US withdraw itself from UNHRC calling it protector of human rights abusers, cesspool of political bias

New York, June 20: The United States on Wednesday withdrew itself from the United Nations Human Rights Council calling the organization a protector of human rights abusers and a cesspool of political bias.

 

Declaring the move of United States, the US Ambassador to the UN Niki Haley in a press briefing said, “One year ago, I traveled to the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva. On that occasion, I outlined the U.S. priorities for advancing human rights and I declared our intent to remain a part of the Human Rights Council if essential reforms were achieved. These reforms were needed in order to make the council a serious advocate for human rights. For too long, the Human Rights Council has been a protector of human rights abusers and a cesspool of political bias.”

“Regrettably, it is now clear that our call for reform was not heeded. Human rights abusers continue to serve on and be elected to the council. The world’s most inhumane regimes continue to escape scrutiny, and the council continues politicizing and scapegoating of countries with positive human rights records in an attempt to distract from the abusers in their ranks,” she added.

Haley accused the council of maintaining a “disproportionate focus and unending hostility towards Israel" that shows it is "motivated by political bias, not by human rights". Pointing out the involvement of countries like China, Cuba and Venezuela in the organization, Haley said that UN allowed members that have been accused human rights violations. “Look at the council membership, and you see an appalling disrespect for the most basic rights,” Haley added.

The US Ambassador to UN said, “America has a proud legacy as a champion of human rights, a proud legacy as the world’s largest provider of humanitarian aid, and a proud legacy of liberating oppressed people and defeating tyranny throughout the world. While we do not seek to impose the American system on anyone else, we do support the rights of all people to have freedoms bestowed on them by their creator. That is why we are withdrawing from the UN Human Rights Council, an organization that is not worthy of its name.”

After the announcement of the withdrawal of US from UN, State Department Secretary Mike Pompeo said that if the council does reform then the United States would be happy to rejoin. Meanwhile, British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson called the decision "regrettable" but said the UK was "here to stay".

Importantly, United States will not rejoin UN unless a “chronic anti-Israel bias” is eliminated from council activities.

BACKGROUND:

The main debate is over Agenda Item 7: a permanent agenda item concerning potential rights abuses by Israel in the occupied Palestinian territories. The United States want this item removed, but after months of talks, the point remained on the agenda. Just last month, the 47-member forum voted to investigate killings in Gaza and accused Israel of excessive force. The US and Australia were the only “no” votes, and the Israeli ambassador deplored the council for “spreading lies against Israel.”

To read Nikki Haley and Mike Pompeo’s remark on UN Human Rights Council, Click on the link given below: