Culminating months of intensive negotiations, the UN General Assembly Wednesday voted overwhelmingly on a resolution setting up a new Human Rights Council to replace the much-criticized Human Rights Commission – prompting Secretary-General Kofi Annan to hail this as an “historic” development which will help improve the lives of millions of people worldwide.
Welcoming the vote, which was greeted by prolonged applause, Mr. Annan, who first suggested the creation of the new Council in a report to the General Assembly one year ago, said it gave the UN “a much needed chance to make a new beginning in its work for human rights around the world.”
The resolution was adopted by a vote of 170 in favour with 4 against – the United States, Israel, the Marshall Islands and Palau – with Venezuela, Iran and Belarus abstaining. The General Assembly contains 191 members.
Highlighting several elements that would make the Council a “significant improvement” over the much-maligned Commission, General Assembly President Jan Eliasson, who led the often contentious negotiations on the issue, noted the Councils higher status as a subsidiary body of the General Assembly, its increased number of meetings throughout the year, equitable geographical representation and also the voting rights associated with membership.
– Members of the Council would be elected by the majority of the members of the General Assembly, in other words by an absolute majority. Each candidate would be voted on individually and directly and would have to obtain at least ninety-six votes of support in a secret ballot, Mr. Eliasson said.
– The General Assembly, by a two-thirds majority of members present and voting, could suspend the rights of membership of a Council member who commits gross and systematic violations of human rights, he added.
The US had wanted a smaller body to be created, with members chosen primarily for their commitment to human rights. The Americans wanted a two-thirds majority vote for entry into the council, and a ban for countries subject to UN sanctions because of rights violations. This would among others hinder Cuba from being elected.
– We did not have sufficient confidence in this text to be able to say that the Human Rights Council will be better than its predecessor, said John Bolton, the US ambassador to the UN, explaining the reason for voting no.
– That said, the United States will work co-operatively with other member states to make the council as strong and effective as it can be, he added.
The new Council will have 47 members. The first elections are planned for 9 May and the first session will take place on 19 June, according to the resolution.
The new Council will have a higher status and greater accountability than the Commission that meets yearly in Geneva. It would be a subsidiary body of the General Assembly and meet year round as opposed to the six-week annual session of the Commission.
The Human Rights Council is expected to require an additional appropriation of some 4,3 million US dollar net, subject to the procedures governing the use and operation of the contingency fund.
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