US Returns to Human Rights Council — Hurry with Organizational Reform

Published in Sankei News
(Japan) on 24 February 2021
by (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Sylvan Hancock. Edited by Gillian Palmer.
The United States has announced its intention to rejoin the U.N. Human Rights Council, which it left in 2018 under the Trump administration. Given that a party cannot rejoin the council until being without having been elected, the U.S. will first be acting in an observational role.

I would like to welcome the return of the United States. Though Secretary of State Antony Blinken called the Human Rights Council "a flawed body, in need of reform to its agenda, membership, and focus," he also noted that "when it works well, the Human Rights Council shines a spotlight on countries with the worst human rights records and can serve as an important forum for those fighting injustice and tyranny." It is of great significance that the U.S. has chosen not merely to criticize from the outside, but to actively seek readmission and reform.

The council must make drastic reforms so that it can address the current situation, in which the self-justifications of undemocratic states run rampant. The council's duty is the "promotion and protection of human rights" and basic liberties, but the organization as it currently stands cannot be said to be capable of performing that task.

Last year, countries including China, Russia and Cuba were elected to the council. These are the sort of countries that oppress minorities and political parties, and are suspected to have poisoned anti-establishment activists. By cooperating with one another, they were able to become members.

According to the nongovernmental organization U.N. Watch, these undemocratic states account for 60% of the council. They seek to shield themselves from international criticism and to obstruct attempts at investigating or advising them.

This is symbolically exemplified by the resolution China presented in March 2018, "Promoting mutually beneficial cooperation in the field of human rights." Even as it raises the importance of protecting human rights, it also states that acknowledging each nation's historical and cultural background is essential, with content that overall seems meant to restrain human-rights-based domestic intervention. Thanks to the approval of several nations heavily influenced by China, the provision was adopted. Yet its ideas are completely incompatible with human rights.

Recently, a special session was held regarding the military coup d'etat in Myanmar. However, China and Russia both opposed this session, arguing that the situation was "an internal affair of Myanmar." Though the resolution demanding the prompt release of State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi was adopted unanimously, several compromises were forced, such as the omission of the term "coup d'etat."

It is exactly because of these repeated attempts at abusing state power that the role of the Human Rights Council must be questioned. Blinken said that "when the United States engages constructively with the council, in concert with our allies and friends, positive change is within reach." Rules to immediately exclude nations that stymie peaceful demonstrations and deny investigations into ethnic persecution should be drafted. It should not be forgotten that Japan, too, is involved and responsible for change.


人権理への米復帰 抜本的な組織改革を急げ

米国がトランプ前政権時の2018年に離脱した国連人権理事会への復帰を表明した。理事国になるには選挙が必要なため、まずはオブザーバーとして参加する。

 米国の復帰を歓迎したい。ブリンケン国務長官は「欠陥のある組織で、議題や理事国、関心事項に改革の必要がある」としつつも、「適切に機能すれば、不正義や圧政と戦うための重要な議論の場になる」と述べた。外からの批判だけではなく、中に入って改革を目指す意義は大きい。

 人権理が取り組むべきは、非民主国家による「自己正当化」が横行する現状を阻む抜本的な組織改革である。人権理は「人権と基本的自由の保護、その促進」が使命だが、実際にはこれにふさわしい組織とはいえない。

 昨年の選挙では中国やロシア、キューバなどが選出された。少数民族や民主派を弾圧し、反体制活動家への毒殺疑惑が持たれるような国だ。それが相互に協力して票を集め、メンバーになるのだ。

 非政府組織「国連ウオッチ」によると、こうした非民主国家は人権理の6割を占める。その国家の目的は、国際社会からの批判をかわし、自国に不利な勧告や調査活動を阻止することにある。

 象徴例が18年3月に中国が提出した「相互に有益な協力の促進」と題する決議案だ。人権擁護の大切さをひとまず訴えながらも、各国の歴史的、文化的背景への考慮が必要とし、「人権による内政干渉」を牽制(けんせい)する内容だった。中国の影響力を受ける多くの理事国の賛成で採択された。人権理の理念とは相いれないものだ。

 最近もミャンマーの国軍によるクーデターをめぐる会合が開かれたが、中露は「ミャンマーの内政問題」として会合の開催に反発した。アウン・サン・スー・チー国家顧問らの即時解放を求める決議は全会一致で採択されたものの、「クーデター」の言葉が使われないなど妥協を強いられた。

 強権支配やその試みが相次ぐ今だからこそ、人権理が本来果たすべき役割が問われよう。ブリンケン氏は「米国が同盟・友邦諸国と協力して建設的に関与すれば、前向きの変革が実現可能だ」とも述べた。平和的デモや特定民族への迫害の調査を受け入れない国などは即刻排除されるルールを作るべきだ。日本も変革を担う当事者であることを忘れてはならない
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