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International-UN-NGOs |
Fate of investigators in balance at UN rights body |
2007-03-21 |
Cuba is leading a bid by a number of countries to strip the Human Rights Council of its power to investigate and condemn violations, a move some activists warn could jeopardise the whole UN’s credibility. The 47 member states of the new UN watchdog, set up last year to replace its largely-discredited predecessor, are quietly negotiating a package of measures which will define its role. At stake is the fate of “special procedures” -independent investigators appointed to report on countries where abuses are suspected. The former Secretary-General Kofi Annan described these rapporteurs as the “crown jewels” of the UN machinery. “Our fear is that some governments are trying to sell the crown jewels, trying to undermine the independence of special procedures,” Irene Khan, secretary-general of Amnesty International, told reporters in Geneva. “There are huge stakes here for human rights, not only for survivors of abuses but the credibility of the Council and the UN,” she said. |
Posted by:Fred |
#5 the UN has credibility? Who knew? |
Posted by: CrazyFool 2007-03-21 16:05 |
#4 Cuba -- which has never allowed a visit by the special rapporteur on Cuba, Christine Chanet -- is leading the charge to dismantle country investigators. Cuba and its allies argue that countries should submit their own reports on their domestic records and that there is no need for intrusive rapporteurs. I thought it was a People's Paradise there? Cindy Sheehan told me. Surely, they could take a toss with no problems, right? They got nuthin to hide, right? Not that the UN would actually do anything about what they find... |
Posted by: tu3031 2007-03-21 15:25 |
#3 Heh, does sound familiar, but that was fighterman SteveS, expert on all thingz winged and other stuff. Weird, because I have a close relative nama... nevermind. |
Posted by: Shipman 2007-03-21 15:11 |
#2 LOL Ship! |
Posted by: Spot 2007-03-21 08:18 |
#1 jeopardise the whole UNÂ’s credibility Ima thinking that train done left the station. |
Posted by: SteveS 2007-03-21 00:34 |