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U.S. Could Come Under Scrutiny of the U.N. Rights Commission
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By Alison Langley
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New York Times
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Monday 17 March 2003
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The United Nations Commission on Human Rights, with Libya's ambassador
as its chairman, is about to begin an unusual annual session that is likely to
focus on the United States record and recent actions.
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Commission participants said they might hold a "special sitting" to
discuss accusations that the United States is violating rights in its handling
of people accused of terrorism and in its counterterrorism measures. They also
said that during the six-week session the commission could look at any action
the United States took in Iraq.
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The commission usually focuses on efforts to end trafficking in human
beings, religious intolerance or racism, though the commission's agenda has
often been shaped by politics.
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"We see black clouds gathering in the sky of the region and this is
ominous of a catastrophic war which will certainly violate all human rights and
especially the right to life," said the Libyan ambassador, Najat al-Hajjaji, in
her opening remarks today.
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Sergio Vieira de Mello, the high commissioner for human rights, said he
was watching the United States closely, especially its handling of prisoners
held at Guantánamo.
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He noted that there were well-established rules against arbitrary
detentions and indefinite imprisonment, and guarantees about the treatment of
prisoners and trials. He said that those norms were under siege today, "and I
urge you to address it squarely in the coming weeks."
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The United States delegation sat quietly through the opening remarks.
Jeane J. Kirkpatrick, the United States representative to the commission, will
have her chance to speak on Tuesday.
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At a news conference later, Ms. Hajjaji said she believed that the
issue of Iraq would dominate deliberations. "I don't think the commission can
ignore war, any kind of war," she said.
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What the outcome of a special sitting on Iraq might be is unclear. The
United States has never been formally censured by the human rights group and it
is not likely that it will be this time. Many countries are reluctant to take
such action, especially if they themselves could be censured in the future.
Criticism at the session is more likely, especially over the handling of the
prisoners at Guantánamo.
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Johannes Kyrle, Austria's secretary general for foreign affairs, said
he believed that the human rights commission had an important complementary role
to that of the United Nations Security Council in ensuring that the world
strikes the right balance between security and human rights.
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Much attention is expected to focus on the commission's chairwoman. The
Libyan ambassador said she believed she could be neutral in the debate on Iraq
and would act only on the wishes of commission members.
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But at one point in the news conference, Ms. Hajjaji reacted sharply
when asked about a looming war in Iraq, saying that if cities were attacked, "do
you think they will be respecting human rights?"
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Ms. Hajjaji's appointment drew criticism when it was made in January
because Libya has been widely accused of human rights violations. Today, a group
of protesters from a group called Reporters Without Borders sitting in the
balcony unfurled a banner with the word "shame" and threw leaflets on delegates
condemning the appointment. The protesters were removed by guards.
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