May 14, 2009

On May 12^th, the United States was one of 18 countries elected to serve on the UN Human Rights Council, marking a dramatic shift in American policy toward the Council and US participation in the United Nations. In securing a three-year term on the 47-member Council, which replaced the historic Human Rights Commission in 2006, the United States won 167 votes in the General Assembly, far exceeding the absolute majority of 97 required for election (though seven countries received more votes). The United States was one of five countries elected to the Council for the first time, along with Belgium, Hungary, Kyrgyzstan, and Norway.

Obama Policy Makes Sharp Break from Bush Administration Practice

Just three years ago, the Bush Administration joined Israel, the Marshall Islands, and Palau, as the only countries among the UN’s 191 member states that voted against the creation of the Council. The Bush Administration never ran for a seat on the Council, citing its poor performance and narrow focus on Israel. Last summer, the administration announced that it would only engage as an observer when “there are matters of deep national interest before the Council and we feel compelled.” Conversely, the Obama Administration participated as an observer at the Council’s 10^th session in March and then announced on March 31^st that it would seek election to the Council in order to engage with others to improve the UN human rights system.

Rice Says US Will Work from Within to Improve Council, Points to 2011 Review

In remarks to the press following the election, US Permanent Representative to the United Nations Susan E. Rice said the administration was “gratified by the strong showing of encouragement for the United States to again play a meaningful leadership role in multilateral organizations, including the UN, on the very vitally important set of issues relating to human rights and democracy.” Noting that the administration recognizes the Council “has been a flawed body that has not lived up to its potential,” Rice said she was “looking forward to working from within with a broad cross section of member states” to strengthen the Council. She said the administration would not have run for election if it thought the Council could not be effective, and pointed to the upcoming 2011 General Assembly review of the body “as an important opportunity to strengthen and reform the Council,” including assessing its procedures and the substance of its actions.

US Pledge Says No Country Immune from Human Rights Scrutiny

As part of the Council’s election procedures, candidates are asked to provide voluntary pledges and commitments for promoting and protecting human rights, to be used by UN member states in deciding how to vote. The United States submitted its pledge in late April, committing “to working with principled determination for a balanced, credible, and effective UN Human Rights Council to advance the purpose of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.” In addition, the United States pledged to “promote universality, transparency, and objectivity in all of the Council’s endeavors” and to participate actively in the 2011 review. The United States committed itself, as well, to work with its “international partners in the spirit of openness, consultation, and respect and reaffirms that expressions of concern about the human rights situation in any country, our own included, are appropriate matters for international discussion.” 

UNA-USA Calls US Election an “Important Step Forward”

In a statement issued shortly after the vote, UNA-USA president Thomas Miller called the election of the United States “an important step forward in our country’s recommitment to the promotion of ideals first championed by Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt in her groundbreaking effort to secure General Assembly adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights more than 60 years ago.” The statement notes that membership will enable the United States to work in partnership with others to develop and propose changes to enhance the effectiveness of the Council. In the statement, UNA-USA calls for the appointment of a full-time ambassador to serve as the US representative on the Council. “Through such full diplomatic representation,” the statement says, “the United States can hope to play a large role in improving the Human Rights Council’s work and its record of success in advancing human rights.”

Pillay: Council Membership Brings Responsibility, Increased Accountability

In a May 14^th op-ed published in The New York Times, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navanethem Pillay commended President Obama’s decision to run for a seat on the Human Rights Council, calling it a “welcome step to restoring international trust in U.S. support for human rights.” In response to criticisms that the Council’s membership includes some countries with problematic human rights records, Pillay asked, “Is there any country that has a blemish-free record?” She added that, “even if such a thing were possible, what impact would a club of the virtuous have on those outside? Council membership is not a reward for good behavior. It is a responsibility, one that exposes members to increased accountability before their peers.”

Says Human Rights Defenders Anxiously Watching New US Approach

Though she said that US membership on the Council can bring “important benefits” to the promotion of human rights and America’s standing in the world, Pillay pointed out that these benefits “will depend most on the degree to which the US embraces the international human rights agenda.” She noted that human rights advocates “are watching anxiously to see if the new US approach is one that engages constructively on the human rights records of its friends as well as its adversaries; protects civilians in Gaza as well as those in Darfur; defends economic and social rights as well as civil and political rights; and rejects hate speech while guaranteeing free speech.” In concluding her article, Pillay observed, “Signals coming from America reverberate around the world. Sending the right ones is the responsibility of power.”

The United States will begin its term on the Human Rights Council on June 19, 2009.