Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News – 20-06-2018
The UN high commissioner for human rights says the withdrawal of the US from the United Nations’ top human rights body is”disappointing, if not really surprising”.
The US exited the top human rights body on Tuesday accusing it of “chronic bias” against Israel, in a move that was criticised by human rights groups and described as regrettable by foreign leaders.
The US’ announcement comes after the council voted last month to probe the killing of scores of Palestinian protesters in the Gaza Strip and accused Israel of excessive use of force.
Al Jazeera reports the decision to pull out of the UN Human Rights Council was announced by the US ambassador Nikki Haley the US ambassador to the UN alongside US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Washington, DC.
Citing Venezuela, China, Cuba and the Democratic Republic of Congo, Haley says the move “is not a retreat from human rights commitments” and accused the council of being “a protector of human rights abusers and a cesspool of political bias”.
“Look at the council membership, and you see an appalling disrespect for the most basic rights. We take this step because our commitment does not allow us to remain a part of a hypocritical and self-serving organisation that makes a mockery of human rights.”
Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, the UN high commissioner for human rights, called the announcement by US President Donald Trump’s administration “disappointing, if not really surprising”.
“Given the state of human rights in today’s world, the US should be stepping up, not stepping back.”
The EU says the move “risks undermining the role of the US as a champion and supporter of democracy on the world stage”, while British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson called it “regrettable”.
Israel, a major ally of the US, praised Washington’s “courageous” move.
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