UN Human Rights Council remains indispensable in an unsettled world
In the media image: Davi Mendes on Unsplash
The UN Human Rights Council is meeting in Geneva. Nico Schrijver, professor emeritus in international law, says on ‘EenVandaag’ that the Council remains indispensable for the global protection of human rights, despite financial difficulties within the UN and growing international tension.
The UN Human Rights Council discusses structural issues, such as access to medical care, the right to food, and judicial independence, as well as country situations in places like Iran, Syria, Sudan, and Eritrea. It is the only global intergovernmental forum that discusses human rights, Schrijver explains: ‘It represents the universal principle that human rights apply to everyone. That’s the benchmark.’
The Council has existed for 20 years and reports directly to the UN General Assembly. Although it cannot issue legally binding decisions, Schrijver argues that it can indeed set change in motion. He points to the democratisation of former dictatorships in Latin America and the rise of freedom of expression and free elections in Eastern Europe after the Cold War. Special UN rapporteurs also play a role by independently documenting human rights violations in countries such as Iran and Syria.
That said, Schrijver sees ‘dark clouds’ gathering over the UN. For example, the United States is currently not fully meeting its financial obligations to the organisation. Even so, he remains hopeful. Speaking about Russia, which was suspended from the Human Rights Council due to serious human rights violations, he stresses that dialogue remains necessary. ‘No country wants to be constantly accused of naming and shaming.’ According to the retired professor, the international community must continue to call out abuses, while also offering people in countries such as Russia a sense of perspective. ‘Without hope, there is no life.’
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Listen to the 'Een Vandaag' radio broadcast (in Dutch)