Saudi Arabia covets the presidency of the Council for Human Rights

An original translation by Oz-Rita with much thanks!

From TDG.Ch

Embarrassment among diplomats, fear and anger among NGOs. The Saudis want to chair the Council for Human Rights.

It all began with a rumor that has spread and reached the corridors of the Palais des Nations. Saudi Arabia covets the presidency of the Council for Human Rights impossible — unimaginable. However, this rumor is no longer a rumor. Faisal bin Hassan Trad, the Permanent Representative of Saudi Arabia to the United Nations, in Geneva since January 2014, is indeed campaigning in the Asian group to be its candidate for the renewal, which will take place by the end of the year.

Currently, the Council is chaired by the German Joachim Ruecker, whose qualities and commitment are unanimously lauded. Before him, it was an African, the Gabonese Nganella Baudelaire, who was not well-remembered among the NGOs, who were frustrated by his year as president.

The rotation rule requires that the next president of the Council of Human Rights come from the Asian group comprised of thirteen countries (Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, China, UAE, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Maldives, Pakistan, Republic of Korea, Qatar and Vietnam). Faisal bin Hassan Trad has a very good chance, and the battle promises to be close. The Europeans will all try to dissuade members of the Asia Group from this choice, considered in advance as disastrous for the IMAGE of the Council for Human Rights. [emphasis added]

Arm-twisting by the Saudis

Saudi Arabia is twisting the arms of these other countries to be designated. If they succeed, it will be a disaster for the Council of Human Rights. “This could send us back to the worst times of the former commission who had sunk into disrepute,” says a Western diplomat on condition of anonymity.

On paper, nothing prevents Saudi Arabia from one day presiding over the Council of Human Rights. It is a full member, elected for a three-year renewable term by the General Assembly of the UN. But this prospect is already arousing embarrassment and discomfort among the Council and the beginning of anger among the defenders of human rights.

Saudi Arabia was one of eight countries not to sign the Universal Declaration of Human Rights when it was adopted in 1948. Today, the Saudi monarchy continues to practice an expeditious justice far removed from Western democratic standards . Equality between men and women does not exist, homosexuals are sentenced to death, no religion other than Islam has a place, freedom of expression is a fantasy.

In recent years, the NGOs have repeatedly drawn the attention to the harshness and inhumanity of this regime. “The presidency is important. If elected, Saudi Arabia will have to display greater vigor in support of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism,” warns Jean-Claude Vignoli, director of the NGO UPR Information programs. This mechanism, which involves civil society’s passing review of each country, was never Saudi Arabia’s cup of tea.

Pressure on the Asian group

In Geneva, the spokeswoman for Amnesty International, Nadia Boehlen, is falling off her chair. “It is unthinkable!” she sighs. For this human rights activist, it is “totally ironic that a country which so blithely tramples human rights by practicing cruel executions” covets the direction of the body that has the responsibility “to strengthen the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe. “

“It is essential that the Asian Group offer a credible candidate to represent them,” says John Fisher, director of the Geneva office of Human Rights Watch, who keep hoping for the emergence of applications that could prevent the Saudi attempt to get its hands on the Council. Meanwhile, he reminds us that “the president of the Council of human rights plays a key role” in “the promotion and protection of human rights for all.” Enormous pressure now weighs on the members of the Asia group. Some diplomats would have preferred that the approach by Saudi Arabia remain hidden.

Original article here:

http://www.tdg.ch/monde/moyen-orient/L-Arabie-saoudite-convoite-la-presidence-du-Conseil-des-droits-de-lhomme/story/24673745

 

About Eeyore

Canadian artist and counter-jihad and freedom of speech activist as well as devout Schrödinger's catholic

7 Replies to “Saudi Arabia covets the presidency of the Council for Human Rights”

  1. If they do achieve their goal this should educate people about Islam and their values.

    • That is the one good thing this will do and whoever is wanting this might realize this. Saudis may want to move forward at this point.

  2. Wahabbis & Human Rights……..! If this is not a contradiction, then may pigs fly with the Saudis to heaven. I did not intend to offend any pigs, of course.

  3. The group is – Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, China, UAE, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Maldives, Pakistan, Republic of Korea, Qatar and Vietnam.

    None of the Islamic countries are in a position to chair the Council for Human Rights. Which leaves us with non-Islamic ones.

    India, Japan, China, Republic of Vietnam, Republic of Korea.

    Among the above, only India and Japan are genuine democracies

    BUT
    Muslims countries are in a majority, therefore they will veto

    China- beacuse of “restive” Xianxiang

    India – “restive” Kashmir.

    That leaves North Korea or Vietnam. Vietnam is too capitalist.

    This leaves us with a choice between North Korea ( non-Muslim candidate), and Saudi Arabia – the Islamic candidate.

    I go for North Korea.

  4. I go for North Korea.

    It has all the qualification for chairing up the Council for Human Rights.

    It also has the far more important advantge of ensuring that the Council for Human Rights is reduced to infamy and ridicule.

    • Yes and no less than 2 movies have been made which rightfully if understatedly mock North Korea and none have been made which mock Saudi Arabia. So good point. Appoint the DPRK and then we can make another movie which hopefully will end any authority the UN has.

      • If Iran gets their way and a major war starts in the Mideast the UN is history, I just hope they don’t leave any lingering spinoff like the League of Nations did, they left the World Court.