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2002-04-27 05:07 MSK - Human Rights meeting ends amid criticism
GENEVA - The annual six-week
meeting of the U.N. Human Rights Commission wound down Friday amid criticism
that it was protecting the oppressors rather than the
oppressed. The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson,
described the meeting as "very difficult" and "very worrying" and said she was
concerned about trends within the 53-nation body to weaken its role as a
defender of liberties. The commission - which is the top U.N. rights watchdog -
failed even to discuss the situation in China. It dropped its criticism of
Russian abuses in Chechnya; voted to end a long-running investigation into Iran;
and blocked moves to examine allegations of abuses in Zimbabwe. "This is a time
to remind ourselves of the essential role of the Commission on Human Rights in
protecting human beings against gross violations through highlighting and
publicizing those violations; providing a forum for victims to raise their
grievances; heeding the voice of conscience from different parts of the world,"
Robinson said in a closing speech. She named no names, but made it clear that
she disagreed with developing countries that argue they are unfairly singled out
by rich countries. Non-governmental groups said they were scandalized. "The
Commission on Human Rights has become hostage to human rights abusers," said
Rory Mungoven of Human Rights Watch. "They're dedicated to protecting themselves
from scrutiny rather than upholding human rights." "The Commission's most
important tool - its capacity to name and shame human rights violators - is
being eroded," Mungoven said. He said the European Union spent more time trying
to find common ground among its 15 members than putting pressure on violators
like China. The United States was not a member this year and
so took a lower-profile role than usual, but still lobbied behind the scenes to
undermine initiatives like protecting human rights in the war against terrorism,
he said. Membership of the commission rotates, with each geographical
region allocated a certain number of seats. This year included an unusually high
number of countries which stand accused by advocacy groups of abusing their
citizens' rights, including China, Cuba, Congo, Kenya, Libya, Nigeria, Russia,
Saudi Arabia and Sudan.
-AP
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