UN of her human rights. The sad fact is that these protesters are not fighting for a western style Democracy but a Muslim style Theocracy, where the Sharia law is the law of the land and anti Israel/anti US sentiment is the voice of the day.
Report Post »Regarding the regional upheaval of the Arab world the protesters hate the dictators who have ruled for so long as much as they hate the Israel state and the “Great Satan” the US. One must consider that under such circumstances it is better to deal with the devil we know than the devil we do not. What replaces Qaddafi will not be a western friendly Democratic government but rather the opposite.
The world’s left leaning media are screaming about the human rights violations currently taking place in Libya but they have seldom if ever covered the much larger human rights violations currently occurring in China. In China much larger protests are going on against land grabs, slave wages and blatant human rights violations but the media is silent.
The UN has been consistent in giving China a pass since its inception as a nation 60 odd years ago. All through the years of the Great leap forward, to the Cultural revolution to the brutal annexation of Tibet China has not been held accountable. No embargoes, no international condemnation or coverage, instead China gets the coverted Security Council seat and “praise” of her rapid growth (at the expense of her people’s rights). Under this double standard this hullabaloo over Libya’s brutal actions seem impotent and lacks moral credibility.
Scarab Sport
Posted on March 1, 2011 at 4:14pmThe UN is a joke. The USA should stop funding this useless organization. It would be an immediate savings and help reduce the defecit.
Report Post »historypaper
Posted on March 1, 2011 at 2:58pmThe U.N., another progressive dream, should be defunded and removed from the United States.
Report Post »KBLosAngeles
Posted on March 1, 2011 at 2:26pmFolks,
If there were ever an example of why the United States needs to get out of the United Nations, this article is the case in point. How the U.N. could commend Libya for its Human Rights, especially after the last couple weeks where people are being gunned down in the streets by government and government sponsored organizations, is just appalling!
The actions on this matter by the U.N. show just how irrelevant this organization has become in the world today. The fact that this action by the U.N. was sanctioned by the likes of Venezuela, North Korea, Cuba, etc., tells me that the United Nations is no longer a viable body for this world, and needs to be disbanded immediately!
The U.S. needs to get out of the U.N.; take back the building, tear it down, and make a park out of the land; and throw out all of the foreign dignitaries that have been invading this country since the U.N.’s inception!
Report Post »dontbotherme
Posted on March 1, 2011 at 1:20pmThe UN are fools. They are not to be taken seriously & it is time for the United States to get out of the UN & get that insignificant organization out of our Country.
Report Post »sonofoursigners
Posted on March 1, 2011 at 11:57amLets put sanctions on them one day. The next day we will praise them. Wouldn’t want to offend anyone…
Report Post »kraphtsman
Posted on March 1, 2011 at 10:42amFlush the UN down the toilet where it belongs. What a worthless, corrupt and totally hypocritical “organization” it has been, for MANY, MANY years !
Report Post »BenInNY
Posted on March 1, 2011 at 10:09amThat’s a pretty good list of enemy countries who treat their people horribly.
Report Post »Pyx
Posted on March 1, 2011 at 10:07amI wonder if the UN praised the Human Rights of Libya BEFORE Gahdaffi michine-gunned opposition protesters this past weekend or AFTER Gahdaffi machine-gunned opposition protesters two weeks ago.
Report Post »QuietRiot
Posted on March 1, 2011 at 7:42amWE the PEOPLE demand that the UN be defunded and kicked out of this nation get it, got it, get to it congress now….
Report Post »alshere
Posted on March 1, 2011 at 1:44amNow there is a real big endorsement for the UN. We really need these guys around to help the world.
Report Post »Contrarian51
Posted on March 1, 2011 at 1:26amAnd to think that there are still people who believe the U.N. is a legitimate organization. We should have dropped out, cut off funding and told them to find a new country to play in years ago.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on March 1, 2011 at 5:20amComplete agreement here, the UN building should be turned into a museum showing the utter and complete futility of its functions…just like the Wilsons vaunted Leauge of Nations that utterly failed to stop the beginnings of WW2
Report Post »jcons114
Posted on March 1, 2011 at 12:44amWow the Nations with the worse human rights offences want to praise another human rights offender….how shocking! (sarcasm intended)
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on March 1, 2011 at 5:18amHave I somehow missed something in this alternate reality called the UN in which the country and the leadership they have just condemned for the usage of force upon revolutionaries is to be praised for the human rights record of a renowned dictator and madman wrapped up in one?
Once again this shows that the UN is long past due for dismantling and getting the heck out of the US territories. We need to withdraw from the UN for good.
Report Post »hifi74
Posted on March 1, 2011 at 6:56amSnow,
No you haven’t missed anything. You are seeing them act as they have been intending and wanting to act. You are seeing things set in motion.
Report Post »Ruler4You
Posted on March 1, 2011 at 7:04amYou betcha! Now we‘re talkin’. Sounds like the U.N. is the globalist version of Charlie Sheen.
Report Post »Cemoto78
Posted on March 1, 2011 at 9:01amGet the United States out of the United Nations now. The UN is corrupt and is merely a bastion for other countries to bash the U.S.
Report Post »watchtheotherhand
Posted on March 1, 2011 at 10:22amAAAhhhhhh the bastion of wisdom that is the U.N. only a body of thieves, thugs, dictators, criminals, and pure freakin’ idiots would care 2 turds what that body says or does. Most corrupt institution on the planet…………..including Iran, Cuba, Venezuela, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Sudan ……Now there is a group of really lovely countries I suppose in a strange twist I would have to agree compared to those countries who made the evaluation Libya would be a great place to live.
Report Post »independentvoteril
Posted on March 1, 2011 at 11:46pmPlease GOD have congress take the funds we give the UN away..
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