US Pullout Gives Upper Hand to Human Rights Abusers Worldwide — Global Issues

by Thalif Deen (united nations)Friday, February 14, 2025Inter Press Service

That comment introduced again recollections of a 1975 award-winning Hollywood basic “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”, with Jack Nicholson as a rebellious affected person inflicting havoc at a US psychological establishment whereas main a bunch of protesting inmates.

And final week, the US determined, metaphorically talking, to fly over the cuckoo’s nest—and withdraw from the Geneva-based 47-member Human Rights Council.

https://information.un.org/en/story/2022/04/1115782

Dr. Simon Adams, President and CEO of the Middle for Victims of Torture, instructed IPS the Human Rights Council and all United Nations our bodies are higher and stronger with america being actively engaged.

“Any state withdrawing from the HRC solely encourages the dictators, torturers, and human rights abusers of the world. At this second in historical past, with creeping authoritarianism and human rights below assault in so many elements of the world, the Human Rights Council stays indispensable,” he added.

Ambassador A.L.A. Azeez, a international coverage commentator, who beforehand served as Sri Lanka’s Everlasting Consultant to the UN in Geneva, instructed IPS america’ withdrawal from the UNHRC is a counterproductive transfer that harms each US pursuits and the worldwide reason behind human rights.

This departure from a important multilateral establishment is unlikely to attain transformative change inside the council. It by no means occurred with its earlier withdrawals, nor could it occur now, with the present one, he identified.

What does it obtain then?

“It removes the US’s alternative to have interaction constructively with members and stakeholders, contributing to the strengthening of human rights multilateralism. By exiting, the US forfeits its means to form the narrative, push for needed reforms, and advocate for its values”.

Human rights multilateralism, he argued, depends upon the engagement and collaboration of numerous nations. Not one state or a small group of states alone nonetheless influential they’re!”

This withdrawal quantities to an abdication of shared duty for selling and defending human rights. It dangers signaling a diminished US dedication to human rights, doubtlessly eroding the worldwide human rights system and damaging no matter credibility and ethical authority the US has on the world stage, stated Ambassador Azeez.

Periodic withdrawals from worldwide our bodies just like the UNHRC severely injury the US’s picture as a steadfast defender of human rights and multilateralism. The US can not afford to venture a picture of selective engagement, perceived as contingent on the council’s alignment with US views.

This erosion of credibility hinders the US’s means to steer by instance and successfully champion human rights.

The first motivation for the withdrawal appears to be considerations about bias in opposition to an in depth US ally within the Center East. Whereas such considerations are sometimes expressed, is exiting the council the very best resolution? A extra constructive strategy can be to stay engaged and work to deal with perceived considerations from inside.

Whereas strategic calculations could drive the concept of disengagement from multilateral our bodies, the period of unipolarity is over. Multilateralism should reassert itself, appearing as a mediating drive amongst competing geopolitical pursuits. The significance of remaining engaged in multilateral human rights efforts and driving significant change from inside can’t be overstated, declared Ambassador Azeez.

Responding to a query on the UN press briefing February 4, UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric stated: “It does not alter our place on the significance of the Human Rights Council as a part of the general human rights structure inside the United Nations,” he stated.

“And on UNRWA, I am unsure that is one thing that is very new. I imply, and once more, it does not alter our dedication to supporting UNRWA in its work, and in its work of delivering important companies to Palestinians below its mandate,” stated Dujarric.

Amanda Klasing, Nationwide Director, Authorities Relations & Advocacy with Amnesty Worldwide USA, stated asserting that america is withdrawing from the Human Rights Council when it isn’t even a sitting member, is simply the newest transfer by President Trump to display to the world his full and blatant disregard for human rights and worldwide cooperation — even when it weakens U.S. pursuits.

“Our world wants multilateral cooperation round shared pursuits, particularly the safety of human rights. Worldwide establishments will proceed to operate, both with the U.S. or with out it, however plainly President Trump is tired of having a seat at that desk to form the norms and insurance policies of the long run, and even to guard the human rights of individuals in america”.

The HRC gives a worldwide discussion board for governments to debate human rights considerations, can authorize investigations that carry to mild human rights violations, and, whereas not excellent, is a device to carry governments accountable in fulfilling their human rights obligations, together with to their very own inhabitants.

President Trump’s performative choice to drag the U.S. out of the HRC, Klasing identified, alerts to the remainder of the world that the U.S. is pleased to utterly cede vital selections about human rights violations taking place throughout the globe to different international locations.

“This isn’t about President Trump thumbing his nostril on the establishment, as an alternative he’s simply demonstrating he’d slightly make a callous present of rejecting human rights than do the work wanted to guard and promote human rights for individuals in every single place, together with within the U.S.”

https://www.amnestyusa.org/press-releases/u-s-withdrawal-from-un-human-rights-council-is-performative-disregard-for-human-rights/

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