Last year the Obama administration decided it was time for the US to join the UN Human Rights Council (a decision supported on this blog). In yesterday's New York Times Eileen Donahoe, US ambassador to the Council, sets out her priorities within that body, and defends the decision to join as having been the correct one. Amongst her reasons for thinking so:
'[O]ur job', she concludes, 'is to give voice to the voiceless and defend the fundamental freedoms we cherish'. Strength to that elbow.In the past year, the United States has spoken out on serious human rights abuses in Iran, Burma, Sudan, China, Zimbabwe, Venezuela, Syria, Russia, Sri Lanka and elsewhere. With active U.S. leadership, the council authorized international mandates to closely monitor and address the human rights situations in Burma, North Korea, Cambodia and Sudan. In June, the United States co-led a cross-regional effort with 55 other nations to criticize the deplorable human rights situation in Iran and to express solidarity with victims and human rights defenders on the anniversary of the contested Iranian election.
Very importantly, we have vigorously and unequivocally protested the politicized efforts of some members to continually target Israel while ignoring serious problems in their own countries.